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Public Holidays in Turkey 2026 – National & Islamic Observances

ByUzair ul haq
Public Holidays in Turkey

Turkey has a nationwide system of national, general and religious public holidays established by law. The 2026 calendar includes fixed national holidays, the Ramadan Feast and Sacrifice Feast, and three periods that begin with an official half-day. The official 2026 dates are published by the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) and are based on Turkey’s national holiday legislation.

Next Public Holiday in Turkey

Date Day Holiday Status
August 30, 2026 Sunday Victory Day Confirmed

Public Holidays in Turkey 2026

Date Day Holiday Status
January 1, 2026 Thursday New Year’s Day Confirmed
March 19, 2026 Thursday Ramadan Feast Eve – Half Day Confirmed
March 20, 2026 Friday Ramadan Feast – Day 1 Confirmed
March 21, 2026 Saturday Ramadan Feast – Day 2 Confirmed
March 22, 2026 Sunday Ramadan Feast – Day 3 Confirmed
April 23, 2026 Thursday National Sovereignty and Children’s Day Confirmed
May 1, 2026 Friday Labour and Solidarity Day Confirmed
May 19, 2026 Tuesday Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day Confirmed
May 26, 2026 Tuesday Sacrifice Feast Eve – Half Day Confirmed
May 27, 2026 Wednesday Sacrifice Feast – Day 1 Confirmed
May 28, 2026 Thursday Sacrifice Feast – Day 2 Confirmed
May 29, 2026 Friday Sacrifice Feast – Day 3 Confirmed
May 30, 2026 Saturday Sacrifice Feast – Day 4 Confirmed
July 15, 2026 Wednesday Democracy and National Unity Day Confirmed
August 30, 2026 Sunday Victory Day Confirmed
October 28, 2026 Wednesday Republic Day – Half Day Confirmed
October 29, 2026 Thursday Republic Day Confirmed

The main holiday schedule above is generated from the VisaBoards public-holidays database. Turkey’s official 2026 calendar includes both full-day holidays and legally recognized half-day holiday periods.

How Public Holidays Work in Turkey

Turkey’s national and general holiday framework is primarily established by Law No. 2429 on National and General Holidays. The law defines the principal national, official and religious holidays and specifies when government departments and public institutions close.

The legal framework distinguishes Republic Day as the national holiday while also recognizing National Sovereignty and Children’s Day, Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day, Victory Day, Ramadan Feast, Sacrifice Feast, New Year’s Day, Labour and Solidarity Day, and Democracy and National Unity Day as general holiday periods.

Religious Public Holidays in Turkey

Turkey has two multi-day religious public holidays: Ramadan Feast, known in Turkish as Ramazan Bayramı, and Sacrifice Feast, known as Kurban Bayramı. Their Gregorian dates move from year to year because they follow the Islamic calendar.

The Presidency of Religious Affairs’ official 2026 holiday calendar places Ramadan Feast from March 20 to March 22, with its official half-day eve on March 19. Sacrifice Feast runs from May 27 to May 30, with its half-day eve on May 26.

Why Are the Feast Eves Half-Day Holidays?

Law No. 2429 provides that Ramadan Feast lasts 3.5 days and begins at 13:00 on the eve of the feast. Sacrifice Feast lasts 4.5 days and likewise begins at 13:00 on its eve. This is why the eve dates are recorded separately as half-day public holidays rather than full-day holidays.

Republic Day in Turkey

Republic Day is Turkey’s national holiday. Under Law No. 2429, the Republic Day holiday begins at 13:00 on October 28 and continues throughout October 29. For database purposes, October 28 is therefore recorded separately as a half-day holiday and October 29 as a full holiday date.

The law also specifically requires private workplaces to close on October 29. This makes Republic Day particularly important when distinguishing general public-holiday rules from rules that apply to private-sector workplaces.

National and Civic Holidays in Turkey

Turkey’s fixed civic holidays commemorate major events in the history of the Republic. These include National Sovereignty and Children’s Day on April 23, Labour and Solidarity Day on May 1, Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day on May 19, Democracy and National Unity Day on July 15, Victory Day on August 30 and Republic Day on October 29.

Because these holidays are fixed to Gregorian calendar dates, their calendar dates do not change from one year to the next, although the weekday changes each year.

Are Government Offices Closed on Public Holidays in Turkey?

Yes. Law No. 2429 provides for government departments and public institutions to close on the national and general holidays specified by the law, subject to separate provisions for organizations whose services must operate continuously.

Essential and continuous public services may therefore continue operating even when ordinary government offices are closed.

Are Public Holidays Paid in Turkey?

Employees covered by Turkey’s Labour Law have statutory pay protections for national and general holidays. Under Article 47 of Labour Law No. 4857, an employee who does not work on a national or general holiday is entitled to the normal day’s wage without having to perform work.

If an employee works on such a holiday, the law provides an additional day’s wage for each holiday day worked. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security therefore explains that an employee working a full national or general holiday normally becomes entitled to the equivalent of two days’ pay for that day: the ordinary holiday entitlement plus an additional day’s wage for the work performed.

Employment contracts and collective agreements may contain further provisions, so workers and employers should check the rules applying to the specific employment relationship.

Do Public Holidays Move When They Fall on a Weekend?

Turkey does not operate a general Monday-substitution system in which every public holiday falling on Sunday automatically moves to the following Monday. The statutory holiday remains attached to the date specified by law.

This matters in 2026 because some public holidays fall on Saturday or Sunday. Their appearance on a weekend should not be interpreted as automatically creating a replacement Monday holiday unless a separate official decision provides otherwise.

Long Weekends in Turkey in 2026

Several 2026 holidays fall next to commonly non-working days and may be useful for travel or leave planning. Ramadan Feast begins on Friday, March 20 and continues through Sunday, March 22, following the half-day holiday on Thursday, March 19. Labour and Solidarity Day falls on Friday, May 1.

Sacrifice Feast is particularly long in 2026. Its official holiday period begins on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 26 and continues through Saturday, May 30. Actual working schedules immediately before or after these periods depend on the employer and the employee’s normal weekly rest arrangements.

Taking annual leave on a nearby working day can extend some breaks, but an annual-leave day is not itself an official public holiday unless the government separately declares it as one.

Are Schools Closed on Public Holidays in Turkey?

School arrangements are governed by the Ministry of National Education’s academic calendar. The Ministry’s 2025-2026 working calendar confirms the Ramadan Feast and Sacrifice Feast periods during the school year and also identifies national commemorative holidays.

Some national holidays involve ceremonies in which students participate, so families should check the relevant school calendar rather than assuming that every public holiday is handled identically for school attendance and ceremonial activities.

Who Announces Public Holiday Dates in Turkey?

The legal basis for Turkey’s national and general holidays comes from legislation, principally Law No. 2429. The Presidency of Religious Affairs publishes official calendar information that includes the Gregorian dates of the religious feast periods and a consolidated annual list of official holidays.

For 2026, Diyanet has already published the relevant Ramadan Feast and Sacrifice Feast dates, so the religious public holidays in the VisaBoards 2026 dataset do not need to remain marked as tentative.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the next public holiday in Turkey?

The next public holiday changes during the year. Check the Next Public Holiday in Turkey section above for the current VisaBoards database-generated result.

How many public holiday dates does Turkey have in 2026?

The VisaBoards 2026 dataset contains 17 dated entries when every calendar date in the multi-day religious holidays and the three official half-day dates are recorded separately. This is a count of database dates rather than a count of separate holiday events or full days of leave.

Is March 19, 2026 a full public holiday in Turkey?

No. March 19, 2026 is the eve of Ramadan Feast and the statutory holiday begins at 13:00, making it an official half-day holiday.

When is Ramadan Feast in Turkey in 2026?

Ramadan Feast runs from March 20 through March 22, 2026. The official half-day eve begins at 13:00 on March 19.

When is Sacrifice Feast in Turkey in 2026?

Sacrifice Feast runs from May 27 through May 30, 2026. Its official holiday period begins at 13:00 on May 26.

Is October 28 a public holiday in Turkey?

October 28 is an official half-day holiday. Republic Day begins at 13:00 on October 28 and continues throughout October 29.

Does Turkey give a substitute Monday when a holiday falls on Sunday?

There is no general rule automatically moving every Sunday public holiday to Monday. A replacement or additional day should only be treated as an official holiday when supported by a specific legal or government decision.

Are employees paid for public holidays in Turkey?

Employees covered by Labour Law No. 4857 are entitled to their normal wage when they do not work on a national or general holiday. If they work on the holiday, an additional day’s wage is generally payable for each holiday day worked.

Official Sources for Public Holidays in Turkey

Uzair ul haq

CEO Visaboards & IT Consultant

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