Afghanistan Public Holiday Calendar for 2026
Most Islamic holidays are based on moon sightings, so dates marked “tentative” may shift by 1 day. Times are local to Kabul.
2026 Public Holidays
|
Date |
Day |
Holiday |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Feb 15 |
Sunday |
Liberation Day |
Commemorates Soviet troop withdrawal in 1989 |
|
Feb 18 |
Wednesday |
First Day of Ramadan |
Start of fasting month |
|
Mar 19 |
Thursday |
Eid al-Fitr |
End of Ramadan |
|
Mar 20 |
Friday |
Eid al-Fitr Holiday |
Day off |
|
Mar 21 |
Saturday |
Eid al-Fitr Holiday |
Day off |
|
Mar 21 |
Saturday |
Nauruz |
Afghan New Year, observance |
|
Apr 28 |
Tuesday |
Afghan Victory Day |
Also called Mujahideen Victory Day |
|
May 1 |
Friday |
Labor Day |
International Workers’ Day |
|
May 26 |
Tuesday |
Day of Arafat |
Tentative date |
|
May 27 |
Wednesday |
Eid al-Qurban |
Feast of Sacrifice, tentative |
|
May 28 |
Thursday |
Eid al-Qurban Holiday |
Tentative |
|
May 29 |
Friday |
Eid al-Qurban Holiday |
Tentative |
|
Jun 26 |
Friday |
Ashura |
Tentative date |
|
Aug 15 |
Saturday |
Anniversary of the Return to Power |
Victory of the Islamic Emirate |
|
Aug 19 |
Wednesday |
Independence Day |
National Day, from British rule 1919 |
|
Aug 26 |
Wednesday |
The Prophet’s Birthday |
Mawlid al-Nabi, tentative |
|
Aug 31 |
Monday |
Anniversary of Foreign Troops Withdrawal |
US troops withdrawal 2021 |
|
Sep 9 |
Wednesday |
Martyrs & Ahmad Shah Masoud Day |
National remembrance day |
Key details for 2026
Eid al-Fitr: Expected Thu Mar 19, with public holidays Fri Mar 20 – Sat Mar 21
Eid al-Adha / Eid al-Qurban: Expected Wed May 27, with a 4-day break May 26-29 for Arafat + Eid
Ramadan starts: Wed Feb 18, 2026, though Khaama Press notes the Supreme Court confirms lunar dates closer to the time
Major Public Holidays in Afghanistan (2026)
(Islamic dates are approximate and can shift slightly):
- May 26, 2026 (Tuesday): Day of Arafat (Arafat Day)
- May 27–29, 2026 (Wed–Fri): Eid al-Adha (Eid al-Qurban / Feast of Sacrifice) + holidays
- June 25, 2026 (Thu): Ashura
- August 19, 2026 (Wed): Independence Day
- Other notable dates: Victory Day (August 15), Liberation Day (Feb 15), Labor Day (May 1), and various Ramadan/Eid periods.