Public holidays in Turkey (2026)

Last reviewed: 7 November 2026

In short: Law No. 2429 sets seven fixed-date public holidays and two religious holidays, Ramadan Bayram and Kurban Bayram. Employees are paid for the day and get an extra day's pay if they work it. Private workplaces must close on 29 October.

RuleWhat applies
National public holidaysPublic holidaysLaw No. 2429 sets these public holidays: 1 January, 23 April (National Sovereignty and Children's Day), 1 May (Labour and Solidarity Day), 19 May (Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day), 15 July (Democracy and National Unity Day), 30 August (Victory Day), Ramadan Bayram (3.5 days from 1.00 pm on the eve) and Kurban Bayram (4.5 days from 1.00 pm on the eve). 29 October (Republic Day) is a national holiday that begins at 1.00 pm on 28 October. [1]
Number of national public holidaysPublic holidaysLaw No. 2429 names 7 fixed-date holidays (1 January, 23 April, 1 May, 19 May, 15 July, 30 August, 29 October) and two religious holidays: Ramadan Bayram (3.5 days) and Kurban Bayram (4.5 days). [1]
Working on a public holidayPublic holidaysWhether work is done on these days is set by collective agreement or employment contracts. If they are silent, the employee's consent is needed to work. An employee who does not work gets the full day's pay without doing any work. An employee who works gets, in addition, one day's pay for each day worked. [2]
Shop opening on public holidaysPublic holidaysPrivate workplaces must close on 29 October. [1]
Holiday falling on a weekendPublic holidaysWhen a national holiday or public holiday ends on a Friday evening, the whole of the following Saturday is also a holiday. The text names no substitute day for a holiday that falls on a weekend. [1]

Notes

  • The law fixes the length of the religious holidays (3.5 and 4.5 days) but not their dates. The 2026 dates are not in the law text read.
  • Law No. 2429 requires private workplaces to close on 29 October. A rule for the other holidays was not found in the text read.

Sources

  1. Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi (Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye): Ulusal Bayram ve Genel Tatiller Hakkında Kanun (Law No. 2429) (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
  2. Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi (Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye): İş Kanunu (Labour Law No. 4857) (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources

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