The federal government has officially announced the public holidays calendar for 2026, outlining nationwide holidays, religious observances, and optional leaves for the ongoing year.
According to the notification issued by the Cabinet Division, there will be 11 public holidays and 23 optional holidays across Pakistan in 2026.
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Public Holidays in Pakistan 2026
| PUBLIC HOLIDAYS (2026) | |||
| S.NO | Holiday | Date | Day |
| 1 | New Year’s Day | 1-Jan | Thursday |
| 2 | Kashmir Day | 5-Feb | Thursday |
| 3 | Bank Holiday | 18-Feb | Wednesday |
| 4 | Pakistan Day | 23-Mar | Monday |
| 5 | Eid-ul-Fitr | March 21, 22, 23 | Saturday-Monday |
| 6 | Labour Day | 1-May | Friday |
| 7 | Yom-e-Takbeer | 28-May | Thursday |
| 8 | Eid-ul-Adha | May 27, 28, 29 | Wednesday-Friday |
| 9 | Muharram (Ashura) | 24-Jun-25 | Wednesday-Thursday |
| 10 | Bank Holiday | 1-Jul | Wednesday |
| 11 | Independence Day | 14-Aug | Friday |
| 12 | Eid Milad-un-Nabi | 25-Aug | Tuesday |
| 13 | Iqbal Day | 9-Nov | Monday |
| 14 | Quaid-e-Azam Day | 25-Dec | Friday |
| 15 | Christmas Day (Christian) | 26-Dec | Saturday |
Optional Holidays in Pakistan 2026
Apart from official public holidays, the government has also announced 23 optional holidays, allowing employees to observe religious or cultural events according to their beliefs.
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These optional holidays can be availed with prior approval from the relevant departments.
| OPTIONAL HOLIDAYS (2026) | |||
| S.NO | Name of Occasion | Date | Day |
| 1 | New Year’s Day | 1-Jan | Thursday |
| 2 | Shab-e-Meraj (27th Rajab 1447 A.H) | 17-Jan | Saturday |
| 3 | Basant Punchami | 23-Jan | Friday |
| 4 | Shab-e-Barat (15th Shaban 1447 A.H) | 4-Feb | Wednesday |
| 5 | Shiv Ratri | 16-Feb | Monday |
| 6 | Dulhindi | 3-Mar | Tuesday |
| 7 | Holi | 4-Mar | Wednesday |
| 8 | Good Friday | 3-Apr | Friday |
| 9 | Easter/ Day After Easter Sunday | 5 & 6 April | Sunday & Monday |
| 10 | Baisakhi | 14-Apr | Tuesday |
| 11 | Eid-e-Rizwan (Bahai’s Community only) | 21-Apr | Tuesday |
| 12 | Buddha Purnima | 24-May | Sunday |
| 13 | Chehlum (20th Safar 1448 A.H) | 4-Aug | Tuesday |
| 14 | Nauroze (Parsi New Year’s Day) | 15-Aug | Saturday |
| 15 | Birthday of Lord Zoroaster (Khordad Sal) | 20-Aug | Thursday |
| 16 | Krishna Janam Ashtami | 4-Sep | Friday |
| 17 | Giyarvee Shareef (11th Rabius-Sani 1448 A.H) | 23-Sep | Wednesday |
| 18 | Durga Puja | 19-Oct | Monday |
| 19 | Dussehra | 20-Oct | Tuesday |
| 20 | Birthday of Guru Valmik Sawami Ji | 26-Oct | Monday |
| 21 | Diwali | 9-Nov | Monday |
| 22 | Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji | 24-Nov | Tuesday |
The holidays calendar is expected to help citizens, businesses, and institutions plan work schedules, travel, and religious observances more effectively throughout 2026.
