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Public holidays in Iran

33 days in 2026 · 28 in 2027

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Next public holiday

Martyrdom of Fatima

After it: Birthday of Imam Ali, Wednesday 23 December

Friday, 13 November 2026

Iran has 33 dates off in 2026 and 28 in 2027, kept by two calendars at once. Ten fall on fixed days of the solar Hijri year, among them the four days of Nowruz from Saturday 21 March 2026, Islamic Republic Day on 1 April and the anniversary of the revolution on 22 Bahman, 11 February. The rest follow the lunar calendar of Shia Islam and arrive ten or eleven days earlier each year: Tasua and Ashura fall on 24 and 25 June in 2026 and on 14 and 15 June in 2027.

The 2026 count is swollen by events. After Ali Khamenei was killed on 28 February 2026 the government declared 40 days of mourning and seven days of public holiday, which timeanddate lists from 1 to 7 March, and the day of his funeral, Monday 6 July, was declared a holiday across the country, with Tehran province also off on 4 and 5 July. Without those eight days the year would have 25 dates off.

Most of the religious days mark the births and deaths of the Prophet and the Shia imams, from the birthday of Imam Ali to the martyrdom of Imam Reza, and they are dated by the sighting of the moon. Timeanddate marks many of them as tentative, and an Iranian consulate's list for the year 1404 warns that its dates may change with the moon, so a religious holiday can move by a day.

Days off in 2026
33Nationwide public holidays
On a weekday
27Saturday to Thursday
On a weekend
6Friday
Long weekends
5and 1 with one day of leave

2026

Public holidays in Iran in 2026

  1. 2 January: Birthday of Imam AliThe birth of Ali, the first Shia imam, on 13 Rajab. Being lunar it comes twice in 2026, on 2 January and 23 December, and on 12 December 2027.FridayDate moves
  2. 17 January: Mab'ath, the Prophet's missionMab'athThe day the Prophet's mission began, on 27 Rajab, which the Wikipedia list calls the Mission of Muhammad.SaturdayDate moves
  3. 4 February: Birthday of Imam MahdiThe birth of the twelfth imam on 15 Sha'ban. Britannica describes cities lit up and bazaars decorated for it; the Shia await his return at the end of days.WednesdayDate moves
  4. 11 February: Anniversary of the Islamic Revolution22 BahmanThe anniversary of 22 Bahman 1357, 11 February 1979, when the armed forces declared their neutrality and the monarchy fell. The 22 inscriptions on the flag stand for the date.Wednesday
  5. 1 March: Public mourning for Ali KhameneiPublic mourningSeven days of public holiday declared by the government on 1 March 2026 after Ali Khamenei was killed in American and Israeli strikes on 28 February, alongside 40 days of mourning.SundayDate moves
  6. 2 March: Public mourning for Ali KhameneiPublic mourningSeven days of public holiday declared by the government on 1 March 2026 after Ali Khamenei was killed in American and Israeli strikes on 28 February, alongside 40 days of mourning.MondayDate moves
  7. 3 March: Public mourning for Ali KhameneiPublic mourningSeven days of public holiday declared by the government on 1 March 2026 after Ali Khamenei was killed in American and Israeli strikes on 28 February, alongside 40 days of mourning.TuesdayDate moves
  8. 4 March: Public mourning for Ali KhameneiPublic mourningSeven days of public holiday declared by the government on 1 March 2026 after Ali Khamenei was killed in American and Israeli strikes on 28 February, alongside 40 days of mourning.WednesdayDate moves
  9. 5 March: Public mourning for Ali KhameneiPublic mourningSeven days of public holiday declared by the government on 1 March 2026 after Ali Khamenei was killed in American and Israeli strikes on 28 February, alongside 40 days of mourning.ThursdayDate moves
  10. 6 March: Public mourning for Ali KhameneiPublic mourningSeven days of public holiday declared by the government on 1 March 2026 after Ali Khamenei was killed in American and Israeli strikes on 28 February, alongside 40 days of mourning.FridayDate moves
  11. 7 March: Public mourning for Ali KhameneiPublic mourningSeven days of public holiday declared by the government on 1 March 2026 after Ali Khamenei was killed in American and Israeli strikes on 28 February, alongside 40 days of mourning.SaturdayDate moves
  12. 11 March: Martyrdom of Imam AliThe death of Imam Ali, on 21 Ramadan. In 2026 it fell on 11 March and in 2027 on 28 February.WednesdayDate moves
  13. 20 March: Oil Nationalisation DayEsfand 29, the anniversary of the vote of 1951 that nationalised the British-owned oil industry under Prime Minister Mosaddegh. It falls on the last day of the solar year, the day before Nowruz.Friday
  14. 21 March: NowruzThe new year, beginning at the March equinox on 1 Farvardin, with the first four days of Farvardin off. Britannica describes a celebration that starts on the last Wednesday of the old year and ends on the thirteenth day of the new one.Saturday
  15. 22 March: NowruzThe new year, beginning at the March equinox on 1 Farvardin, with the first four days of Farvardin off. Britannica describes a celebration that starts on the last Wednesday of the old year and ends on the thirteenth day of the new one.Sunday
  16. 23 March: NowruzThe new year, beginning at the March equinox on 1 Farvardin, with the first four days of Farvardin off. Britannica describes a celebration that starts on the last Wednesday of the old year and ends on the thirteenth day of the new one.Monday
  17. 24 March: NowruzThe new year, beginning at the March equinox on 1 Farvardin, with the first four days of Farvardin off. Britannica describes a celebration that starts on the last Wednesday of the old year and ends on the thirteenth day of the new one.Tuesday
  18. 1 April: Islamic Republic Day12 Farvardin, 1 April, the day in 1979 on which Khomeini declared Iran an Islamic republic after the referendum.Wednesday
  19. 2 April: Sizdah Bedar, Nature DaySizdah BedarThe thirteenth day of Farvardin and the last day of the Nowruz season, when families picnic in the countryside. Timeanddate lists it as Nature Day.Thursday
  20. 14 April: Martyrdom of Imam Ja'far al-SadiqMartyrdom of Imam SadiqThe death of Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq, on 25 Shawwal.TuesdayDate moves
  21. 27 May: Eid al-AdhaEid-e GhorbanEid al-Adha, the feast of sacrifice on 10 Dhu al-Hijjah.WednesdayDate moves
  22. 4 June: Eid al-GhadirEid-e GhadirEid al-Ghadir, on 18 Dhu al-Hijjah. In 2026 it fell on 4 June, the same day as the anniversary of Khomeini's death.ThursdayDate moves
  23. 5 June: Khordad 15 uprising15 KhordadThe anniversary of the demonstrations of 15 Khordad 1342, 5 June 1963, the year Khomeini was arrested for denouncing the shah's White Revolution.Friday
  24. 24 June: TasuaThe ninth of Muharram, the eve of Ashura.WednesdayDate moves
  25. 25 June: AshuraThe tenth of Muharram, marking the death of Husayn, the third imam, at Karbala in 680. Britannica describes it as kept with the passion play ta'zieh and rituals of mourning.ThursdayDate moves
  26. 6 July: Funeral of Ali KhameneiMonday 6 July 2026, the day of the official funeral in Tehran, declared a holiday across the country. Tehran province was also off for the farewell ceremonies on 4 and 5 July.MondayDate moves
  27. 4 August: ArbaeenThe fortieth day after Ashura, on 20 Safar.TuesdayDate moves
  28. 12 August: Death of the Prophet and martyrdom of Imam HasanDeath of the Prophet28 Safar, the death of the Prophet and the martyrdom of Imam Hasan.WednesdayDate moves
  29. 13 August: Martyrdom of Imam RezaThe death of Ali al-Rida, whose shrine is in Mashhad, at the end of Safar.ThursdayDate moves
  30. 21 August: Martyrdom of Imam Hasan al-AskariMartyrdom of Imam AskariThe death of Imam Hasan al-Askari, on 8 Rabi' al-Awwal.FridayDate moves
  31. 30 August: Birthday of the Prophet and Imam Ja'far al-SadiqBirthday of the Prophet17 Rabi' al-Awwal, kept in Iran as the birthday of both the Prophet and Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq.SundayDate moves
  32. 13 November: Martyrdom of FatimaThe death of Fatima, on 3 Jumada al-Thani.FridayDate moves
  33. 23 December: Birthday of Imam AliThe birth of Ali, the first Shia imam, on 13 Rajab. Being lunar it comes twice in 2026, on 2 January and 23 December, and on 12 December 2027.WednesdayDate moves

Long weekends

Long weekends in Iran 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.

  • 9daysFri 27 Feb to Sat 7 MarWith Sat 28 Feb taken as leave · Public mourning for Ali Khamenei, Public mourning for Ali Khamenei, Public mourning for Ali Khamenei, Public mourning for Ali Khamenei, Public mourning for Ali Khamenei, Public mourning for Ali Khamenei, Public mourning for Ali Khamenei
  • 7daysSun 1 Mar to Sat 7 MarPublic mourning for Ali Khamenei, Public mourning for Ali Khamenei, Public mourning for Ali Khamenei, Public mourning for Ali Khamenei, Public mourning for Ali Khamenei, Public mourning for Ali Khamenei, Public mourning for Ali Khamenei
  • 5daysFri 20 Mar to Tue 24 MarOil Nationalisation Day, Nowruz, Nowruz, Nowruz, Nowruz
  • 3daysWed 1 Apr to Fri 3 AprIslamic Republic Day, Sizdah Bedar, Nature Day
  • 3daysWed 24 Jun to Fri 26 JunTasua, Ashura
  • 3daysWed 12 Aug to Fri 14 AugDeath of the Prophet and martyrdom of Imam Hasan, Martyrdom of Imam Reza

2027

Public holidays in Iran in 2027

  1. 6 January: Mab'ath, the Prophet's missionMab'athWednesdayDate moves
  2. 24 January: Birthday of Imam MahdiSundayDate moves
  3. 11 February: Anniversary of the Islamic Revolution22 BahmanThursday
  4. 28 February: Martyrdom of Imam AliSundayDate moves
  5. 10 March: Eid al-FitrWednesdayDate moves
  6. 11 March: Eid al-FitrThursdayDate moves
  7. 20 March: Oil Nationalisation DaySaturday
  8. 21 March: NowruzSunday
  9. 22 March: NowruzMonday
  10. 23 March: NowruzTuesday
  11. 24 March: NowruzWednesday
  12. 1 April: Islamic Republic DayThursday
  13. 2 April: Sizdah Bedar, Nature DaySizdah BedarFriday
  14. 3 April: Martyrdom of Imam Ja'far al-SadiqMartyrdom of Imam SadiqSaturdayDate moves
  15. 17 May: Eid al-AdhaEid-e GhorbanMondayDate moves
  16. 25 May: Eid al-GhadirEid-e GhadirTuesdayDate moves
  17. 4 June: Anniversary of Khomeini's death14 KhordadFriday
  18. 5 June: Khordad 15 uprising15 KhordadSaturday
  19. 14 June: TasuaMondayDate moves
  20. 15 June: AshuraTuesdayDate moves
  21. 25 July: ArbaeenSundayDate moves
  22. 2 August: Death of the Prophet and martyrdom of Imam HasanDeath of the ProphetMondayDate moves
  23. 3 August: Martyrdom of Imam RezaTuesdayDate moves
  24. 11 August: Martyrdom of Imam Hasan al-AskariMartyrdom of Imam AskariWednesdayDate moves
  25. 20 August: Birthday of the Prophet and Imam Ja'far al-SadiqBirthday of the ProphetFridayDate moves
  26. 3 November: Martyrdom of FatimaWednesdayDate moves
  27. 12 December: Birthday of Imam AliSundayDate moves
  28. 26 December: Mab'ath, the Prophet's missionMab'athSundayDate moves

Observances

Days marked in Iran that are not days off

  1. 19 February: Start of RamadanRamadanThe first day of the fasting month. Timeanddate lists it as an observance and it is not counted as a day off.ThursdayDate moves

The number of holidays has been argued over inside Iran. In 2008 the government's English-language newspaper Iran Daily called the problem of too many public holidays a perpetual subject of concern, and complained that the government often declared unofficial holidays to make longer weekends.

Friday is the weekly day of rest, and Thursday is a short working day of four hours under the 44-hour week Britannica describes. A holiday on a Friday is not moved to another day in any source on file: in 2026 six of the dates off, among them Oil Nationalisation Day on 20 March, fall on a Friday.

Labour Day on 1 May is listed by qppstudio as a holiday for the private sector only and is not counted here. No official calendar for the Solar Hijri year 1406, which begins in March 2027, is on file; the dates for the second half of 2027 come from timeanddate and are marked there as tentative.

Common questions

Questions about public holidays in Iran

How many public holidays does Iran have in 2026?

33 dates off on the calendars on file. Ten are fixed in the solar Hijri year, including the four days of Nowruz, fifteen follow the lunar Shia calendar, and eight were added during the year: seven days declared after Ali Khamenei was killed on 28 February and the day of his funeral, 6 July. In 2027 the count is 28.

How long is the Nowruz holiday in Iran?

Four official days, 1 to 4 Farvardin, which are 21 to 24 March in both 2026 and 2027, followed by Islamic Republic Day on 12 Farvardin and Sizdah Bedar on 13 Farvardin, 1 and 2 April. Britannica describes the celebration as beginning on the last Wednesday of the old year and running to the picnic of the thirteenth day.

Why do Iran's religious holidays move every year?

They are fixed in the lunar Islamic calendar, while Iran's civil year follows the sun, so each lunar holiday comes ten or eleven days earlier than the year before. Ashura fell on 25 June in 2026 and falls on 15 June in 2027. The exact dates depend on the sighting of the moon, and timeanddate marks many of them as tentative.

What happens on 22 Bahman?

Iran marks the anniversary of the revolution's victory on 22 Bahman, 11 February, the day in 1979 when the armed forces declared their neutrality and the monarchy fell. The date is written into the flag, where Allahu Akbar is repeated 22 times along the edges of the white stripe.

What is Sizdah Bedar?

The thirteenth day of the new year, 13 Farvardin, which falls on 2 April. It closes the Nowruz season, and by custom families spend it outdoors, picnicking in the countryside. Timeanddate lists it as Nature Day, and it is a public holiday in both years on file.

Why were there extra holidays in March and July 2026?

After American and Israeli strikes killed the Leader, Ali Khamenei, on 28 February 2026, the government declared 40 days of mourning and seven days of public holiday, listed by timeanddate from 1 to 7 March. His funeral on Monday 6 July was declared a holiday across the country, with two further days off in Tehran province.

Which day is the weekend in Iran?

Friday is the day of rest, and Thursday is a half working day of four hours under the 44-hour, five-and-a-half-day week. The week begins on Saturday. A holiday that falls on a Friday is not moved in any of the sources on file.

Dates from Written from the sources, read 2026-10-02. The page counts from Saturday, 3 October 2026, the day it was built.