Public holidays in Libya
14 days in 2026 · 5 in 2027
Back to LibyaNext public holiday
Independence Day
عيد الاستقلال
After it: Revolution Day, Wednesday 17 February
Thursday, 24 December 2026
Libya's calendar for 2026 has 14 days off, nine of them set by the Islamic year and five by fixed national dates. Labour Day aside, the national days go back to two moments: independence as a kingdom on 24 December 1951, and the revolution of 2011, whose start on 17 February and declared end on 23 October are both holidays. Martyrs' Day on 16 September remembers those killed or exiled under Italian rule together with the dead of 2011.
The Islamic days move through the Gregorian year with the Hijri calendar. In 2026 Eid al-Fitr took three days, Friday 20 to Sunday 22 March, and Eid al-Adha four with the Day of Arafah, Tuesday 26 to Friday 29 May. The Hijri new year fell on Tuesday 16 June and the Prophet's birthday on Tuesday 25 August.
Libya's weekend is Friday and Saturday, and five of the 2026 days off fell on it: the first two days of Eid al-Fitr, Labour Day, the last day of Eid al-Adha and Liberation Day. Independence Day, a Thursday, runs into the weekend for three days off in a row.
- Days off in 2026
- 14Nationwide public holidays
- On a weekday
- 9Sunday to Thursday
- On a weekend
- 5Friday or Saturday
- Long weekends
- 3and 1 with one day of leave
2026
Public holidays in Libya in 2026
- 17 February: Revolution Dayيوم ثورة 17 فبرايرThe revolt against Muammar Gaddafi began on 17 February 2011, two days after the first protests.Tuesday
- 20 March: Eid al-Fitrعيد الفطرThe end of Ramadan, kept on the first three days of Shawwal.FridayDate moves
- 21 March: Eid al-Fitr holidayعيد الفطرThe end of Ramadan, kept on the first three days of Shawwal.SaturdayDate moves
- 22 March: Eid al-Fitr holidayعيد الفطرThe end of Ramadan, kept on the first three days of Shawwal.SundayDate moves
- 1 May: Labour Dayعيد العمالLabour Day. It falls on a Friday in 2026 and a Saturday in 2027, both weekend days in Libya.Friday
- 26 May: Day of Arafahيوم عرفةThe 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah, the height of the Hajj pilgrimage and the eve of Eid al-Adha.TuesdayDate moves
- 27 May: Eid al-Adhaعيد الأضحىThe Feast of Sacrifice, for Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son, from the 10th to the 12th of Dhu al-Hijjah. Also called the Big Feast.WednesdayDate moves
- 28 May: Eid al-Adha holidayعيد الأضحىThe Feast of Sacrifice, for Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son, from the 10th to the 12th of Dhu al-Hijjah. Also called the Big Feast.ThursdayDate moves
- 29 May: Eid al-Adha holidayعيد الأضحىThe Feast of Sacrifice, for Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son, from the 10th to the 12th of Dhu al-Hijjah. Also called the Big Feast.FridayDate moves
- 16 June: Islamic New Yearرأس السنة الهجريةThe first of Muharram, the start of the Hijri year.TuesdayDate moves
- 25 August: The Prophet's Birthdayالمولد النبويThe Prophet Muhammad's birthday, on the 12th of Rabi al-Awwal.TuesdayDate moves
- 16 September: Martyrs' Dayيوم الشهيدFor Libyans killed or exiled under Italian rule, and for those killed in the revolution of 2011.Wednesday
- 23 October: Liberation Dayيوم التحريرSirte, the last loyalist stronghold, fell on 20 October 2011, and Libya was declared liberated three days later.Friday
- 24 December: Independence Dayعيد الاستقلالThe United Kingdom of Libya became independent on 24 December 1951, and Idris I spoke to the country as its king on the radio from Benghazi. The monarchy ended with the coup of 1 September 1969.Thursday
Long weekends
Long weekends in Libya 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.
- 3daysFri 20 Mar to Sun 22 MarEid al-Fitr, Eid al-Fitr holiday, Eid al-Fitr holiday
- 5daysTue 26 May to Sat 30 MayDay of Arafah, Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Adha holiday, Eid al-Adha holiday
- 4daysWed 16 Sept to Sat 19 SeptWith Thu 17 Sept taken as leave · Martyrs' Day
- 3daysThu 24 Dec to Sat 26 DecIndependence Day
2027
Public holidays in Libya in 2027
- 17 February: Revolution Dayيوم ثورة 17 فبرايرWednesday
- 1 May: Labour Dayعيد العمالSaturday
- 16 September: Martyrs' Dayيوم الشهيدThursday
- 23 October: Liberation Dayيوم التحريرSaturday
- 24 December: Independence Dayعيد الاستقلالFriday
Libya's dates for the Islamic days of 2027 are not yet in the sources on file. They follow the Hijri calendar and are added when a source gives them.
Timeanddate lists three more days off in 2026 than the Wikipedia list: two Extreme Weather Holidays on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 January, and Thursday 17 September as a second day of Martyrs' Day. This calendar follows the Wikipedia list, which gives Martyrs' Day one day. Libya the Vision also reported Decree No. 11 of 2026 of the government in the east, which declared 19 and 20 January an official holiday across the south and east of the country.
Common questions
Questions about public holidays in Libya
How many public holidays does Libya have in 2026?
Fourteen days off: nine from the Islamic calendar and five national days on fixed dates. Five of them fell on the Friday and Saturday weekend, 20 and 21 March, 1 May, 29 May and 23 October, so nine came on working days. Timeanddate counts three more, two Extreme Weather Holidays in January and a second day for Martyrs' Day on 17 September, which the Wikipedia list does not include.
Why are 17 February and 23 October both holidays in Libya?
They mark the beginning and the declared end of the 2011 revolution. The revolt against Muammar Gaddafi began on 17 February 2011, two days after the first protests. Sirte, the last loyalist stronghold, fell on 20 October, and Libya was declared liberated on 23 October 2011. In 2026 the two days fall on a Tuesday and a Friday, in 2027 on a Wednesday and a Saturday.
What does Independence Day on 24 December mark in Libya?
The independence of the United Kingdom of Libya on 24 December 1951, when Idris I addressed the country by radio from Benghazi as its king. A United Nations General Assembly resolution of 21 November 1949 had called for independence before 1 January 1952. The monarchy lasted until the coup of 1 September 1969. The day falls on a Thursday in 2026 and a Friday in 2027.
How many days off does Eid al-Adha give in Libya?
Four, counting the Day of Arafah before it. In 2026 they ran from Tuesday 26 to Friday 29 May, and with Saturday 30 May on the weekend that made five days in a row. Friday was a rest day anyway, so the four holidays took three working days.
Is Ramadan a public holiday in Libya?
No. The fasting month brings no day off, though timeanddate marks its start, on Thursday 19 February 2026, as an observance. The British government's travel advice asks visitors not to eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public in the daytime during Ramadan. The days off come at its end with Eid al-Fitr, three days from Friday 20 March 2026, two of them on the weekend.
What are the long weekends in Libya in 2026?
Three runs of three days or more come without leave. Eid al-Fitr gave Friday 20 to Sunday 22 March, Eid al-Adha and the weekend after it Tuesday 26 to Saturday 30 May, and Independence Day on Thursday 24 December runs to Saturday 26 December. Taking Thursday 17 September as leave joins Martyrs' Day to the weekend, from Wednesday 16 to Saturday 19 September.
Does Libya still keep the holidays of the Gaddafi era?
Two that the sources record are gone. Under Gaddafi, 11 June was a national holiday for the day in 1970 when the last American forces handed over Wheelus Air Base. The expulsion of the Italian community in October 1970 became the Day of Revenge, cancelled in 2004 and later revived as the Day of Friendship. Neither is on the current list, whose newest holidays are anniversaries of the 2011 revolution.
Dates from Nager.Date, read 2026-10-16. The page counts from Sunday, 25 October 2026, the day it was built.