Pakistan 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.

Holi

The full moon of Phalguna, in February or March.

The spring festival of colours, marking the victory of good over evil and the end of winter. A public holiday in India, Nepal, Suriname and Guyana.

Eid ul 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.

Good Friday

The Friday before Easter Sunday.

Commemorates the crucifixion, and is the most widely observed Christian public holiday after Christmas. Together with Easter Monday it produces a four-day weekend in much of Europe, the Commonwealth and Latin America. In several countries it also carries trading or entertainment restrictions beyond the day off itself.

Easter Sunday

The first Sunday after the first full moon on or after 21 March, so the date moves between 22 March and 25 April.

The central feast of the Christian year, commemorating the resurrection. Because it always falls on a Sunday, the day off it generates is usually Good Friday or Easter Monday rather than the day itself. Its movable date sets the timing of Carnival, Ascension and Pentecost.

Easter Monday

The Monday after Easter Sunday.

A public holiday across most of Europe, the Commonwealth and Latin America, extending the Easter weekend to four days. Notably not a holiday in the United States, Portugal or Spain outside Catalonia and the Balearics.

Labour Day

1 May in most countries.

International Workers' Day, commemorating the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago, and a public holiday in most of the world. The United States and Canada are the notable exceptions, holding their Labor Day in September instead.

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.

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.

Independence Day

The anniversary of the country's independence — a different date in every country.

The national day of a country that gained independence from another state, and typically its most important secular holiday. Over a hundred countries observe one, on dates ranging across the whole calendar.

Janmashtami

The eighth day of the dark fortnight of Bhadrapada, in August or September.

Marks the birth of Krishna, observed with night vigils and fasting.

Dussehra

The tenth day of Navaratri, in September or October.

Celebrates Rama's victory over Ravana, closing the nine nights of Navaratri. A public holiday across India and in Nepal, where it is the longest festival of the year.

Diwali

The new moon of Kartik on the Hindu lunisolar calendar, in October or November.

The festival of lights, the largest Hindu festival of the year and also observed by Sikhs and Jains. A public holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius, Fiji, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana.

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.