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Public Holidays in Syria 2026 – Islamic & National Days

ByUzair ul haq
Public Holidays in Syria

Syria’s public holidays in 2026 include national commemorations, civil holidays, Islamic festivals, and Christian religious holidays. The current framework is based mainly on Presidential Decree No. 188 of 2025, while Presidential Decree No. 13 of 2026 added Nowruz as an official paid holiday throughout Syria. Islamic holiday dates can depend on official religious confirmation, so estimated dates should not be treated as final until announced by the relevant Syrian authorities.

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Next Public Holiday in Syria

Date Day Holiday Status
December 8, 2026 Tuesday Liberation Day Official Public Holiday

Public Holidays in Syria 2026

Date Day Holiday Status
January 1, 2026 Thursday New Year’s Day Official Public Holiday
March 18, 2026 Wednesday Syrian Revolution Day Official Public Holiday
March 20, 2026 Friday Eid al-Fitr Official Public Holiday
March 21, 2026 Saturday Eid al-Fitr Official Public Holiday
March 21, 2026 Saturday Mother’s Day Official Public Holiday
March 21, 2026 Saturday Nowruz Official Public Holiday
March 22, 2026 Sunday Eid al-Fitr Official Public Holiday
April 5, 2026 Sunday Easter – Western Christian denominations Official Public Holiday
April 12, 2026 Sunday Easter – Eastern Christian denominations Official Public Holiday
April 17, 2026 Friday Evacuation Day (Independence Day) Official Public Holiday
May 1, 2026 Friday Labor Day Official Public Holiday
May 27, 2026 Wednesday Eid al-Adha Official Public Holiday
May 28, 2026 Thursday Eid al-Adha Official Public Holiday
May 29, 2026 Friday Eid al-Adha Official Public Holiday
May 30, 2026 Saturday Eid al-Adha Official Public Holiday
June 16, 2026 Tuesday Hijri New Year Official Public Holiday
August 25, 2026 Tuesday Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday Official Public Holiday
December 8, 2026 Tuesday Liberation Day Official Public Holiday
December 25, 2026 Friday Christmas Day Official Public Holiday

How Syria’s Official Holiday System Works

Presidential Decree No. 188 of 2025 establishes the main framework for official holidays in Syria. It includes fixed-date national and civil holidays as well as Islamic and Christian religious holidays.

The decree provides three holiday days for Eid al-Fitr and four days for Eid al-Adha. It also provides one day each for the Hijri New Year and Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday, alongside New Year’s Day, Mother’s Day, Evacuation Day, Labor Day, Liberation Day, Syrian Revolution Day, Christmas and Easter according to both the Western and Eastern Christian calendars.

The decree specifically describes these as official holidays and days on which workers covered by Syria’s Basic Law for State Workers are entitled to leave with full pay. Employment arrangements outside that legal framework should therefore be checked against the rules applicable to the individual workplace.

Nowruz Is an Official Public Holiday in Syria

Nowruz became part of Syria’s official holiday framework in 2026. Presidential Decree No. 13 of 2026 declares March 21 an official paid holiday throughout the Syrian Arab Republic and describes Nowruz as a national occasion representing spring and fraternity.

Nowruz falls on the same calendar date as Mother’s Day. In 2026, March 21 also coincided with the second day of Eid al-Fitr, which is why more than one holiday entry appears on that date in the verified schedule.

Islamic Public Holidays in Syria

Syria recognizes Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, the Hijri New Year and Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday as official holidays. Their Gregorian dates move from year to year because they follow the Islamic Hijri calendar.

How are Eid dates confirmed in Syria?

Religious dates may be finalized through official moon-sighting procedures rather than relying only on advance calendar estimates. For Eid al-Fitr in 2026, Syria’s National Moon-Sighting Committee formally announced the beginning of Shawwal after applying the religious determination adopted by the Supreme Fatwa Council.

The 2026 Eid al-Adha timing was likewise established after confirmation of the beginning of Dhu al-Hijjah. This is why users planning around future Eid holidays in Syria should check official announcements close to the expected date.

Christian Public Holidays in Syria

Syria’s official holiday system recognizes Christmas on December 25 for Christian denominations as well as separate Easter holidays for Christian communities following the Western and Eastern calendars.

For 2026, the General Secretariat of the Presidency officially announced public-sector holidays for Western-calendar Easter and Eastern-calendar Easter. The two dates are listed separately because the two Christian calendar traditions celebrated Easter on different Sundays in 2026.

National and Civil Holidays in Syria

The current official calendar includes Syrian Revolution Day on March 18 and Liberation Day on December 8. Both were included in Presidential Decree No. 188 of 2025 as official holidays.

Other fixed-date holidays include New Year’s Day, Mother’s Day, Evacuation Day on April 17, Labor Day and Christmas Day. The current decree should be used in preference to older holiday calendars that may contain holidays from previous Syrian schedules.

Government Office Closures Can Be Longer Than the Public Holiday Itself

Official public-sector closure notices in Syria can occasionally cover additional days around recognized holidays. These wider administrative closures should not automatically be treated as additional nationwide public holidays.

For example, the General Secretariat of the Presidency closed public institutions from March 18 through March 23, 2026 for the combined period covering Syrian Revolution Day, Eid al-Fitr, Mother’s Day and Nowruz. The statutory holiday entries themselves remain the individual holidays established under the governing decrees.

A similar distinction applied around Eid al-Adha. Public institutions were ordered closed from May 26 through May 30, while Presidential Decree No. 188 provides four official Eid al-Adha holiday days and the officially confirmed first day of Eid was May 27. May 26 should therefore not be added to the main public-holiday database merely because it formed part of the wider government-office closure.

What Happens When a Public Holiday Falls on a Weekend in Syria?

The current holiday decree establishes the official holidays and their duration, but it should not be interpreted as creating an automatic substitute holiday whenever a fixed public holiday falls on a weekend. Additional days off should be recorded only when the Syrian authorities issue a specific decision or closure notice.

This distinction matters because the government may announce an extended closure around a holiday without changing the underlying statutory holiday date.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many public holiday dates are there in Syria in 2026?

The verified 2026 dataset contains 17 distinct public-holiday dates and 19 holiday records. The difference occurs because March 21 contains three separate official holiday entries: Mother’s Day, Nowruz and the second day of Eid al-Fitr.

What is the next public holiday in Syria?

The next public holiday changes throughout the year. Use the dynamic Next Public Holiday section near the top of this page for the current holiday name, date and countdown.

Is Nowruz a public holiday throughout Syria?

Yes. Presidential Decree No. 13 of 2026 made March 21 an official paid Nowruz holiday throughout the Syrian Arab Republic.

How many days are officially provided for Eid al-Fitr in Syria?

Presidential Decree No. 188 of 2025 provides three official holiday days for Eid al-Fitr.

How many days are officially provided for Eid al-Adha in Syria?

Presidential Decree No. 188 of 2025 provides four official holiday days for Eid al-Adha.

Are Eid holiday dates the same every year in Syria?

No. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha follow the Islamic lunar calendar, so their Gregorian dates change each year. Final timing may also depend on official religious confirmation and moon sighting.

Does Syria observe both Western and Eastern Easter?

Yes. Syria’s official holiday framework recognizes Easter for Christian denominations following the Western calendar and Easter for denominations following the Eastern calendar as separate holidays.

Are public holidays paid in Syria?

Presidential Decree No. 188 states that workers subject to the Basic Law for State Workers receive the specified official holidays with full pay. The decree should not be generalized to every private-sector employment arrangement without checking the applicable employment rules.

Are extra government closure days always public holidays?

No. The Presidency may announce broader closures for public institutions around major occasions. An additional closure day should not be entered as a nationwide public holiday unless the relevant legal or official announcement gives it that status.

Official Sources for Public Holidays in Syria

Uzair ul haq

CEO Visaboards & IT Consultant

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