ISLAMABAD – The Cabinet Secretariat of Pakistan has officially released the schedule of public and optional holidays for the upcoming calendar year 2026. The circular, issued on January 19, 2026, outlines a year filled with national observances and religious festivals for both Muslim and minority communities.
The announcement provides an early roadmap for citizens and businesses to plan their schedules around 11 major national public holidays and several lunar-based religious events.
Major Public Holidays 2026
The official notification confirms the following dates for national holidays:
| Sr.# | Name of Occasion | Day | Date |
| 1 | Kashmir Day | Thursday | 5th February |
| 2 | Pakistan Day | Monday | 23rd March |
| 3 | Labour Day | Friday | 1st May |
| 4 | Youm-e-Takbeer | Thursday | 28th May |
| 5 | Independence Day | Friday | 14th August |
| 6 | Allama Iqbal Day | Monday | 9th November |
| 7 | Quaid-e-Azam Day / Christmas | Friday | 25th December |
Islamic Festivals (Subject to Moon Sighting)
For 2026, several major religious holidays are anticipated to fall on weekdays, potentially creating extended long weekends:
Eid-ul-Fitr: Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (March 21st, 22nd, and 23rd).
Eid-ul-Azha: Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (May 27th, 28th, and 29th).
Ashura (9th & 10th Moharram): Wednesday and Thursday (June 24th and 25th).
Eid Milad-un-Nabi: Tuesday (August 25th).
Note: As is tradition, the exact dates for Islamic holidays depend on the sighting of the moon and will be confirmed via a separate notification by the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee closer to the dates.
Special Provisions for Minorities and Banks
The government has also maintained its commitment to inclusivity by designating December 26th (Saturday) as a holiday for Christian employees only.
Additionally, specific bank holidays have been scheduled for January 1st, July 1st, and February 18th (the latter for Zakat deduction). While banks will remain closed for public dealings on these dates, they will remain open for employees to ensure administrative continuity.
The Cabinet Division clarified that “Optional Holidays” are denominational and may be granted at the discretion of the Head of the Organization, provided that the official work does not suffer. Muslim employees are typically allowed one optional holiday, while non-Muslim employees may avail up to three in a calendar year.