Turkey Public Holidays 2026 at a Glance
| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 1 January | New Year's Day | National |
| Friday 20, Sunday 22 March | Eid al-Fitr (Ramazan Bayramı) | Religious |
| Thursday 23 April | National Sovereignty and Children's Day | National |
| Friday 1 May | Labour and Solidarity Day | National |
| Tuesday 19 May | Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day | National |
| Wednesday 27, Saturday 30 May | Kurban Bayramı | Religious |
| Wednesday 15 July | Democracy and National Unity Day | National |
| Sunday 30 August | Victory Day | National |
| Thursday 29 October | Republic Day | National |
State offices shut on every date above. Most private workplaces also close for the full religious breaks: four days for Kurban Bayramı, three for the Ramazan feast. Shops in tourist districts often stay open on secular dates but close for both Eids.
National Holidays: Republic Day, Victory Day, and More
Republic Day (29 October) marks the 1923 declaration. Parades and official ceremonies run in every city. Banks, post offices and state buildings close. Most museums and palaces stay open. The Grand Bazaar does not.
Victory Day (30 August) commemorates the 1922 Battle of Dumlupınar. It falls on a Sunday in 2026, so Monday is not a public holiday. Expect military ceremonies and shuttered state buildings.
National Sovereignty and Children's Day (23 April) puts children symbolically in charge of government seats. Schools and state offices close. Shops and restaurants generally operate normally.
Labour and Solidarity Day (1 May) shuts banks and state offices. In central Istanbul, Taksim Square sees gatherings; some streets may close.
Democracy and National Unity Day (15 July) remembers the 2016 coup attempt. State offices close. Transport runs a regular schedule.
Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day (19 May) marks the start of the 1919 War of Independence. Schools and state offices close; universities hold ceremonies.
Religious Holidays: Ramadan and Sacrifice Feasts
Eid al-Fitr (Ramazan Bayramı) ends the month of Ramadan. In 2026 it runs Friday 20 March through Sunday 22 March. The first day carries the most weight: families visit relatives, banks and most shops close. Restaurants in tourist areas like Sultanahmet and Taksim stay open, but residential neighbourhoods see reduced hours.
Kurban Bayramı is the Feast of the Sacrifice. In 2026 it lasts Wednesday 27 May through Saturday 30 May. The first morning features livestock sacrifices; many streets near mosques and markets are blocked. Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar close all four days. Intercity buses and domestic flights sell out early.
Both feasts follow the Islamic lunar calendar, so their Gregorian dates shift roughly 10-11 days earlier each year. In 2027, the Ramazan feast begins around 9 March and Kurban Bayramı around 16 May.
How Public Holidays Affect Business Hours
Banks and state offices close on every public holiday without exception. Private-sector offices typically close for the full duration of religious feasts. Retail is mixed:
- Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar: closed on all public holidays, plus every Sunday. Plan visits on a Tuesday or Wednesday in a week without a holiday.
- Shopping malls: open on secular holidays, closed or reduced hours on feast mornings. Most reopen by mid-afternoon.
- Supermarkets and bakeries: chain supermarkets (Migros, CarrefourSA) open limited hours on feasts; small bakeries and corner shops often close for the full break.
- Restaurants and cafés: open on secular holidays. On the Ramazan feast and Kurban Bayramı, many close for the first day and reopen for lunch or dinner on the second.
For a complete breakdown of regular opening hours, see Istanbul Business Hours: Banks, Shops & Offices.
What's Open and Closed on Public Holidays
| Place | Secular Holidays | Religious Feasts |
|---|---|---|
| State offices | Closed | Closed |
| Banks | Closed | Closed |
| Post offices (PTT) | Closed | Closed |
| Grand Bazaar | Closed | Closed (all days) |
| Spice Bazaar | Closed | Closed (all days) |
| Shopping malls | Open | Open (reduced hours on day 1) |
| Supermarkets | Open | Open (reduced hours) |
| Museums / Topkapı / Hagia Sophia | Open | Open |
| Public transport | Regular schedule | Regular schedule |
| Restaurants (tourist areas) | Open | Open (closed day 1) |
Public Transport on Holidays
Metro, tram, bus and ferry services run a Sunday schedule for both secular and religious dates. That means reduced frequency on most lines, but first and last departures at normal times. Intercity buses and domestic flights add extra services for Kurban Bayramı and the Ramazan feast; book tickets at least two weeks ahead.
Planning Travel Around Turkish Holidays
- Avoid Kurban Bayramı for intercity travel: roads between major cities (Istanbul, Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir) are crowded on 26-27 May and 30-31 May. Domestic flight prices double.
- Book Istanbul hotels early for Republic Day (29 October): it is a single-day holiday but many locals take the Friday off, creating a four-day weekend. Hotels near Taksim and Sultanahmet fill by mid-October.
- Use secular holidays for sightseeing: museums and palaces are open and less crowded than weekends. The Grand Bazaar will be closed, and the Spice Bazaar will also be shut, so plan covered-market visits for a Tuesday, Thursday.
- Ramadan itself is not a holiday: fasting hours affect restaurant schedules during the day, but the feast that ends it is the public holiday. For details on iftar timings and daytime closures, see Ramadan in Istanbul 2026: Iftar Times & Hours.