Public Holidays in Israel
Statutory public holidays in Israel, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Israel at a glance
Israel’s public holidays follow the Hebrew calendar, a lunisolar system with leap months, so dates move substantially against the Gregorian year. The working week runs Sunday to Thursday, with Friday and Saturday as the weekend.
Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Passover are the major holiday periods, and during them most businesses, public transport and offices close entirely.
Israel public holidays 2026
Israel has 9 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pesach | Apr 2Thu | National |
| Seventh day of Pesach | Apr 8Wed | National |
| Independence Day | Apr 22Wed | National |
| Shavuot | May 22Fri | National |
| Rosh Hashanah | Sep 12Sat | National |
| Rosh Hashanah | Sep 13Sun | National |
| Yom Kippur | Sep 21Mon | National |
| Sukkot | Sep 26Sat | National |
| Simchat Torah / Shemini Atzeret | Oct 3Sat | National |
Showing 9 of 9 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Israel
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Israel.
Jerusalem
A city layered with Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Armenian quarters inside Ottoman walls.
Tel Aviv
A beachfront city of Bauhaus terraces, nightlife and the country's tech industry.
Haifa
A hillside port city where the terraced Bahai Gardens look across the bay.
Beersheba
The capital of the Negev, a base for desert trips and the Bedouin market.
Eilat
A resort city on the Gulf of Aqaba with coral reefs and desert mountains.
Top attractions in Israel
The places that draw most visitors to Israel.
Western Wall
The last standing retaining wall of the Second Temple and Judaism's holiest prayer site.
Masada
A desert fortress plateau where Herod built a palace and Jewish rebels made their last stand.
Bahai Gardens
Nineteen terraced gardens cascading down Mount Carmel above Haifa.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The traditional site of the crucifixion and tomb of Jesus.
Dead Sea
The lowest point on dry land, where bathers float in mineral-rich water.
Old City of Acre
A Crusader port city with vaulted halls, sea walls and a covered bazaar.
Festivals, food and getting around Israel
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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Tu Bishvat
Falls on Feb 2
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Fast of Esther
Falls on Mar 2
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Purim Eve
Falls on Mar 2
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Purim (Tel Aviv)
Falls on Mar 3
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Shushan Purim (Jerusalem)
Falls on Mar 4
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March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
Food & drink
Getting around
Trains and buses cover the coastal plain efficiently; almost all public transport stops from before sundown on Friday until Saturday evening.
Travelling around Israel’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Israel 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
Israel'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.
Israel public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Israel have?
Israel has 9 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 Israel is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Israel'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, Israel typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Israel?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Israel?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Israel
School term dates in Israel
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.