Public holidays in February 2026 are sparse but significant. Unlike January’s global New Year wave, February’s days off are concentrated in just three countries — Pakistan, the United States, and Saudi Arabia — each marking a distinctly national occasion. The rest of the world works straight through. If your plans touch South Asia, America, or the Gulf this month, here are the dates that matter.
Every February 2026 Public Holiday, by Country
- February 5 — Kashmir Day: Pakistan (Thursday).
- February 16 — Washington’s Birthday (Presidents Day): United States, federal holiday (Monday).
- February 22 — Founding Day: Saudi Arabia (Sunday).
That is the complete list across our twelve tracked countries. Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the UK, Canada, Australia, India, and the UAE have no public holidays in February 2026. It is the quietest month of the holiday year — which makes the three holidays it does contain stand out all the more.
Regional Highlights
Kashmir Day (February 5, Pakistan): Observed annually to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir, this is a full public holiday — government offices, banks, and schools close. It is marked by rallies, seminars, and a minute of silence observed nationwide. For visitors, it is a day when official business is impossible, so schedule around it. Falling on a Thursday in 2026, it tempts a long weekend for those who can take Friday off.
Washington’s Birthday (February 16, US): Widely known as Presidents Day, this federal holiday falls on the third Monday of February. Federal offices, banks, and the stock markets close, and it has become one of America’s biggest retail sale weekends — car dealerships and mattress stores are famous for their Presidents Day promotions. Schools in most states are closed, making it a popular long weekend for family travel.
Saudi Founding Day (February 22): A relatively new addition to the Saudi calendar, Founding Day commemorates the establishment of the first Saudi state in Diriyah in 1727. Celebrations have grown grander each year, with cultural festivals, traditional performances, and patriotic displays across the Kingdom. In 2026 it falls on a Sunday, the first day of the Saudi workweek — check whether your specific sector observes it, as implementation can vary between public and private employers.
Planning Tips for February
February’s thin holiday calendar makes it an efficient month for business travel — few closures to work around in most of the world. The exception is Pakistan around February 5 and the US around the Presidents Day weekend (February 14–16), when domestic travel spikes and airports see heavy leisure traffic. Valentine’s Day (February 14) is not a public holiday anywhere, but restaurants and hotels in major cities book out — reserve early if you are celebrating. And a forward look: March brings the Ramadan/Eid season to the Muslim world, so February is the calm before a very busy holiday period in Pakistan, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Use the quiet weeks to get ahead on work, finalize any March travel bookings before Eid demand surges, and confirm leave arrangements early — the spring festival season arrives faster than you think.
Planning tips
Dates and rules can change, so treat any calendar as a planning aid and confirm important details with the official government or employer notice before you book travel, schedule deliveries or arrange time off. If a date falls close to a weekend, check whether a substitute day applies, because many countries move the observance to the nearest working day.
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.