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Public holidays in Kazakhstan

19 days in 2026 · 19 in 2027

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Next public holiday

Republic Day

Республика күні

After it: Day off for Republic Day, Monday 26 October

Sunday, 25 October 2026

Kazakhstan has 14 holiday dates with a day off in 2026 and 15 in 2027, and the days off moved from weekends bring each year to 19, though not the same 19. Constitution Day moved: the new constitution approved on 15 March 2026 made the referendum's date the holiday, and a law of 11 June 2026 struck out 30 August, so 2026 has no Constitution Day off at all and 2027 has its first on Monday 15 March. The calendar also mixes three traditions: Nauryz, the spring new year, over three days from 21 March; Orthodox Christmas on 7 January; and Kurban Ait, the Muslim feast of sacrifice, which moves each year.

When a secular holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the day off passes to the next working day. In 2026 Nauryz fell on Saturday 21 March and Sunday 22 March, so the break ran from Saturday to Wednesday 25 March. The two religious days, Orthodox Christmas and Kurban Ait, are not carried over: in 2027 Kurban Ait is expected on Sunday 16 May, and no Monday off follows it.

Days off in 2026
19Nationwide public holidays
On a weekday
14Monday to Friday
On a weekend
5Saturday or Sunday
Long weekends
7and 1 with one day of leave

2026

Public holidays in Kazakhstan in 2026

  1. 1 January: New Year's DayЖаңа жылNew Year, kept over two days, 1 and 2 January.Thursday
  2. 2 January: New Year's DayЖаңа жылNew Year, kept over two days, 1 and 2 January.Friday
  3. 7 January: Orthodox ChristmasМәсіх туылуыOrthodox Christmas, on 7 January. An official holiday since 2007.Wednesday
  4. 8 March: International Women's DayХалықаралық әйелдер күніInternational Women's Day.Sunday
  5. 9 March: Day off for International Women's DayХалықаралық әйелдер күніInternational Women's Day.MondayDate moves
  6. 21 March: Nauryz MeyramyНаурыз мейрамыNauryz, the spring new year that began as the Persian new year, kept from 21 to 23 March. UNESCO inscribed it with the shared Novruz tradition in 2024.Saturday
  7. 22 March: Nauryz MeyramyНаурыз мейрамыNauryz, the spring new year that began as the Persian new year, kept from 21 to 23 March. UNESCO inscribed it with the shared Novruz tradition in 2024.Sunday
  8. 23 March: Nauryz MeyramyНаурыз мейрамыNauryz, the spring new year that began as the Persian new year, kept from 21 to 23 March. UNESCO inscribed it with the shared Novruz tradition in 2024.Monday
  9. 24 March: Day off for NauryzНаурыз мейрамыNauryz, the spring new year that began as the Persian new year, kept from 21 to 23 March. UNESCO inscribed it with the shared Novruz tradition in 2024.TuesdayDate moves
  10. 25 March: Day off for NauryzНаурыз мейрамыNauryz, the spring new year that began as the Persian new year, kept from 21 to 23 March. UNESCO inscribed it with the shared Novruz tradition in 2024.WednesdayDate moves
  11. 1 May: Kazakhstan People's Unity DayҚазақстан халқыныңKazakhstan People's Unity Day, on 1 May.Friday
  12. 7 May: Defender of the Fatherland DayОтан Қорғаушы күніDefender of the Fatherland Day, on 7 May. A holiday since 2013.Thursday
  13. 9 May: Great Patriotic War Against Fascism Victory DayЖеңіс күніVictory Day, the end of the war against Nazi Germany in 1945.Saturday
  14. 11 May: Day off for Victory DayЖеңіс күніVictory Day, the end of the war against Nazi Germany in 1945.MondayDate moves
  15. 27 May: Kurban AitҚұрбан айтKurban Ait, the Muslim feast of sacrifice, at the end of the Hajj. Its date moves with the Islamic calendar, and it has been a holiday since 2007.WednesdayDate moves
  16. 6 July: Capital City DayАстана күніCapital City Day. On 6 July 1994 the Supreme Council voted to move the capital from Almaty to Akmola, which became Astana.Monday
  17. 25 October: Republic DayРеспублика күніRepublic Day, on 25 October; the Kazakh SSR declared its sovereignty on 25 October 1990. A holiday from 1995 to 2009 and again since 2022.Sunday
  18. 26 October: Day off for Republic DayРеспублика күніRepublic Day, on 25 October; the Kazakh SSR declared its sovereignty on 25 October 1990. A holiday from 1995 to 2009 and again since 2022.MondayDate moves
  19. 16 December: Independence DayТәуелсіздік күніIndependence Day. Kazakhstan declared independence on 16 December 1991, the last Soviet republic to do so.Wednesday

Long weekends

Long weekends in Kazakhstan 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 1 Jan to Sun 4 JanNew Year's Day, New Year's Day
  • 3daysSat 7 Mar to Mon 9 MarInternational Women's Day, Day off for International Women's Day
  • 5daysSat 21 Mar to Wed 25 MarNauryz Meyramy, Nauryz Meyramy, Nauryz Meyramy, Day off for Nauryz, Day off for Nauryz
  • 3daysFri 1 May to Sun 3 MayKazakhstan People's Unity Day
  • 5daysThu 7 May to Mon 11 MayWith Fri 8 May taken as leave · Defender of the Fatherland Day, Great Patriotic War Against Fascism Victory Day, Day off for Victory Day
  • 3daysSat 9 May to Mon 11 MayGreat Patriotic War Against Fascism Victory Day, Day off for Victory Day
  • 3daysSat 4 Jul to Mon 6 JulCapital City Day
  • 3daysSat 24 Oct to Mon 26 OctRepublic Day, Day off for Republic Day

2027

Public holidays in Kazakhstan in 2027

  1. 1 January: New Year's DayЖаңа жылFriday
  2. 2 January: New Year's DayЖаңа жылSaturday
  3. 4 January: Day off for New Year's DayЖаңа жылMondayDate moves
  4. 7 January: Orthodox ChristmasМәсіх туылуыThursday
  5. 8 March: International Women's DayХалықаралық әйелдер күніMonday
  6. 15 March: Constitution DayКонституция күніMondayDate moves
  7. 21 March: Nauryz MeyramyНаурыз мейрамыSunday
  8. 22 March: Nauryz MeyramyНаурыз мейрамыMonday
  9. 23 March: Nauryz MeyramyНаурыз мейрамыTuesday
  10. 24 March: Day off for NauryzНаурыз мейрамыWednesdayDate moves
  11. 1 May: Kazakhstan People's Unity DayҚазақстан халқыныңSaturday
  12. 3 May: Day off for Kazakhstan People's Unity DayҚазақстан халқыныңMondayDate moves
  13. 7 May: Defender of the Fatherland DayОтан Қорғаушы күніFriday
  14. 9 May: Great Patriotic War Against Fascism Victory DayЖеңіс күніSunday
  15. 10 May: Day off for Victory DayЖеңіс күніMondayDate moves
  16. 16 May: Kurban AitҚұрбан айтSundayDate moves
  17. 6 July: Capital City DayАстана күніTuesday
  18. 25 October: Republic DayРеспублика күніMonday
  19. 16 December: Independence DayТәуелсіздік күніThursday

Constitution Day was kept on 30 August under the 1995 constitution. Article 94 of the 2026 constitution declares the day of its adoption by referendum a state holiday, and the law of 11 June 2026 No. 306-VIII amended the Law on Holidays to name 15 March and drop 30 August. The deputy minister of labour confirmed that 30 August 2026 would be a working day.

The date of Kurban Ait is confirmed each year. The 2027 date of Sunday 16 May is a preliminary one, published by calendar services ahead of the official announcement; it falls on a Sunday and, as a religious holiday, gives no extra day off.

Common questions

Questions about public holidays in Kazakhstan

How many public holidays does Kazakhstan have in 2026?

Kazakhstan has 19 days off in 2026. Fourteen are holiday dates: two for New Year, Orthodox Christmas, Women's Day, three days of Nauryz, Unity Day, Defender of the Fatherland Day, Victory Day, Kurban Ait, Capital City Day, Republic Day and Independence Day. Five more are days off moved from holidays that fell on a weekend, among them 24 and 25 March after Nauryz.

Which date did Kazakhstan choose for Constitution Day?

On 15 March from 2027. The date marks the referendum of 15 March 2026 that approved the new constitution, and a law of 11 June 2026 removed the former date, 30 August, from the list. In 2026 neither date was a day off: 15 March came before the change, and 30 August was a working day. In 2027 the new holiday falls on a Monday.

On which dates does Kurban Ait fall in 2026 and 2027?

Kurban Ait fell on Wednesday 27 May 2026. For 2027 the expected date is Sunday 16 May, a preliminary date until it is confirmed. Because Kurban Ait is a religious holiday, a Sunday date is not carried over to Monday.

Is Christmas a holiday in Kazakhstan?

Orthodox Christmas is, on 7 January, and it has been an official holiday since 2007; it is the only Christian feast among the days off. In 2026 it fell on a Wednesday and in 2027 it falls on a Thursday, so in neither year does it join the New Year days off on 1 and 2 January.

How long is the Nauryz holiday?

The law gives three days, 21 to 23 March. In 2026 the first two fell on a weekend, so 24 and 25 March were added and the break ran five days, from Saturday 21 to Wednesday 25 March. In 2027 Nauryz begins on a Sunday, and Wednesday 24 March is the extra day off.

What happens when a holiday falls on a weekend in Kazakhstan?

For the secular holidays the day off moves to the next working day: Women's Day on Sunday 8 March 2026 gave Monday 9 March off, Victory Day on Saturday 9 May 2026 gave Monday 11 May, and Republic Day on Sunday 25 October 2026 gives Monday 26 October. Religious holidays are not moved.

What does Capital City Day in Kazakhstan mark?

The holiday on 6 July, marking the vote of the Supreme Council on 6 July 1994 to move the capital from Almaty to Akmola. The move took place in 1997, and the city was renamed Astana in 1998. In 2026 the day fell on a Monday and gave a three-day weekend; in 2027 it falls on a Tuesday.

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