Public Holidays in Iraq
Statutory public holidays in Iraq, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Iraq at a glance
Iraq’s public holidays are dominated by Islamic dates that follow the lunar Hijri calendar, alongside national commemorations. Because the lunar year is shorter, religious dates move about ten days earlier each Gregorian year.
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha produce the longest breaks, while Ashura and the Arbaeen pilgrimage bring large religious gatherings to the shrine cities.
Iraq public holidays 2026
Iraq has 15 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 |
| Army Day | Jan 6Tue | National |
| Commemoration of the Saddam Baath crimes against the Iraqi people | Mar 16Mon | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 20Fri | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated); Nowruz | Mar 21Sat | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 22Sun | National |
| Labor Day | May 1Fri | 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 |
| Eid al-Ghadir (estimated) | Jun 4Thu | National |
Showing 12 of 15 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Iraq
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Iraq.
Baghdad
A Tigris capital of museums, book markets and a riverfront corniche.
Basra
The main port on the Shatt al-Arab, with canals and a date-palm hinterland.
Mosul
A city on the Tigris, heavily damaged in recent conflict and now rebuilding its old town.
Erbil
A citadel city in the Kurdistan region, older and calmer than the south.
Najaf
One of Shia Islam's holiest cities, built around the shrine of Imam Ali.
Karbala
The site of the Battle of Karbala and a focus of the Arbaeen pilgrimage.
Top attractions in Iraq
The places that draw most visitors to Iraq.
Erbil Citadel
A fortified mound continuously inhabited for some 6,000 years.
Imam Ali Shrine
A gold-domed shrine that is the third holiest site in Shia Islam.
Al-Askari Shrine
A shrine in Samarra with a golden dome, a major Shia pilgrimage site.
Hatra
A fortified Parthian city of massive stone walls, once capital of the Kingdom of Hatra.
Mesopotamian Marshes
Reed wetlands in the south where Marsh Arab communities live on artificial islands.
Ziggurat of Ur
A massive stepped mud-brick temple platform raised around 2100 BC.
Festivals, food and getting around Iraq
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's Day
Falls on Jan 1
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🎉
Army Day
Falls on Jan 6
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🎉
Ramadan Start
Falls on Feb 19
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🎉
Rebellion Anniversary
Falls on Mar 5
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🎉
National Day of Tolerance and Coexistence
Falls on Mar 6
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🎉
Anniversary of Signing of the March 11, 1970 Agreement
Falls on Mar 11
Food & drink
Getting around
Road travel between regions is common; check regional security guidance before overland journeys and use domestic flights for long hops.
Travelling around Iraq’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Iraq 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
Iraq'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.
Iraq public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Iraq have?
Iraq has 15 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 Iraq is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Iraq'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, Iraq typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Iraq?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Iraq?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Iraq
School term dates in Iraq
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.