Public Holidays in Bahrain
Statutory public holidays in Bahrain, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Bahrain at a glance
Bahrain’s public holidays follow the Islamic lunar calendar for religious dates, with National Day on 16 December the main secular celebration. Because lunar dates drift, Eid and Ramadan move about ten days earlier each year.
The weekend runs Friday to Saturday, and most businesses close or keep reduced hours during Eid and the Muharram commemorations.
Bahrain public holidays 2026
Bahrain 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 (estimated) | Mar 20Fri | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 21Sat | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 22Sun | National |
| Labor Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Eid al-Adha (estimated) | May 27Wed | National |
| Eid al-Adha (estimated) | May 28Thu | National |
| Eid al-Adha (estimated) | May 29Fri | National |
| Islamic New Year (estimated) | Jun 16Tue | National |
| Ashura (estimated) | Jun 24Wed | National |
| Ashura (estimated) | Jun 25Thu | National |
| Prophet's Birthday (estimated) | Aug 25Tue | National |
Showing 12 of 14 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Bahrain
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Bahrain.
Manama
The capital pairs a modern financial district with the narrow lanes and coffee houses of the old souq.
Muharraq
The former capital, known for pearling heritage, restored merchant houses and traditional crafts.
Riffa
A residential city of palaces and the fortress that gives it its name.
Hamad Town
A planned community in the centre of the island with wide streets and parks.
Isa Town
A university town and sports hub laid out in the 1960s.
Top attractions in Bahrain
The places that draw most visitors to Bahrain.
Qal'at al-Bahrain
A tell whose layers record four thousand years of settlement from Dilmun to the Portuguese.
Bahrain National Museum
The country's principal museum, covering Dilmun burials, pearling and Islamic art.
Al Fateh Grand Mosque
One of the largest mosques in the world, clad in Italian marble and glass.
Bab Al Bahrain
The British-built gateway into Manama Souq, at the edge of the old harbour.
Bahrain Pearling Path
A restored route through Muharraq's oyster beds, merchants' houses and oyster-shell mosques.
Tree of Life
A lone mesquite tree surviving in the desert with no visible water source.
Festivals, food and getting around Bahrain
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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🎉
Ramadan Start
Falls on Feb 18
-
🎉
Eid al-Fitr
Falls on Mar 20
-
🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
Eid al-Fitr Holiday
Falls on Mar 21
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🎉
Eid al-Fitr Holiday
Falls on Mar 22
Food & drink
Getting around
Bahrain is compact and easy to drive; taxis and ride-hailing cover the causeway-linked islands, with buses serving main routes.
Travelling around Bahrain’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Bahrain 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
Bahrain'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.
Bahrain public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Bahrain have?
Bahrain 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 Bahrain is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Bahrain'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, Bahrain typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Bahrain?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Bahrain?
Calendars are published for 2027, 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Bahrain
School term dates in Bahrain
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.