Public Holidays in Syria
Statutory public holidays in Syria, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Syria at a glance
Syria’s public holidays follow the Islamic lunar calendar for religious dates, alongside national commemorations such as Independence Day on 17 April and Martyrs’ Day on 6 May.
Christian and Muslim festivals are both recognised in the calendar, and religious dates move about ten days earlier each Gregorian year.
Syria public holidays 2026
Syria has 20 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 |
| Revolution Day | Mar 8Sun | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 20Fri | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated); Mother's Day | Mar 21Sat | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 22Sun | National |
| Gregorian Easter Sunday | Apr 5Sun | National |
| Julian Easter Sunday | Apr 12Sun | National |
| Independence Day | Apr 17Fri | National |
| Labor Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Martyrs' Day | May 6Wed | National |
| Eid al-Adha (estimated) | May 26Tue | National |
| Eid al-Adha (estimated) | May 27Wed | National |
Showing 12 of 20 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Syria
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Syria.
Damascus
A capital of souqs, Umayyad mosque courtyards and a walled old city.
Aleppo
A great trading city with a vast covered souq and a citadel on a mound.
Latakia
The main port on the coast, with a corniche and nearby mountain resorts.
Homs
A crossroads city on the Orontes with a long history of trade and industry.
Palmyra
A desert oasis holding the monumental ruins of a caravan city.
Top attractions in Syria
The places that draw most visitors to Syria.
Palmyra
Colonnaded streets, temples and tower tombs at a desert crossroads.
Umayyad Mosque
One of the oldest and largest mosques in the world, on the site of a Roman temple.
Aleppo Citadel
A vast limestone fortress on an artificial mound above the old city.
Ancient City of Damascus
A continuously lived-in old city of souqs, khans and courtyard houses.
Krak des Chevaliers
The best-preserved Crusader castle in the world, on a ridge above a valley.
Bosra
A Roman theatre of black basalt, largely intact inside a walled town.
Festivals, food and getting around Syria
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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🎉
Ramadan Start
Falls on Feb 18
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🎉
Revolution Day
Falls on Mar 8
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🎉
Eid al-Fitr
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
Mothers' Day
Falls on Mar 21
Food & drink
Getting around
Travel is limited and conditions vary; check current guidance before planning any journey.
Travelling around Syria’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Syria 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
Syria'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.
Syria public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Syria have?
Syria has 20 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 Syria is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Syria'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, Syria typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Syria?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Syria?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Syria
School term dates in Syria
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.