Niger has 16 nationwide public-holiday dates in 2026 when each officially non-working calendar date is counted separately. The schedule includes fixed civic and Christian holidays as well as Islamic holidays whose exact dates depend on the religious calendar and, where applicable, local confirmation. Important changes introduced in 2026 include a second public holiday for Eid al-Fitr and the introduction of Refoundation Day on 26 March.
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Next Public Holiday in Niger
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 18, 2026 | Friday | Republic Day | Confirmed |
Public Holidays in Niger 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day | Confirmed |
| March 16, 2026 | Monday | Day after Lailatoul Qadr (Night of Destiny) | Confirmed |
| March 19, 2026 | Thursday | Eid al-Fitr | Confirmed |
| March 20, 2026 | Friday | Day after Eid al-Fitr | Confirmed |
| March 26, 2026 | Thursday | Refoundation Day | Confirmed |
| April 6, 2026 | Monday | Easter Monday | Confirmed |
| April 24, 2026 | Friday | National Concord Day | Confirmed |
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | Labour Day | Confirmed |
| May 27, 2026 | Wednesday | Eid al-Adha (Tabaski) | Confirmed |
| May 28, 2026 | Thursday | Day after Eid al-Adha (Tabaski) | Confirmed |
| June 17, 2026 | Wednesday | Islamic New Year | Confirmed |
| July 26, 2026 | Sunday | National Day of Sovereignty and Patriotism | Confirmed |
| August 3, 2026 | Monday | Day of the Martyrs of Colonisation and the Fight against Desertification | Confirmed |
| August 26, 2026 | Wednesday | Day after Mouloud | Confirmed |
| December 18, 2026 | Friday | Republic Day | Confirmed |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | Confirmed |
How Public Holidays Work in Niger
Niger's legal holiday system combines fixed national dates with Christian and Islamic religious holidays. Government holiday notices commonly describe qualifying dates as fériées, chômées et payées, meaning they are public holidays, non-working days and paid holidays under the applicable legal framework.
Official notices issued by Niger's Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Employment address employers and employees in the public, parapublic and private sectors and specify when a holiday applies throughout the national territory.
Changes to Niger's Public Holiday System in 2026
Eid al-Fitr Now Includes the Following Day
A major legal change took effect in March 2026. The Council of Ministers approved an amendment to Niger's legal-holiday framework providing that both the day of Eid al-Fitr and the following day are public holidays.
For 2026, Niger's Islamic authorities confirmed Eid al-Fitr for Thursday, 19 March after the lunar crescent was sighted. As a result, Friday, 20 March is also included as the statutory day following Eid al-Fitr.
Refoundation Day on 26 March
Refoundation Day was added to Niger's legal-holiday framework in 2026. It is observed on 26 March and commemorates the national Refoundation process associated with the Charter of the Refoundation promulgated on 26 March 2025.
The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Employment specifically declared Thursday, 26 March 2026 a paid nationwide public holiday.
Islamic Public Holidays in Niger
Islamic holidays form an important part of Niger's national holiday system. Their Gregorian dates can change from year to year because they follow the Islamic lunar calendar. Exact dates should therefore be based on applicable national announcements rather than on calendar estimates alone.
Day after Lailatoul Qadr
In 2026, the Ministry declared Monday, 16 March a paid nationwide public holiday corresponding to the day after Lailatoul Qadr, also known as the Night of Destiny.
Eid al-Fitr
The Islamic Council of Niger confirmed Eid al-Fitr for Thursday, 19 March 2026 after the lunar crescent was sighted in Niger. Under the 2026 legal amendment, the following day is also a public holiday.
Eid al-Adha or Tabaski
Tabaski is officially recognized together with the following day. In 2026, the Ministry declared Wednesday, 27 May and Thursday, 28 May public, non-working and paid holidays throughout Niger.
Islamic New Year
The first day of the Islamic New Year was officially observed on Wednesday, 17 June 2026. This date supersedes earlier calendar estimates that placed the holiday on 16 June.
Mouloud
Niger's legal public holiday associated with Mouloud is the day following the religious observance. For 2026, the Ministry declared Wednesday, 26 August the nationwide paid public holiday corresponding to the day after Mouloud.
National and Civic Holidays in Niger
National Concord Day
National Concord Day is observed on 24 April. It commemorates the peace process associated with the agreements signed in 1995 and remains a nationwide legal holiday. In 2026, the Ministry confirmed Friday, 24 April as a paid public holiday throughout Niger.
National Day of Sovereignty and Patriotism
The National Day of Sovereignty and Patriotism is observed on 26 July. The Ministry confirmed Sunday, 26 July 2026 as a nationwide public, non-working and paid holiday.
3 August Commemoration
For 2026, official government terminology identifies 3 August as the Day of the Martyrs of Colonisation and the Fight against Desertification. The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Employment explicitly identified Monday, 3 August 2026 as a public holiday under that designation.
Republic Day
Republic Day is observed on 18 December and commemorates the proclamation of the Republic of Niger in 1958. It is a fixed nationwide legal holiday.
Christian Public Holidays in Niger
Niger's holiday framework also recognizes Easter Monday and Christmas Day. Easter Monday falls on 6 April in 2026, while Christmas remains fixed on 25 December.
The Ministry specifically confirmed Monday, 6 April 2026 as a public, non-working and paid holiday throughout the country.
Are Islamic Holiday Dates Fixed in Niger?
No. Islamic holidays follow the Hijri lunar calendar, so their Gregorian dates change every year. Local religious confirmation can also affect the final date. For this reason, projected international holiday calendars should not be treated as final when a later Nigerien announcement establishes a different date.
This was particularly important in 2026. Eid al-Fitr was confirmed for 19 March after local moon sighting, Islamic New Year was officially observed on 17 June, and the legal holiday connected with Mouloud was declared for 26 August.
Are Public Holidays Paid in Niger?
Official Ministry notices for Niger's legal holidays commonly state that the declared dates are public, non-working and paid throughout the national territory. The notices generally address employers and employees in the public, parapublic and private sectors.
Who Announces Public Holidays in Niger?
The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Employment is a key authority for formal public-holiday notices. The Government of Niger and Council of Ministers publish legal and policy changes, while national Islamic authorities provide religious confirmation when lunar observation determines the date of an Islamic festival.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public holidays are there in Niger in 2026?
There are 16 verified nationwide public-holiday dates in Niger in 2026 when each officially non-working calendar date is counted separately. This includes the day after Eid al-Fitr and the day after Tabaski.
Was Refoundation Day added as a public holiday in 2026?
Yes. Niger's 2026 amendment to the legal-holiday framework established 26 March as Refoundation Day, and the Ministry confirmed 26 March 2026 as a nationwide paid public holiday.
When was Eid al-Fitr celebrated in Niger in 2026?
Eid al-Fitr was celebrated on Thursday, 19 March 2026 after the Islamic Council of Niger confirmed the local lunar sighting. Friday, 20 March was also a legal holiday as the day following Eid.
How many days were public holidays for Tabaski in 2026?
Two calendar dates were officially non-working for Tabaski in 2026: the festival day and the following day. Both dates are stored separately in the VisaBoards holiday database.
When was the Islamic New Year holiday in Niger in 2026?
The officially announced Islamic New Year holiday was Wednesday, 17 June 2026.
Is Mouloud itself the legal public holiday in Niger?
Niger's 2026 Ministry notice declared the day after Mouloud as the legal paid public holiday. For 2026, that date was Wednesday, 26 August.
What is the official name of the 3 August holiday in 2026?
Official 2026 Ministry terminology identifies it as the Day of the Martyrs of Colonisation and the Fight against Desertification.
Are religious holiday dates the same every year?
No. Islamic holiday dates move through the Gregorian calendar and may require local religious or government confirmation. Fixed holidays such as Republic Day and Christmas remain on the same Gregorian date.
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