Iraq 2026 Public Holidays

New Year's Day

1 January. In many countries the day off moves to the following Monday when it falls on a weekend.

The first day of the Gregorian calendar year, and the most widely observed public holiday in the world — a day off in almost every country that uses the Gregorian calendar, regardless of religion. Several countries extend the break to 2 January, and some in East Asia keep both the Gregorian and a separate lunar new year.

Army Day

Varies by country.

Marks the founding of a country's army. Where it is a holiday it is often limited to serving personnel rather than the general population.

Eid al-Fitr Holiday

The second and third days of Eid al-Fitr.

The additional days off that follow Eid al-Fitr itself. Most Muslim-majority countries treat Eid as a multi-day break rather than a single holiday.

Eid al-Fitr

1 Shawwal, the day after Ramadan ends. The date depends on a moon sighting and is often confirmed only a day or two in advance.

The festival that ends Ramadan, and the largest holiday of the year across the Muslim world. Most countries grant two to three consecutive days; Indonesia and Malaysia extend it further with collective leave. Because the date is set by moon sighting, calendars published far in advance are provisional.

Nowruz

The March equinox, around 20–21 March.

The Persian new year, marking the start of spring. A public holiday in Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, and the Central Asian republics, where it runs for several days.

Labor Day

1 May in most countries; the first Monday of September in the United States and Canada.

The workers' holiday. Almost everywhere it falls on 1 May; in the United States and Canada it was deliberately placed in September to avoid the associations of May Day.

Eid al-Adha Holiday

The days following Eid al-Adha.

The additional days off attached to Eid al-Adha, which is commonly a three- or four-day break.

Eid al-Adha

10 Dhu al-Hijjah, about seventy days after Eid al-Fitr, confirmed by moon sighting.

The Feast of Sacrifice, marking the end of the Hajj pilgrimage and commemorating Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son. Alongside Eid al-Fitr it is one of the two principal Islamic holidays, and is observed with several days off in most Muslim-majority countries.

Ashura

10 Muharram.

A day of mourning for Shia Muslims, commemorating the death of Husayn at Karbala, and a day of voluntary fasting for Sunnis. A public holiday in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Bahrain and several North African countries.

The Prophet's Birthday

12 Rabi' al-Awwal — 17 Rabi' al-Awwal in the Shia tradition.

Mawlid, marking the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. A public holiday across most of the Muslim world, though Saudi Arabia and Qatar do not observe it.

Christmas Day

25 December. The day off moves to the following weekday when it falls on a weekend.

The most widely observed public holiday after New Year's Day, a day off in the great majority of countries including many with no Christian majority, where it functions as a secular end-of-year holiday. Orthodox churches following the Julian calendar keep it on 7 January instead.