Public Holidays in Djibouti
Statutory public holidays in Djibouti, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Djibouti at a glance
Djibouti’s public holidays follow the Islamic lunar calendar, with Independence Day on 27 June the national date.
Religious dates move about ten days earlier each Gregorian year, and the weekend runs Friday to Saturday.
Djibouti public holidays 2026
Djibouti has 13 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 |
| Isra' and Mi'raj (estimated) | Jan 16Fri | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 20Fri | National |
| Eid al-Fitr Holiday (estimated) | Mar 21Sat | National |
| Labor Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Day of Arafah (estimated) | May 26Tue | National |
| Eid al-Adha (estimated) | May 27Wed | National |
| Eid al-Adha Holiday (estimated) | May 28Thu | National |
| Islamic New Year (estimated) | Jun 16Tue | National |
| Independence Day | Jun 27Sat | National |
| Independence Day Holiday | Jun 28Sun | National |
| Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (estimated) | Aug 25Tue | National |
Showing 12 of 13 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Djibouti
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Djibouti.
Djibouti City
A port capital of colonial facades, markets and a strategic Red Sea position.
Ali Sabieh
The second city, inland on the rail line to Ethiopia.
Tadjoura
A whitewashed town on the Gulf of Tadjoura, with an old sultanate heritage.
Obock
A small port town where the French first established a foothold.
Dikhil
A town in the southwest near Lake Abbe and the Ethiopian border.
Top attractions in Djibouti
The places that draw most visitors to Djibouti.
Lake Assal
A crater lake below sea level, ringed by salt flats and hot springs.
Lake Abbe
A desert lake of limestone chimneys, hot springs and flamingos.
Gulf of Tadjoura
A deep gulf with coral reefs and whale shark aggregations.
Forêt du Day
A relict juniper forest in the Goda mountains, the country's greenest place.
Moucha & Maskali Islands
Small islands of mangroves, reefs and beaches in the gulf.
Decan Refuge
A desert reserve protecting gazelle and ostrich in the south.
Festivals, food and getting around Djibouti
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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🎉
Isra and Miraj
Falls on Jan 16
-
🎉
Ramadan Start
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
Food & drink
Getting around
Djibouti is compact by African standards; the Ethiopia rail and road corridor and boats to the gulf towns are the main routes.
Travelling around Djibouti’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Djibouti 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
Djibouti'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.
Djibouti public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Djibouti have?
Djibouti has 13 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 Djibouti is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Djibouti'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, Djibouti typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Djibouti?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Djibouti?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Djibouti
School term dates in Djibouti
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.