Public holidays
Brunei: 18 public holiday dates in 2026 (18 days off) and 21 in 2027 (21 days off), with 249 working days in 2026 and 247 in 2027. National holidays only: regional ones are not included.
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday 1 January 2026 | 2026-W01 | New Year's Day | Yes |
| Saturday 17 January 2026 | 2026-W03 | Isra' and Mi'raj | Yes |
| Tuesday 17 February 2026 | 2026-W08 | Lunar New Year | Yes |
| Thursday 19 February 2026 | 2026-W08 | First Day of Ramadan | Yes |
| Monday 23 February 2026 | 2026-W09 | National Day | Yes |
| Saturday 7 March 2026 | 2026-W10 | Anniversary of the revelation of the Quran | Yes |
| Saturday 21 March 2026 | 2026-W12 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Sunday 22 March 2026 | 2026-W12 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Monday 23 March 2026 | 2026-W13 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Tuesday 24 March 2026 | 2026-W13 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Wednesday 27 May 2026 | 2026-W22 | Eid al-Adha | Yes |
| Sunday 31 May 2026 | 2026-W22 | Armed Forces Day | Yes |
| Monday 1 June 2026 | 2026-W23 | Armed Forces Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 17 June 2026 | 2026-W25 | Islamic New Year | Yes |
| Wednesday 15 July 2026 | 2026-W29 | Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's Birthday | Yes |
| Tuesday 25 August 2026 | 2026-W35 | Prophet's Birthday | Yes |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Saturday 26 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 1 January 2027 | 2026-W53 | New Year's Day | Yes |
| Saturday 2 January 2027 | 2026-W53 | New Year's Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 6 January 2027 | 2027-W01 | Isra' and Mi'raj | Yes |
| Saturday 6 February 2027 | 2027-W05 | Lunar New Year | Yes |
| Monday 8 February 2027 | 2027-W06 | First Day of Ramadan | Yes |
| Tuesday 23 February 2027 | 2027-W08 | National Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 24 February 2027 | 2027-W08 | Anniversary of the revelation of the Quran | Yes |
| Wednesday 10 March 2027 | 2027-W10 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Thursday 11 March 2027 | 2027-W10 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Friday 12 March 2027 | 2027-W10 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Saturday 13 March 2027 | 2027-W10 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Monday 17 May 2027 | 2027-W20 | Eid al-Adha | Yes |
| Monday 31 May 2027 | 2027-W22 | Armed Forces Day | Yes |
| Sunday 6 June 2027 | 2027-W22 | Islamic New Year | Yes |
| Monday 7 June 2027 | 2027-W23 | Islamic New Year | Yes |
| Thursday 15 July 2027 | 2027-W28 | Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's Birthday | Yes |
| Sunday 15 August 2027 | 2027-W32 | Prophet's Birthday | Yes |
| Monday 16 August 2027 | 2027-W33 | Prophet's Birthday | Yes |
| Saturday 25 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Sunday 26 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Isra' and Mi'raj | Yes |
| Monday 27 December 2027 | 2027-W52 | Isra' and Mi'raj | Yes |
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anniversary of the revelation of the Quran | Saturday 7 March 2026 | Wednesday 24 February 2027 | −12 days, changes month |
| Lunar New Year | Tuesday 17 February 2026 | Saturday 6 February 2027 | −11 days |
| First Day of Ramadan | Thursday 19 February 2026 | Monday 8 February 2027 | −11 days |
| Eid al-Adha | Wednesday 27 May 2026 | Monday 17 May 2027 | −10 days |
A shift ignores the year: +19 days means 19 days later in the calendar.
| Month | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21 | 19 | −2 |
| February | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| March | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| April | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| May | 20 | 19 | −1 |
| June | 20 | 21 | +1 |
| July | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| August | 20 | 21 | +1 |
| September | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| October | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| November | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| December | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| Q1 | 58 | 56 | −2 |
| Q2 | 62 | 62 | 0 |
| Q3 | 64 | 64 | 0 |
| Q4 | 65 | 65 | 0 |
| Year | 249 | 247 | −2 |
Weekdays by the local weekend (Sunday and Saturday), minus the public holidays most people have off.
The first day of the calendar year in the Gregorian calendar, 1 January. Cultures and religions that follow a lunisolar or lunar calendar celebrate their New Year at other points of the year. Japan celebrates New Year on 1 January, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, instead of with the Chinese calendar that was in use until 1873.
At work: Fine to mention, and a natural moment to wish colleagues well.
The Isra' and Mi'raj are the Islamic accounts of the Prophet Muhammad's night journey, during which he ascends to the heavens. It is remembered in many Muslim-majority countries, and is a public holiday in some of them.
At work: Fine to mention with respect. A day off in the countries that keep it; the card shows the official days off.
The start of the year in the traditional lunisolar calendar, also called the Spring Festival, celebrated by Chinese communities around the world. Customs include red envelopes, firecrackers, lion and dragon dances and red lanterns. Korea celebrates its own lunar New Year as Seollal and Vietnam as Tết.
At work: Very welcome to mention. It is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture, so plan deadlines and shipments around it.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, a month of fasting, communal prayer, reflection, study of the Quran and charity. It lasts 29 or 30 days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next, and Muslims who are able fast from dawn to sunset.
At work: Very welcome to mention. Colleagues who fast do not eat or drink between dawn and sunset, so avoid planning meals around the day.
23 February is Brunei's National Day, also called Independence Day. Brunei proclaimed independence from the United Kingdom on 1 January 1984 but chose 23 February for its national day, which became a holiday by government decree in 1985.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off.
Nuzul Al-Quran, on 17 Ramadan, celebrates the revelation of the first verses of the Qur'an.
At work: Welcome to mention among Muslims. A day off.
Eid al-Fitr, the "festival of breaking the fast", is the first of the two main festivals in Islam. It falls on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, and marks the end of the month-long, dawn-to-dusk fasting of Ramadan. It begins with a communal prayer and is followed by visits to relatives, giving gifts and sharing meals.
At work: Very welcome to mention. Its date follows the lunar calendar and shifts every year, so keep plans flexible. During Ramadan itself, colleagues who fast may prefer meetings earlier in the day and not over lunch.
Eid al-Adha, the "festival of the sacrifice", is the second of the two main festivals in Islam. It falls on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijja, the last month of the Islamic calendar. It honours the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son at God's command. The Eid prayer is held in the morning, followed by the ritual sacrifice of a livestock animal, and celebrations carry on for the three following days.
At work: Very welcome to mention. As with Eid al-Fitr, the date follows the lunar calendar, so keep plans flexible.
Royal Brunei Armed Forces Day on 31 May marks the founding of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces in 1961.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off.
The Islamic (Hijri) New Year marks the beginning of a new lunar Hijri year. It is observed by most Muslims on the first day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. The Islamic era begins with the Hijrah, the emigration of Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. It is observed as a public holiday by 24 countries.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off in the countries that observe it.
15 July commemorates the birthday of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, born in 1946.
At work: Welcome to mention. A day off.
Mawlid is an annual festival commemorating the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, on 12 Rabi' al-awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar. It was first publicly celebrated by Gökböri, a deputy of Saladin, and the Ottomans declared it an official holiday. Celebrants recite religious poetry in praise of Muhammad.
At work: Respectful to mention. Not every colleague marks it in the same way.
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on 25 December. Eastern Christian Churches that follow the older Julian calendar celebrate it on 25 December of that calendar, which currently corresponds to 7 January. It is a public holiday in many countries, and many non-Christians celebrate it culturally too.
At work: Widely welcome to mention. Plan important meetings before the break. If you're unsure whether someone celebrates it, "Happy holidays" is a safe choice.
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