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Public holidays in Afghanistan

15 days in 2026 · 14 in 2027

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Next public holiday

Liberation Day

After it: Eid al-Fitr, Wednesday 10 March

Monday, 15 February 2027

Afghanistan has 15 dates off in 2026. Seven belong to the Islamic calendar: three days of Eid al-Fitr from Thursday 19 March, the Day of Arafah and three days of Eid al-Adha from Tuesday 26 May, and Ashura on Friday 26 June, with the Prophet's birthday on Wednesday 26 August. Most of the rest are anniversaries of wars and of who won them, and the Afghanistan Analysts Network describes the list as consisting mostly of anniversaries of violent takeovers.

August carries the densest run. Independence Day on 19 August marks the Treaty of Rawalpindi of 1919 and has been kept by every government since, the kings, the communists, the mujahideen, the republic and both emirates. Four days before it, 15 August marks the Taliban's entry into Kabul in 2021, and on 31 August the government marks the departure of the last United States troops, on the date once kept as Pashtunistan Day.

In 2027 the Islamic holidays fall nine to eleven days earlier, and the Prophet's birthday lands on Sunday 15 August, the same day as the anniversary of the takeover, so the year has 14 dates off. Timeanddate marks the Islamic dates for 2027 as tentative, because they depend on the sighting of the moon.

Days off in 2026
15Nationwide public holidays
On a weekday
12Monday to Friday
On a weekend
3Saturday or Sunday
Long weekends
5and 2 with one day of leave

2026

Public holidays in Afghanistan in 2026

  1. 15 February: Liberation DayThe withdrawal of the last Soviet troops, who crossed the Friendship Bridge over the Amu Darya on 15 February 1989. The mujahideen governments, the Islamic Republic and both Taliban emirates have all kept it.Sunday
  2. 19 March: Eid al-FitrThe festival at the end of Ramadan, on the first of Shawwal, with two further days off after it: 19 to 21 March in 2026 and 10 to 12 March in 2027.ThursdayDate moves
  3. 20 March: Eid al-Fitr holidayEid al-FitrThe festival at the end of Ramadan, on the first of Shawwal, with two further days off after it: 19 to 21 March in 2026 and 10 to 12 March in 2027.FridayDate moves
  4. 21 March: Eid al-Fitr holidayEid al-FitrThe festival at the end of Ramadan, on the first of Shawwal, with two further days off after it: 19 to 21 March in 2026 and 10 to 12 March in 2027.SaturdayDate moves
  5. 28 April: Mujahideen Victory DayRuz-e PiruziVictory Day, for the mujahideen's entry into Kabul on 28 April 1992, 8 Saur in the Afghan calendar. The republic kept it at the mujahideen parties' insistence, and the Taliban, many of whom fought in the 1980s, have kept it too.Tuesday
  6. 1 May: International Workers' Day1 May, listed as a day off by both the Wikipedia list of official holidays and timeanddate.Friday
  7. 26 May: Day of ArafahThe ninth of Dhu al-Hijjah, the day of the pilgrims' stand at Arafat, a day off before Eid al-Adha.TuesdayDate moves
  8. 27 May: Eid al-AdhaEid al-QurbanEid al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice on the tenth of Dhu al-Hijjah, with two more days off after it: 27 to 29 May in 2026 and 17 to 19 May in 2027.WednesdayDate moves
  9. 28 May: Eid al-Adha holidayEid al-QurbanEid al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice on the tenth of Dhu al-Hijjah, with two more days off after it: 27 to 29 May in 2026 and 17 to 19 May in 2027.ThursdayDate moves
  10. 29 May: Eid al-Adha holidayEid al-QurbanEid al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice on the tenth of Dhu al-Hijjah, with two more days off after it: 27 to 29 May in 2026 and 17 to 19 May in 2027.FridayDate moves
  11. 26 June: AshuraThe tenth of Muharram, a day off in both years: Friday 26 June 2026 and Tuesday 15 June 2027.FridayDate moves
  12. 15 August: Victory DayThe anniversary of the Taliban's entry into Kabul on 15 August 2021, 24 Asad in the Afghan calendar, which the Emirate calls the Conquest of Kabul Anniversary and treats as its main national holiday. It was first announced as a public holiday in August 2022.Saturday
  13. 19 August: Independence DayThe Treaty of Rawalpindi, signed on 8 August 1919 at the end of the Third Anglo-Afghan War, which returned the conduct of foreign affairs to Kabul. Kept on 19 August for more than a century.Wednesday
  14. 26 August: Mawlid, the Prophet's BirthdayMawlidThe Prophet Muhammad's birthday, on the twelfth of Rabi al-Awwal: Wednesday 26 August 2026 and Sunday 15 August 2027.WednesdayDate moves
  15. 31 August: Departure DayThe departure of the last United States troops from Kabul on 31 August 2021, declared a national holiday by the Taliban in 2023. From 1949 the same date was kept as Pashtunistan Day, for the Pashtuns and Baluch beyond the Durand Line.Monday

Long weekends

Long weekends in Afghanistan in 2026

Runs of three days or more off, with weekends counted, and the working days that join a holiday to a weekend when taken as leave.

  • 4daysThu 19 Mar to Sun 22 MarEid al-Fitr, Eid al-Fitr holiday, Eid al-Fitr holiday
  • 4daysSat 25 Apr to Tue 28 AprWith Mon 27 Apr taken as leave · Mujahideen Victory Day
  • 3daysFri 1 May to Sun 3 MayInternational Workers' Day
  • 9daysSat 23 May to Sun 31 MayWith Mon 25 May taken as leave · Day of Arafah, Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Adha holiday, Eid al-Adha holiday
  • 6daysTue 26 May to Sun 31 MayDay of Arafah, Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Adha holiday, Eid al-Adha holiday
  • 3daysFri 26 Jun to Sun 28 JunAshura
  • 3daysSat 29 Aug to Mon 31 AugDeparture Day

2027

Public holidays in Afghanistan in 2027

  1. 15 February: Liberation DayMonday
  2. 10 March: Eid al-FitrWednesdayDate moves
  3. 11 March: Eid al-Fitr holidayEid al-FitrThursdayDate moves
  4. 12 March: Eid al-Fitr holidayEid al-FitrFridayDate moves
  5. 28 April: Mujahideen Victory DayRuz-e PiruziWednesday
  6. 1 May: International Workers' DaySaturday
  7. 16 May: Day of ArafahSundayDate moves
  8. 17 May: Eid al-AdhaEid al-QurbanMondayDate moves
  9. 18 May: Eid al-Adha holidayEid al-QurbanTuesdayDate moves
  10. 19 May: Eid al-Adha holidayEid al-QurbanWednesdayDate moves
  11. 15 June: AshuraTuesdayDate moves
  12. 15 August: Mawlid, the Prophet's BirthdayMawlidSundayDate moves
  13. 19 August: Independence DayThursday
  14. 31 August: Departure DayTuesday

Observances

Days marked in Afghanistan that are not days off

  1. 18 February: First day of RamadanRamadanThe first day of the fasting month. Timeanddate lists it among the year's days; the Wikipedia list of official holidays under the Taliban does not, so it is shown here as marked, not as a day off.WednesdayDate moves
  2. 21 March: NowruzNawrozThe Persian new year at the spring equinox, the country's official new year under earlier governments and kept with music, dance and buzkashi. Under the Taliban its status is unofficial, and Freedom House reports that the morality decree of August 2024 banned festivals of Persian origin.Saturday

Martyrs' Day, established by parliament in 2012 on 9 September, the anniversary of Ahmad Shah Massoud's assassination in 2001, is not counted here. The Afghanistan Analysts Network reports that the Taliban ruled out its celebration in September 2021 and removed it from the calendar of public holidays in 2022; timeanddate still lists it as a public holiday on Wednesday 9 September 2026 and Thursday 9 September 2027, and the Wikipedia list calls its status unclear.

Several holidays of earlier governments have gone. The anniversary of the 1973 republic was kept only while Daud's republic lasted, the Saur Revolution of 27 April 1978 lost its official place in 1991, and the Islamic Republic never created a holiday for its own founding.

No official list published by the Emirate is on file. The dates here come from timeanddate's calendars for 2026 and 2027 and from the Wikipedia list of holidays kept under the Taliban, and the Islamic days may move by a day when the moon is sighted.

Common questions

Questions about public holidays in Afghanistan

How many public holidays does Afghanistan have in 2026?

Fifteen dates off: Liberation Day on 15 February, three days of Eid al-Fitr from 19 March, Victory Day of the mujahideen on 28 April, 1 May, the Day of Arafah and three days of Eid al-Adha from 26 May, Ashura on 26 June, and 15, 19, 26 and 31 August. Nowruz and the start of Ramadan are marked but are not days off.

Why are there so many holidays in August?

Three political anniversaries fall within sixteen days. Independence Day on 19 August dates from 1919. The Taliban added 15 August for their entry into Kabul in 2021 and 31 August for the departure of the last US troops, and in 2026 the Prophet's birthday falls on 26 August as well.

Is Nowruz a holiday in Afghanistan?

Not officially under the Taliban. The Wikipedia list of holidays gives its status as unofficial and timeanddate lists 21 March only as an observance. Freedom House reports that a morality decree of August 2024 banned festivals of Persian origin. Under earlier governments Nowruz was the official new year, celebrated with music, dance and buzkashi, and the Red Flower Festival at Mazar-e Sharif was held at the same time.

What does Liberation Day on 15 February commemorate?

The end of the Soviet withdrawal. The last Soviet troops crossed the Friendship Bridge over the Amu Darya into Soviet Uzbekistan on 15 February 1989, 26 Dalwa in the Afghan calendar, and the mujahideen governments, the Islamic Republic and both Taliban emirates have all kept the date.

When is Eid al-Adha in Afghanistan in 2027?

Timeanddate gives Monday 17 May 2027, with the Day of Arafah on Sunday 16 May and the holiday continuing to Wednesday 19 May, four days off in a row. The dates are tentative until the new moon of Dhu al-Hijjah is sighted, and the whole festival falls about ten days earlier than in 2026, when it ran from 26 to 29 May.

Is Martyrs' Day still a holiday?

Probably not. The Afghanistan Analysts Network reported that the Taliban removed 9 September, the anniversary of Ahmad Shah Massoud's assassination, from the calendar of public holidays in 2022, and Wikipedia calls its status unclear, although timeanddate still lists it. It is not counted as a day off here.

What is Afghan Independence Day?

19 August, the anniversary of the Treaty of Rawalpindi of 1919, which ended the Third Anglo-Afghan War and gave Afghanistan control of its foreign relations. It has been celebrated for more than a century by governments of every kind. In 2021, four days after the Taliban took Kabul, clashes at rallies in Jalalabad over the tricolour left several young people dead or injured.

Dates from Written from the sources, read 2026-09-30. The page counts from Wednesday, 30 September 2026, the day it was built.