INFORMATION
Public Holidays in Maldives 2026 – Islamic & National Days
Post Date · Modified · Country · Maldives
Public holidays in the Maldives in 2026 include national commemorations, Islamic observances and multi-day Eid holiday periods. Several dates follow the Islamic lunar calendar, while the Government may also announce separate holidays that apply specifically to Government offices. The schedule below uses the verified VisaBoards holiday database for the main nationwide public-holiday dates.
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Next Public Holiday in Maldives
[next_public_holiday country="Maldives"]Public Holidays in Maldives 2026
[public_holidays country="Maldives" year="2026"]Islamic Public Holidays in the Maldives
Islamic observances form a major part of the Maldives public-holiday calendar. Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, their Gregorian dates change from year to year. For 2026, the final academic calendar published by the Maldives Ministry of Education identifies the official dates used for Ramadan, Eid, Hajj Day, Islamic New Year and other Islamic observances.
First of Ramadan
The first day of Ramadan was listed as a public holiday on 18 February 2026 in the Ministry of Education's final 2026 calendar.
Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr was observed on 20 March 2026. The official calendar also lists 21 and 22 March as public holidays on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr. The President's Office independently recorded Eid al-Fitr on 20 March 2026.
Hajj Day and Eid al-Adha
Hajj Day was observed on 26 May 2026, followed by Eid al-Adha on 27 May. The public-holiday period continued from 28 through 30 May on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.
The President's Office also issued its Eid al-Adha greetings on 27 May 2026, independently confirming the Eid date.
Islamic New Year
Islamic New Year 1448 was listed as a public holiday on 16 June 2026.
Prophet Muhammad's Birthday
Prophet Muhammad's Birthday was observed as a public holiday on 25 August 2026.
The Day Maldives Embraced Islam
The Day Maldives Embraced Islam was observed on 13 September 2026. The holiday commemorates the country's historical conversion to Islam.
National Holidays in the Maldives
The Maldives also observes several public holidays connected with independence, national history and the constitutional development of the country.
Independence Day
Independence Day is observed on 26 July. In 2026, 27 July was also listed as a public holiday on the occasion of Independence Day, creating a two-day official holiday period.
National Day
National Day was observed on 14 August 2026. Unlike Independence Day, its Gregorian date changes because National Day is observed according to the Islamic calendar.
The President's Office confirms that National Day commemorates Sultan Muhammad Thakurufaanu's campaign that liberated the Maldives from Portuguese rule.
Victory Day
Victory Day is observed on 3 November and commemorates the defence of the Maldives during the attempted coup of 1988.
Republic Day
Republic Day is observed on 11 November and commemorates the establishment of the present republic in 1968.
Labour Day in the Maldives
Labour Day is observed on 1 May. It appears in the Maldives Ministry of Education's final 2026 calendar as a public holiday.
Government Holidays and Public Holidays Are Not Always the Same
The Maldives sometimes declares additional Government holidays that should be distinguished from the main nationwide public-holiday schedule. These declarations generally concern Government offices and employees rather than creating a permanent recurring national public holiday.
Opening of the People's Majlis
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu declared 5 February 2026 a Government holiday for the Presidential Address delivered at the opening of the People's Majlis. The President's Office announcement specifically describes the date as a Government holiday.
Final Ten Days of Ramadan
Government offices were closed for the final ten days of Ramadan beginning on 9 March 2026. This follows a standing presidential directive designating the concluding ten days of Ramadan as Government holidays.
The President's Office stated that essential services were required to continue and that authorities should communicate their operating arrangements to the public.
Election Holidays in April 2026
Sunday, 5 April and Monday, 6 April 2026 were declared Government holidays following elections held on 4 April. The decision was made because many election officials were State institution employees and civil service members.
These dates were special Government holidays connected with the election process rather than recurring nationwide public holidays.
Additional Government Holidays Before Eid al-Adha
The President declared 24 and 25 May 2026 as Government holidays to extend the Eid al-Adha break for Government employees. The President's Office announcement stated that Government offices would reopen on 31 May following the holiday period.
These two additional dates should therefore be distinguished from Hajj Day, Eid al-Adha and the subsequent public-holiday dates already listed in the official calendar.
Why Do Some Maldives Public Holiday Dates Change Every Year?
Several Maldives public holidays follow the Islamic Hijri calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar. This means dates such as the First of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Hajj Day, Eid al-Adha, National Day, Prophet Muhammad's Birthday and the Day Maldives Embraced Islam can occur on different Gregorian dates each year.
For date-sensitive planning, year-specific official calendars and Government announcements are therefore more reliable than assuming the previous year's Gregorian dates will repeat.
Long Holiday Periods in the Maldives in 2026
Two of the most notable nationwide holiday periods in 2026 were connected with the two Eid celebrations.
- Eid al-Fitr: the official public-holiday period covered 20, 21 and 22 March.
- Eid al-Adha: Hajj Day was observed on 26 May, Eid al-Adha on 27 May, and public holidays on the occasion of Eid continued through 30 May.
Government employees had longer breaks because separate Government holidays applied during the final ten days of Ramadan and on 24 and 25 May before the Eid al-Adha period.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public holiday dates are there in the Maldives in 2026?
The verified VisaBoards dataset contains 19 nationwide public-holiday dates for 2026. This total counts each date in the multi-day Eid and Independence Day holiday periods separately and excludes Government-employee-only closures.
What is the next public holiday in the Maldives?
The upcoming public holiday changes throughout the year. The live VisaBoards section near the top of this page displays the next public holiday using the current holiday database.
When is Eid al-Fitr in the Maldives in 2026?
Eid al-Fitr was observed on 20 March 2026. The official public-holiday period also covered 21 and 22 March.
When is Eid al-Adha in the Maldives in 2026?
Eid al-Adha was observed on 27 May 2026. Hajj Day fell on 26 May, and additional public holidays on the occasion of Eid al-Adha continued from 28 through 30 May.
When is Maldives Independence Day in 2026?
Independence Day is observed on 26 July. In 2026, 27 July was also a public holiday on the occasion of Independence Day.
When is Maldives National Day in 2026?
National Day was observed on 14 August 2026. Its Gregorian date changes because the observance follows the Islamic calendar.
Are Government holidays the same as public holidays in the Maldives?
Not always. The President may declare special Government holidays that primarily affect Government offices and employees. Examples in 2026 included the People's Majlis opening holiday, election-related holidays and additional days before Eid al-Adha. These should be distinguished from the main nationwide public-holiday schedule.
Are the last ten days of Ramadan public holidays for everyone?
The President's Office designates the final ten days of Ramadan as Government holidays and closes Government offices during that period. Essential public services continue according to arrangements made by the relevant authorities. The period is therefore treated separately from the main nationwide public-holiday dataset on this page.
Why do Islamic holiday dates change in the Maldives?
Islamic holidays follow the Hijri lunar calendar, which is shorter than the Gregorian year. As a result, their Gregorian dates move each year and should be checked against the official calendar for the relevant year.
Official Sources for Public Holidays in the Maldives
- Maldives Ministry of Education – Final Academic Calendar 2026: provides the principal year-specific public-holiday calendar used for the 2026 dates.
- President's Office – Eid al-Fitr 2026: independently confirms the Eid al-Fitr observance on 20 March 2026.
- President's Office – Eid al-Adha 2026: independently confirms Eid al-Adha on 27 May 2026.
- President's Office – National Day 2026: confirms the National Day observance and explains its significance.
- President's Office – Government holiday on 5 February 2026: confirms the separate Government holiday for the opening of the People's Majlis.
- President's Office – Final ten days of Ramadan: confirms Government-office closure during the concluding ten days of Ramadan.
- President's Office – Government holidays on 24 and 25 May 2026: confirms additional Government holidays before the Eid al-Adha period.
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