Public Holidays in Turkey
Statutory public holidays in Turkey, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Turkey at a glance
Turkey’s public holidays mix fixed national dates with the Islamic lunar calendar, including the two Eid holidays and Republic Day on 29 October.
Because the Hijri year is shorter, Eid dates move about ten days earlier each Gregorian year, and the Eid breaks are the longest.
Turkey public holidays 2026
Turkey has 14 public holidays in 2026 – the statutory days off. The table below lists those public holidays; observances and other non-statutory dates are not part of the total.
| Holiday | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | National |
| Eid al-Fitr | Mar 20Fri | National |
| Eid al-Fitr | Mar 21Sat | National |
| Eid al-Fitr | Mar 22Sun | National |
| National Sovereignty and Children's Day | Apr 23Thu | National |
| Labour and Solidarity Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day | May 19Tue | National |
| Eid al-Adha | May 27Wed | National |
| Eid al-Adha | May 28Thu | National |
| Eid al-Adha | May 29Fri | National |
| Eid al-Adha | May 30Sat | National |
| Democracy and National Unity Day | Jul 15Wed | National |
Showing 12 of 14 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Turkey
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Turkey.
Ankara
A planned capital of government quarters, citadel walls and a vast mausoleum.
Istanbul
A city spanning two continents, with Byzantine domes, Ottoman mosques and a strait.
Izmir
A Mediterranean-feeling port city with a seafront and the ruins of Smyrna.
Antalya
A city of a walled old harbour, beaches and waterfalls on the south coast.
Konya
A conservative Anatolian city, home of the whirling dervishes and Rumi's tomb.
Trabzon
A green coastal city with cliff monasteries and Pontic mountain valleys.
Top attractions in Turkey
The places that draw most visitors to Turkey.
Hagia Sophia
A vast domed church-turned-mosque-turned-mosque, the building at the centre of Istanbul.
Cappadocia
Volcanic tuff landscapes of fairy chimneys, cave churches and balloon flights.
Ephesus
One of the best-preserved Roman cities in the Mediterranean.
Pamukkale
White travertine terraces of thermal water above the ruins of Hierapolis.
Nemrut Dag
A mountaintop tomb sanctuary of colossal stone heads at sunrise.
Oludeniz & Lycian Coast
Turquoise lagoons, cliff tombs and the Lycian Way coastal trail.
Festivals, food and getting around Turkey
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
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🎉
New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
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🎉
Ramadan Start
Falls on Feb 18
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🎉
Ramadan Feast Eve
Falls on Mar 19
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🎉
Ramadan Feast
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
Ramadan Feast Holiday
Falls on Mar 21
Food & drink
Getting around
Long-distance coaches are excellent and cheap; high-speed rail links Ankara, Istanbul and Konya, and domestic flights cover the rest.
Travelling around Turkey’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Turkey tighten around major holidays; reserve early for the busiest weeks.
Check opening hours
Museums, banks and government offices usually close on statutory holidays, and often on the nearest Monday.
Carry local currency
Small vendors and rural businesses frequently take cash only, especially on holidays when banks are shut.
Expect crowded transport
Long weekends produce the year's heaviest road, rail and air traffic. Build in extra travel time.
Confirm the official list
Turkey's holiday dates are confirmed by government announcement; check the year page for the final arrangement.
Plan the long weekends
Pairing a holiday with adjacent weekends gives the longest breaks of the year — and the busiest.
Turkey public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Turkey have?
Turkey has 14 public holidays in 2026, counting every date typed National, Substitute or Bank in our calendar. Observances, religious dates and regional holidays are listed separately and left out of the total, because they are not days off across the whole country.
Where can I find the full 2026 list?
The complete 2026 calendar for Turkey is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Turkey's public holidays paid?
Statutory national holidays are generally paid leave for employees. Observances and commemorative days are usually not.
Do holidays move if they fall on a weekend?
Where a holiday falls on a weekend, Turkey typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Turkey?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Turkey?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Turkey
School term dates in Turkey
School calendar data last updated 10 Sep 2026. Dates come from education ministries and local education authorities; always re-check with the school before booking travel.