The Saudi Arabia public holidays in 2026 centre on the two Eids, the Islamic New Year, and the Kingdom’s two great national days — Founding Day in February and Saudi National Day in September. Islamic dates follow the lunar calendar and are confirmed by moon sighting, so the Eid and New Year dates below are expected dates that may shift by a day. Here is the complete 2026 calendar.
All Saudi public holidays in 2026
- Sunday, 22 February — Founding Day
- Friday, 20 March — Eid al-Fitr — expected, subject to moon sighting
- Saturday, 21 March — Eid al-Fitr Holiday — expected, subject to moon sighting
- Sunday, 22 March — Eid al-Fitr Holiday — expected, subject to moon sighting
- Tuesday, 26 May — Arafat Day — expected, subject to moon sighting
- Wednesday, 27 May — Eid al-Adha — expected, subject to moon sighting
- Thursday, 28 May — Eid al-Adha Holiday — expected, subject to moon sighting
- Friday, 29 May — Eid al-Adha Holiday — expected, subject to moon sighting
- Tuesday, 16 June — Islamic New Year (Muharram) — expected, subject to moon sighting
- Wednesday, 23 September — Saudi National Day
Founding Day vs National Day
Visitors often confuse the two. Founding Day (22 February) commemorates the establishment of the first Saudi state in 1727 under Imam Muhammad bin Saud, and has been an official public holiday since 2022. Saudi National Day (23 September) marks the 1932 unification of the Kingdom by King Abdulaziz Al Saud. Both are days of patriotic celebration — expect buildings lit green, cultural festivals, traditional performances and fireworks nationwide, with Riyadh’s Boulevard and Jeddah’s waterfront hosting flagship events.
The Eid holidays in practice
Eid al-Fitr (expected 20–22 March) ends the fasting month of Ramadan with three days of celebration: special prayers, family feasts, new clothes and gifts. Eid al-Adha (expected 26–29 May, beginning with the Day of Arafat) brings a four-day break from Tuesday to Friday — the longest continuous holiday of the Saudi year. Government offices, banks and many private businesses close, while malls, restaurants and entertainment venues stay open with festive programming. Because exact dates hinge on the moon sighting, employers typically confirm the holiday announcement just days beforehand.
Working hours and the weekly rhythm
Friday is the weekly day of rest in the Kingdom, with the working week running Sunday to Thursday for government and many businesses (private sector commonly Sunday–Thursday or Monday–Friday). This means holidays adjacent to weekends naturally extend — the Eid al-Adha stretch ending Friday 29 May flows straight into the weekend. During Ramadan itself (the month before Eid al-Fitr), working hours are reduced by law, which reshapes business scheduling even though Ramadan is not itself a public holiday.
Planning around the 2026 calendar
The Eid al-Adha period (26–29 May) is the peak domestic travel window — book flights and hotels early, as millions move around the Kingdom. Saudi National Day on Wednesday 23 September pairs with a single leave day for a long mid-week break, and the weather in September is far more pleasant than high summer. For the Eid periods, keep bookings flexible until the moon-sighting announcement, and note that the exact length of the official Eid break can occasionally be extended by royal decree — a welcome surprise when it happens.
Planning tips
A good habit is to review the holiday list at the start of each quarter, mark the dates that affect your work or family plans, and note any bridge days where taking one extra day creates a long weekend. Remember that rules for pay, closures and observances differ by country, region and employer.
Use this guide as a starting point, compare it with the official source for your location and check again closer to the date, since announcements and local arrangements can change. Sharing the dates early with family, colleagues and customers also avoids last-minute surprises.