Public Holidays in Afghanistan
Statutory public holidays in Afghanistan, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Afghanistan at a glance
Afghanistan’s public holidays follow both the solar Hijri calendar and the Islamic lunar year, so most dates shift earlier by about ten days each Gregorian year. Nowruz, the Persian new year at the March equinox, is the single biggest celebration.
Religious observances anchor the calendar, with Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha setting the rhythm of the year alongside national commemorative days.
Afghanistan public holidays 2026
Afghanistan 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Liberation Day | Feb 15Sun | National |
| First Day of Ramadan (estimated) | Feb 18Wed | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 20Fri | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 21Sat | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 22Sun | National |
| Mojahedin's Victory Day | Apr 28Tue | National |
| Day of Arafah (estimated) | May 26Tue | National |
| Eid al-Adha (estimated) | May 27Wed | National |
| Eid al-Adha (estimated) | May 28Thu | National |
| Eid al-Adha (estimated) | May 29Fri | National |
| Islamic Emirate Victory Day | Aug 15Sat | National |
| Afghanistan Independence Day | Aug 19Wed | National |
Showing 12 of 14 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Afghanistan
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Afghanistan.
Kabul
The capital sits in a high valley ringed by mountains, mixing bazaars, gardens and the ruined walls of Bala Hissar.
Kandahar
Afghanistan's second city and a historic seat of Pashtun power, close to the desert and the Registan.
Herat
A Silk Road city famed for its citadel, blue-tiled mosques and long tradition of miniature painting.
Mazar-i-Sharif
Home of the Blue Mosque, one of the country's most important shrines and a focus of Nowruz celebrations.
Bamyan
Set beneath the cliffs where the giant Buddhas once stood, with the lakes of Band-e Amir nearby.
Top attractions in Afghanistan
The places that draw most visitors to Afghanistan.
Band-e Amir National Park
A chain of six mineral-blue lakes held back by natural travertine dams in the Hindu Kush.
Herat Citadel
A mud-brick citadel rebuilt over two millennia, overlooking the old city and its bazaars.
Great Mosque of Herat
A Friday mosque whose courtyards are faced in glazed turquoise and cobalt tilework.
Minaret of Jam
A 65-metre 12th-century minaret standing alone in a remote river gorge.
Babur's Gardens
Terraced Mughal gardens on a hillside above Kabul, laid out by the emperor Babur.
Bala Hissar
The ancient fortress wall above Kabul that has guarded the city since antiquity.
Festivals, food and getting around Afghanistan
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
-
🎉
Liberation Day
Falls on Feb 15
-
🎉
First Day of Ramadan
Falls on Feb 18
-
🎉
Eid al-Fitr
Falls on Mar 20
-
🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
-
🎉
Eid al-Fitr Holiday
Falls on Mar 21
-
🎉
Nauruz
Falls on Mar 21
Food & drink
Getting around
Mountainous terrain makes most journeys slow; the ring highway links Kabul, Kandaher and Herat, with limited domestic flights.
Travelling around Afghanistan’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Afghanistan 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
Afghanistan'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.
Afghanistan public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Afghanistan have?
Afghanistan 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 Afghanistan is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Afghanistan'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, Afghanistan typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Afghanistan?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Afghanistan?
Calendars are published for 2027, 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Afghanistan
School term dates in Afghanistan
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.