Egypt Calendar 2026: All Public Holidays, Bank Holidays & School Holidays

Here is the comprehensive and up-to-date list of national holidays, major religious holidays (provisional dates) and public school holiday periods to help you plan your year in Egypt.

Complete List of Dates 2026

National Holidays (Fixed Dates)

• Thursday, January 1st : New Year
• Monday, January 7 Coptic Christmas (Feast of Orthodox Christians)
• Sunday, January 25th Revolution and Police Day
• Saturday, April 25 Sinai Liberation Day
• Friday, May 1st : Labor Day
• Monday, June 17 Islamic New Year (Ras es-Sana)
• Tuesday, June 30 Revolution Day, June 30th
• Thursday, July 23 July 23rd Revolution Day
• Wednesday, October 6 Armed Forces Day
• Wednesday, August 26 Mawlid (Birth of the Prophet)

Religious Holidays with Movable Dates (Based on the lunar calendar)

• From Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd March (provisional) : Eid al-Fitr (Festival of breaking the fast, end of Ramadan). Summer holiday period.
• Monday, April 13 : Cham el-Nessim (An ancient spring festival, celebrated on the Monday following Coptic Easter).
• From Thursday 27th to Saturday 29th May (provisional) : Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice). Summer holiday period.
• Tuesday, May 26 (provisional) : Day of Arafat (eve of Eid al-Adha).

Egyptian Public School System School Holidays

• Mid-year holidays From Saturday, January 24th to Thursday, February 5th, 2026 (approximately 2 weeks).
• End of the school year / Start of the summer holidays : From Thursday, June 11, 2026 (indicative date).
• Back to school 2026/2027 : Forecast for the third week of September 2026 (official dates are often announced in the spring).

🇪🇬 Egypt 2026: The Smart Guide to Mastering Holidays, Long Weekends, and Crowds

Planning a trip, a business project, or simply organizing your year in Egypt requires juggling multiple calendars. Between modern national holidays, ancient religious celebrations, and school breaks, 2026 offers a unique rhythm. Here’s your guide to navigating like an expert and identifying the best times for your activities.

🎉 The Winning Trio: National, Religious, Seasonal

To truly understand the Egyptian timetable, one must view its calendar as a superposition of three cultural layers.

1. Modern Egypt and Its Official Cash Registers
These national holidays, held on fixed dates, celebrate the country’s contemporary history. October 6 (Armed Forces Day) is the most prominent, sometimes featuring air and military parades. April 25 (Liberation of Sinai) and the commemorative days of the revolutions (January 25, June 30, July 23These are also significant moments. Expect a patriotic atmosphere, and many businesses and government offices to be closed.

2. The Beating Heart: Religious and Traditional Festivals
It is the calendar that most profoundly impacts social and economic life.

• The Two Eids : Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan) and Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) are the major events of the yearThe country slows down for 3 to 5 days. Families gather, shops close, and public transport is full. It’s a magical time to observe traditions, but not very practical for regular tourism or business. Key tip Book flights and accommodation several months in advance if you need to travel on these dates.
• Cham el-Nessim A direct legacy of the Pharaohs! This spring festival, celebrated by all Egyptians regardless of their religion, is enjoyed with family in parks and along the Nile for a giant picnic. A cultural highlight.

3. The Rhythm of the Year: School Holidays and Tourist Season
THE summer holidays (generally from mid-June to mid-September) coincides with the local peak tourist season. Archaeological sites and Red Sea resorts see a large influx of Egyptian families. The heat is also at its peak. mid-year holidays (end of January) is a shorter but noticeable period of interruption for services.

✈️ Travel and Business Strategy: Capitalizing on Seasons

• The Ideal Period : October-November And February-MarchYou will enjoy an excellent climate, avoid the major festivals and summer heat, as well as the peak of local school holidays.
• During the Eids If you cannot avoid these periods, plan ahead. All. Consider a stay in a resort in Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh, where life goes on with a more relaxed party atmosphere, or opt for a Nile cruise with a guaranteed program.
• Identify the Egyptian “Bridges” Observe the weekends. In 2026, the Labor Day (May 1st) It falls on a Friday, the weekly day of rest. This creates a natural long weekend. Pay attention to these combinations, especially when they precede or follow a movable feast like Eid.

🏫 The (Organized) Puzzle of School Calendars

There actually exists several School calendars in Egypt, which staggers holiday departures:

• The Egyptian public system This is the reference calendar listed above.
• International schools and French high schools (AEFE) They follow different calendars, often based on the American, British or French systems, with breaks in October, late December, February and April.

Practical consequence The number of visitors at certain sites or airports can vary significantly. Therefore, a family attending school in the French system will travel on different dates than a family attending school in the Egyptian public system.

The ultimate advice For accurate family planning, Always consult the official calendar of the school in question.The ministry’s general dates provide the framework, but variations exist.

💎 Your Roadmap for 2026

In short, the Egyptian calendar is a dance between modernity, faith, and millennia-old traditions. Mastering it means choosing the experience you wish to have.

• For cultural authenticity : Experience a Eid Or Cham el-Nessim.
• For tourism and discovery : Target autumn or spring outside of major holidays.
• For absolute tranquility : Avoid the major Egyptian summer holidays (June to September) and the Eid periods.

By keeping this list and these key insights in mind, you’re ready to make 2026 a perfectly paced year in Egypt, whether you’re a resident, traveler, or entrepreneur.