Public holidays
Palestine: 18 public holiday dates in 2026 (18 days off) and 18 in 2027 (18 days off), with 250 working days in 2026 and 250 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 |
| Wednesday 7 January 2026 | 2026-W02 | Orthodox Christmas Day | Yes |
| Friday 16 January 2026 | 2026-W03 | Isra' and Mi'raj | Yes |
| Sunday 8 March 2026 | 2026-W10 | International Women's Day | 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 |
| Sunday 5 April 2026 | 2026-W14 | Easter | Yes |
| Sunday 12 April 2026 | 2026-W15 | Easter | Yes |
| Friday 1 May 2026 | 2026-W18 | Labor Day | 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 |
| Saturday 30 May 2026 | 2026-W22 | Eid al-Adha | Yes |
| Tuesday 16 June 2026 | 2026-W25 | Islamic New Year | Yes |
| Tuesday 25 August 2026 | 2026-W35 | Prophet's Birthday | Yes |
| Sunday 15 November 2026 | 2026-W46 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | Catholic Christmas Day | Yes |
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 1 January 2027 | 2026-W53 | New Year's Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 5 January 2027 | 2027-W01 | Isra' and Mi'raj | Yes |
| Thursday 7 January 2027 | 2027-W01 | Orthodox Christmas Day | Yes |
| Monday 8 March 2027 | 2027-W10 | International Women's 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 |
| Sunday 28 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Easter | Yes |
| Saturday 1 May 2027 | 2027-W17 | Labor Day | Yes |
| Sunday 2 May 2027 | 2027-W17 | Easter | 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 |
| Wednesday 19 May 2027 | 2027-W20 | Eid al-Adha | Yes |
| Sunday 6 June 2027 | 2027-W22 | Islamic New Year | Yes |
| Saturday 14 August 2027 | 2027-W32 | Prophet's Birthday | Yes |
| Monday 15 November 2027 | 2027-W46 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Saturday 25 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Isra' and Mi'raj | Yes |
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
A shift ignores the year: +19 days means 19 days later in the calendar.
| Month | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19 | 18 | −1 |
| February | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| March | 21 | 19 | −2 |
| April | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| May | 17 | 18 | +1 |
| June | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| July | 23 | 22 | −1 |
| August | 20 | 22 | +2 |
| September | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| October | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| November | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| December | 22 | 23 | +1 |
| Q1 | 60 | 57 | −3 |
| Q2 | 60 | 62 | +2 |
| Q3 | 65 | 66 | +1 |
| Q4 | 65 | 65 | 0 |
| Year | 250 | 250 | 0 |
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.
Christmas celebrated on 7 January on the Gregorian calendar by churches that follow the Julian calendar, where 25 December in the Julian calendar is 7 January in the Gregorian calendar until 2100, and by the Coptic Orthodox Church, whose Christmas falls on the same day.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off in the places that keep it.
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.
Celebrated on 8 March, it commemorates women's fight for equality and the women's rights movement, and gives focus to gender equality, reproductive rights and violence against women. It grew out of labour movements in Europe and North America in the early 20th century, and is a public holiday in the countries listed.
At work: Welcome to mention. In several countries it is a day off; the card shows the official days 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.
Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and is the most important feast of the Christian year. Families go to church and share a festive meal, and in many places Easter eggs are decorated and broken together as a symbol of the empty tomb. Easter is a moveable feast, with its date set by a lunisolar calendar. Easter Monday, the day after, is a public holiday in more than 50 predominantly Christian countries.
At work: Widely welcome to mention. Colleagues may be away for the whole long weekend.
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.
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.
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.
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 on 25 December, as celebrated by Catholics, is listed among Palestine's public holidays alongside Orthodox Christmas on 7 January.
At work: Welcome to mention. A day off, mainly for Christians.
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