Public Holidays in Sudan
Statutory public holidays in Sudan, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Sudan at a glance
Sudan’s public holidays follow the Islamic lunar calendar for religious dates, with Independence Day on 1 January the national date.
Religious dates move about ten days earlier each Gregorian year, and the weekend runs Friday to Saturday.
Sudan public holidays 2026
Sudan 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Independence Day | Jan 1Thu | National |
| Coptic Christmas Day | Jan 7Wed | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 20Fri | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 21Sat | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 22Sun | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 23Mon | National |
| Coptic Easter | Apr 12Sun | National |
| Eid al-Adha (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-Adha (estimated) | May 30Sat | National |
Showing 12 of 15 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Sudan
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Sudan.
Khartoum
A capital at the meeting of the Blue and White Nile, with markets and museums.
Omdurman
A city across the river, with a great souq and the Mahdi's tomb.
Port Sudan
The main port, a coral coast city and diving base.
Kassala
A city of dramatic granite hills near the Eritrean border.
El Obeid
A city on the Kordofan plain, a market and gum arabic centre.
Top attractions in Sudan
The places that draw most visitors to Sudan.
Pyramids of Meroe
Steep-sided Nubian pyramids standing in open desert.
Gebel Barkal
A sandstone mountain sacred to the Kushite kings, with temples at its foot.
Sanganeb Marine Park
A Red Sea atoll of coral reefs and open-ocean walls.
Nubian Pyramids
Several Pyramid fields of the Kingdom of Kush along the Nile.
Kerma
A mud-brick religious complex and royal tombs of an ancient Nubian capital.
Suakin
A coral-built Red Sea port town, largely abandoned and atmospheric.
Festivals, food and getting around Sudan
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
-
🎉
Independence Day
Falls on Jan 1
-
🎉
Coptic Christmas
Falls on Jan 7
-
🎉
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
Conflict makes travel extremely dangerous; consult official guidance before any journey.
Travelling around Sudan’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Sudan 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
Sudan'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.
Sudan public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Sudan have?
Sudan 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 Sudan is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Sudan'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, Sudan typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Sudan?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Sudan?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Sudan
School term dates in Sudan
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.