Public Holidays in Algeria
Statutory public holidays in Algeria, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Algeria at a glance
Algeria’s public holidays follow the Islamic lunar calendar for religious dates, with Independence Day on 5 July and the start of the revolution on 1 November the national commemorations.
Because the Hijri year is shorter, Eid and Ramadan move about ten days earlier each Gregorian year, and the weekend runs Friday to Saturday.
Algeria public holidays 2026
The dates below come from Algeria’s published calendar for 2026. Open the full year for the complete list.
| Holiday | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Year | Jan 1Thu | 2026 |
| Berber New Year | Jan 12Mon | 2026 |
| Ramadan Start | Feb 18Wed | 2026 |
| Eid al-Fitr | Mar 20Fri | 2026 |
| March Equinox | Mar 20Fri | 2026 |
| Eid al-Fitr Holiday | Mar 21Sat | 2026 |
| Eid al-Fitr Holiday | Mar 22Sun | 2026 |
| May Day | May 1Fri | 2026 |
| Eid al-Adha | May 27Wed | 2026 |
| Eid al-Adha Holiday | May 28Thu | 2026 |
| Eid al-Adha Holiday | May 29Fri | 2026 |
| Muharram | Jun 17Wed | 2026 |
Showing 12 of 19 dates recorded for 2026.
Major cities in Algeria
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Algeria.
Algiers
A white Mediterranean capital of a hillside casbah and a sweeping bay.
Oran
A western port city with Spanish quarters, a seafront and a rai music heritage.
Constantine
A city built on a plateau above a deep gorge, crossed by hanging bridges.
Annaba
A coastal city near the Tunisian border with Roman ruins and beaches.
Tlemcen
A city of Andalusian art, mosques and the nearby cliffs of the Tlemcen park.
Ghardaia
A M'zab valley city of white pyramidal houses built around a mosque.
Top attractions in Algeria
The places that draw most visitors to Algeria.
Casbah of Algiers
A dense hillside medina of stairways, mosques and Ottoman houses.
Tassili n'Ajjer
A sandstone plateau holding one of the world's great rock-art collections.
Djemila
A well-preserved Roman hill town of forums, arches and mosaics.
Tipasa
Roman and Byzantine ruins set on a headland above the Mediterranean.
M'zab Valley
Five fortified oasis towns of white low-rise architecture in the Sahara.
Hoggar Mountains
Volcanic peaks and desert gorges in the deep south near Tamanrasset.
Festivals, food and getting around Algeria
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
Falls on Jan 1
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🎉
Berber New Year
Falls on Jan 12
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🎉
Ramadan Start
Falls on Feb 18
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🎉
Eid al-Fitr
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
Eid al-Fitr Holiday
Falls on Mar 21
Food & drink
Getting around
Trains serve the northern corridor; the desert south needs flights or a 4×4 convoy, and distances are enormous.
Travelling around Algeria’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Algeria 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
Algeria'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.
Algeria public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Algeria have?
Algeria has 19 dates recorded on its 2026 calendar, ranging from national statutory holidays to widely marked observances that are not days off work.
Where can I find the full 2026 list?
The complete 2026 calendar for Algeria is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Algeria'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, Algeria typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Algeria?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Algeria?
Calendars are published for 2027, 2026, 2025.