Israel 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.

Orthodox Christmas Day

7 January — 25 December on the Julian calendar.

Christmas as observed by churches following the Julian calendar, thirteen days after the Gregorian date. A public holiday in Russia, Serbia, Georgia, Ethiopia and other Orthodox-majority countries.

Orthodox New Year

14 January — 1 January on the Julian calendar.

The Julian calendar new year, still marked in Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and parts of Russia. Usually an observance rather than a day off.

International Women's Day

8 March.

Marks the struggle for women's rights, with roots in the labour movement of the early 1900s. A full public holiday across the post-Soviet states; a half day for women only in China; and an observance in most of the rest of the world.

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.

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.

May Day

1 May, or in some countries the first Monday of May.

1 May, combining an older spring festival with International Workers' Day. The United Kingdom and Ireland move the day off to the first Monday of the month.

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.

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.

Muharram

1 Muharram — the Islamic new year.

The first day of the Islamic year. A public holiday in most Muslim-majority countries, though a quiet one — it is a day of remembrance rather than celebration.

Rosh Hashana

1–2 Tishrei on the Hebrew calendar, falling in September or October.

The Jewish new year, opening the ten days of repentance that end with Yom Kippur. A public holiday in Israel and an observance in Jewish communities elsewhere.

Yom Kippur

10 Tishrei, nine days after Rosh Hashana.

The Day of Atonement, the most solemn day of the Jewish year, observed with a full-day fast. In Israel it closes broadcasting, public transport and the airport entirely.

Election Day

Set by each election — not an annual date.

In a number of countries polling day is a public holiday so that voting does not conflict with work. These dates do not repeat annually and cannot be projected into future years.

New Year's Eve

31 December.

The last day of the year. A full public holiday in a minority of countries; far more often a half day, a de facto early finish, or simply a marked date on which people still work.