| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-15 | Liberation Day | National |
| 2026-02-18 | First Day of Ramadan (estimated) | National |
| 2026-03-20 | Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | National |
| 2026-03-21 | Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | National |
| 2026-03-22 | Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | National |
| 2026-04-28 | Mojahedin's Victory Day | National |
| 2026-05-26 | Day of Arafah (estimated) | National |
| 2026-05-27 | Eid al-Adha (estimated) | National |
| 2026-05-28 | Eid al-Adha (estimated) | National |
| 2026-05-29 | Eid al-Adha (estimated) | National |
| 2026-08-15 | Islamic Emirate Victory Day | National |
| 2026-08-19 | Afghanistan Independence Day | National |
| 2026-08-25 | Prophet's Birthday (estimated) | National |
| 2026-08-31 | American Withdrawal Day | National |
How many public holidays does Afghanistan have in 2026?
Afghanistan has 14 public holidays in 2026: 14 national holidays. The dates run from 15 February 2026 to 31 August 2026, and no public holiday falls in January, June, July, September, October, November, December. Observances and regional holidays are listed separately and are not counted.
Wondering how that stacks up globally? See how Afghanistan's public holiday count compares.
Long weekends in Afghanistan 2026
Afghanistan'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 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).
- Sat 29 - Mon 31 August: American Withdrawal Day (3-day weekend, Saturday 29 August to Monday 31 August).
Observed and substitute holidays in Afghanistan 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 Afghanistan 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 Afghanistan: is your date a holiday in 2026?
Every date in the table above is a public holiday in Afghanistan 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, 15 February 2026 is Liberation Day, a public holiday in Afghanistan.
More to explore: browse public holidays by country.
About these holidays in Afghanistan (2026)
Our Afghanistan public holidays guide explains the background of each holiday and how the dates are set.
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.
Day of Arafah (estimated)
The Day of Arafah falls on the ninth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the day before Eid al-Adha, when pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafat near Mecca for the central rite of the Hajj. For Muslims not performing the pilgrimage it is a recommended day of fasting. It is a public holiday in several countries, and because the Islamic calendar is lunar the Gregorian date is estimated.
Eid al-Adha (estimated)
Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice, falls on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. It honours the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. Muslims who can afford it sacrifice an animal and share the meat with family, neighbours and the poor. Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, the Gregorian date moves about ten days earlier each year and is listed as estimated.
Prophet's Birthday (estimated)
The Prophet's Birthday, or Mawlid al-Nabi, marks the birth of the Prophet Muhammad on the twelfth day of Rabi al-Awwal in the Islamic calendar. It is a public holiday in many Muslim majority countries, observed with recitations of poetry, charitable meals and processions, though its observance is disputed in some traditions. The Gregorian date shifts about ten days earlier each year and is therefore published as estimated.