Public holidays
Somalia: 10 public holiday dates in 2026 (10 days off) and 11 in 2027 (11 days off), with 251 working days in 2026 and 256 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 |
| Friday 16 January 2026 | 2026-W03 | Isra' and Mi'raj | Yes |
| Friday 20 March 2026 | 2026-W12 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Friday 1 May 2026 | 2026-W18 | Labor Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 27 May 2026 | 2026-W22 | Eid al-Adha | Yes |
| Tuesday 16 June 2026 | 2026-W25 | Islamic New Year | Yes |
| Thursday 25 June 2026 | 2026-W26 | Ashura | Yes |
| Friday 26 June 2026 | 2026-W26 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 1 July 2026 | 2026-W27 | Republic Day | 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 |
| Tuesday 5 January 2027 | 2027-W01 | Isra' and Mi'raj | Yes |
| Tuesday 9 March 2027 | 2027-W10 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Saturday 1 May 2027 | 2027-W17 | Labor Day | Yes |
| Sunday 16 May 2027 | 2027-W19 | Eid al-Adha | Yes |
| Sunday 6 June 2027 | 2027-W22 | Islamic New Year | Yes |
| Tuesday 15 June 2027 | 2027-W24 | Ashura | Yes |
| Saturday 26 June 2027 | 2027-W25 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Thursday 1 July 2027 | 2027-W26 | Republic Day | Yes |
| Saturday 14 August 2027 | 2027-W32 | Prophet's Birthday | Yes |
| Saturday 25 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Isra' and Mi'raj | Yes |
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eid al-Fitr | Friday 20 March 2026 | Tuesday 9 March 2027 | −11 days |
| Eid al-Adha | Wednesday 27 May 2026 | Sunday 16 May 2027 | −11 days |
| 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 | 20 | 19 | −1 |
| February | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| March | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| April | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| May | 19 | 21 | +2 |
| June | 19 | 21 | +2 |
| July | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| August | 20 | 22 | +2 |
| September | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| October | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| November | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| December | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| Q1 | 61 | 61 | 0 |
| Q2 | 60 | 64 | +4 |
| Q3 | 64 | 65 | +1 |
| Q4 | 66 | 66 | 0 |
| Year | 251 | 256 | +5 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
Marks 26 June 1960, when the former British Somaliland became independent from the United Kingdom. Italian Somaliland followed on 1 July, when the two united.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off.
1 July marks the unification of the former Italian and British Somalilands as the Somali Republic in 1960, five days after British Somaliland became independent on 26 June.
At work: Fine 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.
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