| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-01 | New Year's Day | National |
| 2026-01-16 | Isra' and Mi'raj (estimated) | National |
| 2026-02-25 | National Day | National |
| 2026-02-26 | Liberation Day | National |
| 2026-03-20 | Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | National |
| 2026-03-21 | Eid al-Fitr Holiday (estimated) | National |
| 2026-03-22 | Eid al-Fitr Holiday (estimated) | National |
| 2026-05-26 | Day of Arafah (estimated) | National |
| 2026-05-27 | Eid al-Adha (estimated) | National |
| 2026-05-28 | Eid al-Adha Holiday (estimated) | National |
| 2026-05-29 | Eid al-Adha Holiday (estimated) | National |
| 2026-06-16 | Islamic New Year (estimated) | National |
| 2026-08-25 | Prophet's Birthday (estimated) | National |
How many public holidays does Kuwait have in 2026?
Kuwait has 13 public holidays in 2026: 13 national holidays. The dates run from 1 January 2026 to 25 August 2026, and no public holiday falls in April, July, September, October, November, December. Observances and regional holidays are listed separately and are not counted.
Wondering how that stacks up globally? See how Kuwait's public holiday count compares.
Long weekends in Kuwait 2026
Kuwait's public holidays create 3 long weekends in 2026 - runs of three or more consecutive days off, each built around a holiday that touches a weekend.
- Fri 16 - Sun 18 January: Isra' and Mi'raj (estimated) (3-day weekend, Friday 16 January to Sunday 18 January).
- Fri 20 - Sun 22 March: Eid al-Fitr (estimated) (3-day weekend, Friday 20 March to Sunday 22 March).
- Tue 26 - Sun 31 May: Day of Arafah (estimated) (6-day weekend, Tuesday 26 May to Sunday 31 May).
Observed and substitute holidays in Kuwait 2026
A substitute holiday is a day off moved to a nearby working weekday when a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday. The legal date never changes - only the day most people actually get off.
In 2026 no public holiday in Kuwait is moved to a nearby weekday, so every holiday in the table above is observed on the date shown.
Regional variations are common; see public holidays across Asia for the wider picture.
Public holidays in Kuwait: is your date a holiday in 2026?
Every date in the table above is a public holiday in Kuwait in 2026. If the date you are checking appears there, it is a day off; if it does not, it is not a public holiday - however widely it may be marked.
For example, 1 January 2026 is New Year's Day, a public holiday in Kuwait.
More to explore: browse public holidays by country.
About these holidays in Kuwait (2026)
Our Kuwait public holidays guide explains the background of each holiday and how the dates are set.
New Year's Day
New Year's Day falls on 1 January and opens the Gregorian calendar year. Most countries mark it with a public holiday, and celebrations usually begin the night before with countdowns, fireworks and gatherings. The date was fixed in its current position by Julius Caesar's calendar reform, and later preserved by the Gregorian reform of 1582. traditions vary widely, from first-footing in Scotland to writing resolutions for the months ahead.
Isra' and Mi'raj (estimated)
Isra and Mi'raj commemorates the night journey of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Jerusalem and his ascension through the heavens, observed on the twenty seventh day of Rajab. It is a public holiday in several Muslim majority countries, marked with evening prayers, recitations and storytelling. The Gregorian date moves about eleven days earlier each year, so calendars list it as estimated until the moon sighting confirms it.
National Day
National Day is a country's principal annual celebration of nationhood, often marking independence, unification, the adoption of a constitution, or the birthday of a head of state. The date and the event it commemorates are specific to each country, and in some places several National Days exist. Observances commonly includeofficial ceremonies, military parades, fireworks and cultural performances that highlight national identity.
Liberation Day
Liberation Day marks the anniversary of a country's liberation from occupation or from an oppressive regime. Italy and the Netherlands observe it in the context of the Second World War, while Bulgaria, Albania, Portugal and several other states commemorate their own historical turning points. It is a public holiday marked by official ceremonies, wreath laying at war memorials and events reflecting on the restoration of national sovereignty.
Eid al-Fitr (estimated)
Eid al-Fitr is the festival that ends Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, and begins on the first day of Shawwal. It is a two or three day public holiday across much of the Muslim world. The date depends on the sighting of the new moon, so published calendars mark it as estimated until it is confirmed. Families gather for prayer, shared meals and charitable giving before the fast was broken each evening of Ramadan.