Public holidays
Iraq: 15 public holiday dates in 2026 (15 days off) and 16 in 2027 (16 days off), with 250 working days in 2026 and 248 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 |
| Tuesday 6 January 2026 | 2026-W02 | Army Day | Yes |
| Monday 16 March 2026 | 2026-W12 | Commemoration of the Saddam Baath crimes against the Iraqi people | Yes |
| Friday 20 March 2026 | 2026-W12 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Saturday 21 March 2026 | 2026-W12 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Sunday 22 March 2026 | 2026-W12 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Friday 1 May 2026 | 2026-W18 | Labor Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 26 May 2026 | 2026-W22 | Day of Arafah | Yes |
| Wednesday 27 May 2026 | 2026-W22 | Eid al-Adha | Yes |
| Thursday 28 May 2026 | 2026-W22 | Eid al-Adha | Yes |
| Friday 29 May 2026 | 2026-W22 | Eid al-Adha | Yes |
| Thursday 4 June 2026 | 2026-W23 | Eid al-Ghadir | Yes |
| Tuesday 16 June 2026 | 2026-W25 | Islamic New Year | Yes |
| Thursday 25 June 2026 | 2026-W26 | Ashura | Yes |
| Tuesday 25 August 2026 | 2026-W35 | Prophet's Birthday | Yes |
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 1 January 2027 | 2026-W53 | New Year's Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 6 January 2027 | 2027-W01 | Army Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 9 March 2027 | 2027-W10 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Wednesday 10 March 2027 | 2027-W10 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Thursday 11 March 2027 | 2027-W10 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Tuesday 16 March 2027 | 2027-W11 | Commemoration of the Saddam Baath crimes against the Iraqi people | Yes |
| Sunday 21 March 2027 | 2027-W11 | Nowruz | Yes |
| Saturday 1 May 2027 | 2027-W17 | Labor Day | Yes |
| Saturday 15 May 2027 | 2027-W19 | Day of Arafah | Yes |
| Sunday 16 May 2027 | 2027-W19 | Eid al-Adha | Yes |
| Monday 17 May 2027 | 2027-W20 | Eid al-Adha | Yes |
| Tuesday 18 May 2027 | 2027-W20 | Eid al-Adha | Yes |
| Monday 24 May 2027 | 2027-W21 | Eid al-Ghadir | Yes |
| Sunday 6 June 2027 | 2027-W22 | Islamic New Year | Yes |
| Tuesday 15 June 2027 | 2027-W24 | Ashura | Yes |
| Saturday 14 August 2027 | 2027-W32 | Prophet's Birthday | Yes |
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day of Arafah | Tuesday 26 May 2026 | Saturday 15 May 2027 | −11 days |
| Eid al-Ghadir | Thursday 4 June 2026 | Monday 24 May 2027 | −11 days, changes month |
| Prophet's Birthday | Tuesday 25 August 2026 | Saturday 14 August 2027 | −11 days |
| Islamic New Year | Tuesday 16 June 2026 | Sunday 6 June 2027 | −10 days |
| Ashura | Thursday 25 June 2026 | Tuesday 15 June 2027 | −10 days |
A shift ignores the year: +19 days means 19 days later in the calendar.
| Month | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19 | 20 | +1 |
| February | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| March | 21 | 18 | −3 |
| April | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| May | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| June | 19 | 20 | +1 |
| July | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| August | 21 | 23 | +2 |
| September | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| October | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| November | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| December | 23 | 22 | −1 |
| Q1 | 60 | 58 | −2 |
| Q2 | 59 | 59 | 0 |
| Q3 | 65 | 66 | +1 |
| Q4 | 66 | 65 | −1 |
| Year | 250 | 248 | −2 |
Weekdays by the local weekend (Friday 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.
6 January marks the formation of the Iraqi Army by the British on 6 January 1921, later marked as Iraqi Army Day.
At work: Fine to mention. 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.
International Workers' Day, on 1 May, honours workers and the labour movement. The date was chosen to commemorate the 1886 general strike in the United States that culminated in the Haymarket affair, and the day was adopted in support of a "great international demonstration" for the eight-hour day.
At work: Fine to mention the day off. In some countries it has a political side, so keep it about the break.
The Day of Arafah is an Islamic holiday on the ninth day of Dhu al-Hijjah. It is the second day of the Hajj pilgrimage and is followed by Eid al-Adha. Pilgrims gather on Mount Arafat and the plain of Arafat in Saudi Arabia, where the Prophet Muhammad gave one of his last sermons. Fasting on the day is highly recommended for Muslims who are not on pilgrimage.
At work: Fine to mention. A calm, reflective day, and it comes just before Eid al-Adha.
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.
Observed on 18 Dhu al-Hijjah. It commemorates the event of Ghadir Khumm, when the Prophet Muhammad declared "for whomsoever I am Mawla, Ali is also their Mawla", which Shia Muslims understand as naming Ali as his successor. Celebrations include prayers, gatherings, charity and gifts. Iraq's parliament declared it an official public holiday in 2024.
At work: Fine to mention with respect, especially to Shia colleagues. Views on the event differ between Muslim traditions.
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.
Ashura is a day of commemoration in Islam, on the tenth of Muharram. For Shia Muslims it is a day of mourning, commemorating the death of Husayn, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and the third Shia Imam, at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE. Sunni Muslims also regard the killing of Husayn as a tragic event, and Ashura also marks the parting of the Red Sea by Moses and the salvation of the Israelites. Observances differ between communities.
At work: Solemn, so "Happy" does not fit. Be respectful and keep it neutral.
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.
The Persian new year, based on the spring equinox, celebrated for over 3,000 years across West and Central Asia, the Caucasus and beyond. Homes are cleaned before it, family and friends visit, and many families set a Haft-sin table of seven items beginning with the letter sin. In Iran it lasts thirteen days. The United Nations recognised the International Day of Nowruz in 2010.
At work: Very welcome to mention. Colleagues who celebrate may travel or be off for several days.
Open Iraq in TimeBento, next to the other places you work with.