| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-01 | New Year's Day | National |
| 2025-01-06 | Army Day | National |
| 2025-03-16 | Commemoration of the Saddam Baath crimes against the Iraqi people | National |
| 2025-03-21 | Nowruz | National |
| 2025-03-31 | Eid al-Fitr | National |
| 2025-04-01 | Eid al-Fitr | National |
| 2025-04-02 | Eid al-Fitr | National |
| 2025-05-01 | Labor Day | National |
| 2025-06-05 | Day of Arafah | National |
| 2025-06-06 | Eid al-Adha | National |
| 2025-06-07 | Eid al-Adha | National |
| 2025-06-08 | Eid al-Adha | National |
| 2025-06-15 | Eid al-Ghadir | National |
| 2025-06-26 | Islamic New Year | National |
| 2025-07-05 | Ashura | National |
| 2025-09-04 | Prophet's Birthday | National |
How many public holidays does Iraq have in 2025?
Iraq has 16 public holidays in 2025: 16 national holidays. The dates run from 1 January 2025 to 4 September 2025, and no public holiday falls in February, August, October, November, December. Observances and regional holidays are listed separately and are not counted.
Wondering how that stacks up globally? See how Iraq's public holiday count compares.
Long weekends in Iraq 2025
Iraq's public holidays create 4 long weekends in 2025 - runs of three or more consecutive days off, each built around a holiday that touches a weekend.
- Sat 4 - Mon 6 January: Army Day (3-day weekend, Saturday 4 January to Monday 6 January).
- Fri 21 - Sun 23 March: Nowruz (3-day weekend, Friday 21 March to Sunday 23 March).
- Sat 29 March - Wed 2 April: Eid al-Fitr (5-day weekend, Saturday 29 March to Wednesday 2 April).
- Thu 5 - Sun 8 June: Day of Arafah (4-day weekend, Thursday 5 June to Sunday 8 June).
Observed and substitute holidays in Iraq 2025
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 2025 no public holiday in Iraq 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 Iraq: is your date a holiday in 2025?
Every date in the table above is a public holiday in Iraq in 2025. 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, 1 January 2025 is New Year's Day, a public holiday in Iraq.
More to explore: browse public holidays by country.
About these holidays in Iraq (2025)
Our Iraq public holidays guide explains the background of each holiday and how the dates are set.
New Year's Day
New Year's Day falls on 1 January and opens the Gregorian calendar year. Most countries mark it with a public holiday, and celebrations usually begin the night before with countdowns, fireworks and gatherings. The date was fixed in its current position by Julius Caesar's calendar reform, and later preserved by the Gregorian reform of 1582. traditions vary widely, from first-footing in Scotland to writing resolutions for the months ahead.
Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr is the festival breaking the fast of Ramadan, observed on the first day of Shawwal. It is one of the two major Islamic festivals and a public holiday throughout the Muslim world. The celebration opens with a special congregational prayer, followed by visits to family and neighbours, shared meals and giving to charity. Where the date has been confirmed by moon sighting, it appears without the estimated qualifier on published calendars.
Labor Day
Labor Day honours the achievements of workers and the labour movement. Most countries observe it on 1 May, known internationally as May Day or International Workers' Day, which grew out of the campaign for an eight hour working day. Others, including the United States and Canada, hold it on the first Monday of September. Typical events include trade union marches, rallies and public speeches on working conditions.
Eid al-Adha
Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice, begins on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah and coincides with the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. It honours the devotion of Ibrahim, who was willing to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. Families that can afford it sacrifice a sheep, goat, cow or camel and divide the meat into portions for family, friends and the poor.