Turkish National Public Holidays 2026
What to know about Turkish National Public Holidays
On any of the many Turkish national public holidays, thousands if not millions of people are on the move. Istanbul residents take advantage of free public transport to go sightseeing in Sultanahmet and Eminönü while others head east to places like Şanliurfa and Diyarbakir, to celebrate Şeker and Kurban Bayram (two of the longest breaks, usually nine days in total incorporating two weekends) with their families back home.
The exact length of these two particular holidays often isn’t decided until the last minute, so it’s a chaotic time to travel, multiplied by a zillion. Despite bus companies putting on extra services, every major intercity otogar (bus station) overflows with passengers holding tickets and would be travellers hoping for a last minute miracle.
During Turkish national public holidays, banks, post offices, schools, government departments and many businesses are closed, some taking a half day break before the actual start date. Tourist centres like Istanbul, Antalya, Cappadocia, Izmir and Bodrum can be extremely busy and locals buy bus, train and plane tickets well in advance, so it’s a good idea to plan ahead, especially you want good accommodation rather than having to make do with what’s left.
Depending on what passport you’re travelling on when you come to Turkey, you might need to buy an evisa in advance. You can’t get a visa at the airport on arrival anymore (this goes for both Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen Airport) and Turkey requires some foreign nationals to apply for a visa in person at their nearest embassy or consulate. I’ve written a basic guide about what you need to know when it comes to buying an evisa for Turkey which includes a link to the official Turkish government website. It’s easy to apply for so you don’t need to pay extra to get one, as happens on other websites.
If you plan to rent a car while you’re in Turkey, take care, particularly during Turkish national public holidays when roads are busier and drivers crazier than usual. Here are some useful tips for driving in Turkey. However accidents do happen, so travel insurance is essential.
Whether you travel solo, in a couple or a group, stay safe and have fun! Wishing you all a happy and healthy 2026.
2026 Turkish National Public Holidays & major religious events
1 January: New Year’s Day
15 January: Mirac Kandili R*
2 February: Berat Kandili R
18 February: Ramazan Arefe gunu – public service half day holiday
19 February: Holy month of Ramadan begins
16 March: Kadir Gecesi R
19 March: Şeker Bayram Arife Günü – Religious half day holiday before Şeker Bayramı. This is a gazetted half day off but most employees in private businesses work the full day.
20-22 March: Şeker Bayramı (also known as Ramazan Bayramı) – a feast of chocolates and sweets.
23 April: National Sovereignty and Children’s Day (Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı)
1 May: Labour and Solidarity Day1
19 May: Commemoration of Ataturk, Youth and Sports Day (Atatürk’ü Anma Gençlik ve Spor Bayramı)
26 May: Kurban Bayram Arife Günü – Religious half day holiday before Kurban Bayramı. This is a gazetted half day off but most employees in private businesses work the full day.
27-30 May: Sacrifice (Kurban Bayramı) Feast
25 June: Aşure Günü R
15 July: Democracy and National Solidarity Day2
24 August: Mevlid Kandili R
30 August: Victory Day (Zafer Bayramı)
6 October: Liberation of Istanbul
28 October: Republic Day Arife. Half day holiday before Republic Day. This is a gazetted half day off but most employees in private businesses work the full day.
29 October: Republic Day
10 December: Regaib Kandili
I hope you find this calendar of Turkish national public holidays helpful. Feel free to print it out, save it on your computer and share it with your friends on social media.
1. Labour and Solidarity Day
In Turkey, Labour and Solidarity Day (Emek ve Dayanışma Günü), internationally known as May Day, is an occasion for people to celebrate improvements in working conditions and to demand better conditions for skilled labourers and union workers. In recent years peaceful demonstrations have turned ugly, and in Istanbul much of the public transport system is shut down to prevent large gatherings. It’s wise to plan your movements accordingly.
2. Democracy and National Solidarity Day
On July 15, 2016 a failed coup took place which resulted in the deaths of at least 241 people, including seven civilians who were shot dead as they resisted the coup forces near the Akıncı air force base north of Ankara. In the immediate aftermath of the coup, a number of structures and public spaces were renamed, most notably Istanbul’s Bosphorus Bridge, which was renamed the “July 15 Martyrs’ Bridge.”
*dates marked with an R are major religious events and are not official national public holidays. That said, while it’s mostly business as usual on those days, during the holy month of Ramazan it can be difficult to find restaurants open for lunch in towns and villages outside major city centres.
