worldwide public holidays news and updates of the past seven days
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Kurdistan Declares July 14 Public Holiday Kurdistan Regional Government (Erbil) The Department of Media and Information of the Regional Government of the Kurdistan province of Iraq (KRG), has announced that Monday, July 14, 2025, would be an official public holiday across all public institutions to mark the anniversary of the 1958 revolution. Though nominally still a part of Iraq, Kurdistan has benefited from a large dose of de facto independence since 1990 and legally since the 2005 constitution.
Kurdistan Declares July 14 Public Holiday Kurdistan Regional Government (Erbil) The Department of Media and Information of the Regional Government of the Kurdistan province of Iraq (KRG), has announced that Monday, July 14, 2025, would be an official public holiday across all public institutions to mark the anniversary of the 1958 revolution. Though nominally still a part of Iraq, Kurdistan has benefited from a large dose of de facto independence since 1990 and legally since the 2005 constitution.
Western Australia Launches Public Holidays Review Western Australia Department of Labour Relations and Commerce (Perth) The Government of the State of Western Australia, has launched a public consultation on its announced goal of reforming the State’s public holiday schedule. As per the WA Government website, "The WA Government is inviting feedback on the potential opportunities and considerations related to reforming the State’s public holiday schedule." and it specifies that "The existing State public holidays that are under consideration for change are the King’s Birthday, Labour Day and WA Day." all the while stressing that "National holidays, such as Anzac Day, Australia Day, Christmas and Boxing Day are not in scope of this process.". Public feedback is sought before 5:00pm (AWST), Friday 8 August 2025, on 3 aspects; • Moving existing public holidays to align with other jurisdictions, • Moving WA Day to avoid the winter season, and • The addition of (a) new public holiday(s). The WA State Government is considering adding a public holiday in September while also including Easter Saturday as a public holiday. Recall that, early last month, the Premier of the State of Western Australia, Roger Cook, indicated that WA's public holidays could soon be realigned with those observed on the east coast, potentially as early as next year, and that that review may also introduce an additional public holiday. Already mentioned at the time as being on the shortlist for date changes were: WA Day, the King's Birthday, and Labour Day. Last November, Premier Cook, had already indicated that he was open to the idea of moving the Western Australia Day public holiday closer to summer, stating that "I think it makes sense to explore how we might better align the date of the WA Day public holiday, particularly to coincide with our warmer months around summer", and adding that "I am open to reviewing the date of the public holiday in the future, as part of broader reforms that look at maximising any economic benefits". Originally called Foundation Day until 2011, WA Day is observed on the first Monday of winter, and for the past few years, that date has seen heavy rains.
Western Australia Launches Public Holidays Review Western Australia Department of Labour Relations and Commerce (Perth) The Government of the State of Western Australia, has launched a public consultation on its announced goal of reforming the State’s public holiday schedule. As per the WA Government website, "The WA Government is inviting feedback on the potential opportunities and considerations related to reforming the State’s public holiday schedule." and it specifies that "The existing State public holidays that are under consideration for change are the King’s Birthday, Labour Day and WA Day." all the while stressing that "National holidays, such as Anzac Day, Australia Day, Christmas and Boxing Day are not in scope of this process.". Public feedback is sought before 5:00pm (AWST), Friday 8 August 2025, on 3 aspects; • Moving existing public holidays to align with other jurisdictions, • Moving WA Day to avoid the winter season, and • The addition of (a) new public holiday(s). The WA State Government is considering adding a public holiday in September while also including Easter Saturday as a public holiday. Recall that, early last month, the Premier of the State of Western Australia, Roger Cook, indicated that WA's public holidays could soon be realigned with those observed on the east coast, potentially as early as next year, and that that review may also introduce an additional public holiday. Already mentioned at the time as being on the shortlist for date changes were: WA Day, the King's Birthday, and Labour Day. Last November, Premier Cook, had already indicated that he was open to the idea of moving the Western Australia Day public holiday closer to summer, stating that "I think it makes sense to explore how we might better align the date of the WA Day public holiday, particularly to coincide with our warmer months around summer", and adding that "I am open to reviewing the date of the public holiday in the future, as part of broader reforms that look at maximising any economic benefits". Originally called Foundation Day until 2011, WA Day is observed on the first Monday of winter, and for the past few years, that date has seen heavy rains.
Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba Further Amends 2025 Public Holidays Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland (Oranjestad) The Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland has released an amended version of its previously-released list of official non-working public holidays in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, for the calendar year 2025. The new listing now lists August 4, 2025, as the date of the 2025 Carnaval Monday of Saba. Recall that when the initial list of public holidays in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, for the calendar year 2025, was announced last January, we pointed-out an error in the date listed for the 2025 Carnaval Monday of Saba, whereby it listed July 29, 2025, which is a Tuesday and the same date as last year.
Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba Further Amends 2025 Public Holidays Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland (Oranjestad) The Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland has released an amended version of its previously-released list of official non-working public holidays in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, for the calendar year 2025. The new listing now lists August 4, 2025, as the date of the 2025 Carnaval Monday of Saba. Recall that when the initial list of public holidays in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, for the calendar year 2025, was announced last January, we pointed-out an error in the date listed for the 2025 Carnaval Monday of Saba, whereby it listed July 29, 2025, which is a Tuesday and the same date as last year.
Saudi Arabia Further Amends Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha Public Holidays Saudi Press Agency (SPA) The Cabinet of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has approved an amendment to last year's Decision No. 532 dated Jan. 16, 2024 (Rajab 4, 1445H), regarding the review of the appropriate number of official holiday days during Eid Al-Fitr (the End of Ramadan) and Eid Al-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice). As per the aforementioned amendment, the official holidays for both the Eid Al-Fitr and the Eid Al-Adha are to be at a minimum of four working days and a maximum of five working days for employees subject to the Civil Service Law and the Labor Law in government entities applying the Civil Service Law. Decision No. 532 had been issued in January 2024 in a session of the Council of Ministers, presided over by King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and it decreed that in the future the government public holidays for Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha would each last a minimum of 4 days and a maximum of 5 days. Recall that in past years, the Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha public sector holidays would often last between 12 and 15 days.
Saudi Arabia Further Amends Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha Public Holidays Saudi Press Agency (SPA) The Cabinet of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has approved an amendment to last year's Decision No. 532 dated Jan. 16, 2024 (Rajab 4, 1445H), regarding the review of the appropriate number of official holiday days during Eid Al-Fitr (the End of Ramadan) and Eid Al-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice). As per the aforementioned amendment, the official holidays for both the Eid Al-Fitr and the Eid Al-Adha are to be at a minimum of four working days and a maximum of five working days for employees subject to the Civil Service Law and the Labor Law in government entities applying the Civil Service Law. Decision No. 532 had been issued in January 2024 in a session of the Council of Ministers, presided over by King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and it decreed that in the future the government public holidays for Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha would each last a minimum of 4 days and a maximum of 5 days. Recall that in past years, the Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha public sector holidays would often last between 12 and 15 days.
Montenegro Extends Statehood Day Public Holidays Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Dialogue of Montenegro (Podgorica) Montenegro’s Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Dialogue has announced that "Based on the Law on State and Other Holidays, Statehood Day is celebrated on 13 and 14 July" adding that "However, since 13 July falls on a Sunday this year, the non-working days will be Sunday, 13 July, Monday, 14 July, and Tuesday, 15 July".
Montenegro Extends Statehood Day Public Holidays Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Dialogue of Montenegro (Podgorica) Montenegro’s Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Dialogue has announced that "Based on the Law on State and Other Holidays, Statehood Day is celebrated on 13 and 14 July" adding that "However, since 13 July falls on a Sunday this year, the non-working days will be Sunday, 13 July, Monday, 14 July, and Tuesday, 15 July".
Jammu and Kashmir Government Calls For July 13 and December 5 Public Holidays Government of Jammu and Kashmir (Srinigar) The National Conference government of India's Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has formally asked the Lieutenant Governor to declare July 13 and December 5 (birth anniversary of Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah) as official holidays. Recall that, last month, the Lieutenant Governor of India's Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, has announced he had taken appropriate measures to declare Sant Kabir Das Ji as a gazetted holiday in the Union Territory in the future. The 2025 June 11 birth anniversary of Sant Kabir Das had been listed as a restricted holiday, and only in the Province of Jammu, in last December's list of 2025 public holidays published in the Government of Jammu and Kashmir Government Order No. 2193-JK(GAD) of 2024 (Holidays to be observed throughout the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir during the Calendar Year, 2025) and the Jammu and Kashmir Government Order No. 2194-JK(GAD) of 2024 (Holidays to be observed during the Calendar year, 2025 under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881), signed by the Additional Secretary to the Government, Rohit Sharma.
Jammu and Kashmir Government Calls For July 13 and December 5 Public Holidays Government of Jammu and Kashmir (Srinigar) The National Conference government of India's Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has formally asked the Lieutenant Governor to declare July 13 and December 5 (birth anniversary of Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah) as official holidays. Recall that, last month, the Lieutenant Governor of India's Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, has announced he had taken appropriate measures to declare Sant Kabir Das Ji as a gazetted holiday in the Union Territory in the future. The 2025 June 11 birth anniversary of Sant Kabir Das had been listed as a restricted holiday, and only in the Province of Jammu, in last December's list of 2025 public holidays published in the Government of Jammu and Kashmir Government Order No. 2193-JK(GAD) of 2024 (Holidays to be observed throughout the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir during the Calendar Year, 2025) and the Jammu and Kashmir Government Order No. 2194-JK(GAD) of 2024 (Holidays to be observed during the Calendar year, 2025 under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881), signed by the Additional Secretary to the Government, Rohit Sharma.
South Korean Bill To Restore Constitution Day Public Holiday Yonhap News Agency (Seoul) Another Partial amendment to the Act on Public Holidays has been tabled in South Korea's legislative assembly, with the aim to restore July 17 (Constitution Day) as an annual public holiday in South Korea. Constitution Day is one of the 2 annual public holidays whose cancellation was confirmed in 2005 at a Cabinet meeting presided by then Prime Minister Lee Hae-Chan. At that Cabinet meeting, it was decided that Arbor Day (April 5), would occur for the last time in 2005, while Constitution Day (July 17) would be taken off the list of public holidays, starting in 2008.
South Korean Bill To Restore Constitution Day Public Holiday Yonhap News Agency (Seoul) Another Partial amendment to the Act on Public Holidays has been tabled in South Korea's legislative assembly, with the aim to restore July 17 (Constitution Day) as an annual public holiday in South Korea. Constitution Day is one of the 2 annual public holidays whose cancellation was confirmed in 2005 at a Cabinet meeting presided by then Prime Minister Lee Hae-Chan. At that Cabinet meeting, it was decided that Arbor Day (April 5), would occur for the last time in 2005, while Constitution Day (July 17) would be taken off the list of public holidays, starting in 2008.
Samoa Declares August 11 Public Holiday Samoan Ministry Of Commerce, Industry And Labour (Matagaluega o Pisinisi, Alamanuia, Leipa) The Samoan Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour, in a public notice signed by the Acting Chief Executive Officer, Fepulea'i Roger Toleafoa, has released the Public Holiday for Father's Day 2025. As per the aforementioned public notice, "Pursuant to Section 2 of the Public Holidays Act 2008, the public, government agencies and the private sector are hereby advised that Monday, 11th August 2025, will be observed as a Public Holiday in celebration of Father’s Day 2025.". The Public Holiday for Father's Day 2025 public notice is in line with the latest updated list of public holidays in Samoa for the years 2024-2027, released in August 2023 by the Samoan Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour, and later amended in March 2024, by the same Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour.
Samoa Declares August 11 Public Holiday Samoan Ministry Of Commerce, Industry And Labour (Matagaluega o Pisinisi, Alamanuia, Leipa) The Samoan Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour, in a public notice signed by the Acting Chief Executive Officer, Fepulea'i Roger Toleafoa, has released the Public Holiday for Father's Day 2025. As per the aforementioned public notice, "Pursuant to Section 2 of the Public Holidays Act 2008, the public, government agencies and the private sector are hereby advised that Monday, 11th August 2025, will be observed as a Public Holiday in celebration of Father’s Day 2025.". The Public Holiday for Father's Day 2025 public notice is in line with the latest updated list of public holidays in Samoa for the years 2024-2027, released in August 2023 by the Samoan Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour, and later amended in March 2024, by the same Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour.
Philippines Barangay Elections Still Scheduled For December 1st Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines (Manila) Despite the passage by the Philippines Senate and House of Representatives of the Senate Bill (SB) 2816 extending and rescheduling the 2025 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), the Philippines Commission on Elections (Comelec) has announced that it continues to prepare for the December 1st, 2025, polls while waiting for the signature of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. As per Comelec Chairperson, George Garcia, "Until now, there is no signed law yet that will postpone the BSKE. Therefore, we may run out of time in our preparations if the expected postponement of the BSKE does not happen". If and when that bill is approved, the BSKE would be moved from December 1, 2025, to to the first Monday of November 2026. Normally, the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections should occur every 3 years, and have usually been accompanied by the declaration of a one-off public holiday. However, over the past decade, these elections have often been rescheduled. The 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections were supposed to be held in late 2016, but were twice postponed, once to 2017 and a second time to 2018. Then in September 2019, three panels of the Philippines Senate approved moving the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections from May 2020 to May 2023. Eventually, the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections were held on October 30, 2023.
Philippines Barangay Elections Still Scheduled For December 1st Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines (Manila) Despite the passage by the Philippines Senate and House of Representatives of the Senate Bill (SB) 2816 extending and rescheduling the 2025 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), the Philippines Commission on Elections (Comelec) has announced that it continues to prepare for the December 1st, 2025, polls while waiting for the signature of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. As per Comelec Chairperson, George Garcia, "Until now, there is no signed law yet that will postpone the BSKE. Therefore, we may run out of time in our preparations if the expected postponement of the BSKE does not happen". If and when that bill is approved, the BSKE would be moved from December 1, 2025, to to the first Monday of November 2026. Normally, the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections should occur every 3 years, and have usually been accompanied by the declaration of a one-off public holiday. However, over the past decade, these elections have often been rescheduled. The 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections were supposed to be held in late 2016, but were twice postponed, once to 2017 and a second time to 2018. Then in September 2019, three panels of the Philippines Senate approved moving the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections from May 2020 to May 2023. Eventually, the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections were held on October 30, 2023.
Hungary Approves New December 24 Public Holiday Referendum Kormányzat Nemzetgazdasági Minisztérium (Budapest) The Hungarian National Election Committee (Nemzeti Választási Bizottság, NVB) has approved yet another referendum proposal submitted by the right-wing opposition party Jobbik that seeks to designate 24 December as an annual public holiday. As per the aforementioned announcement, the proposed referendum question would be worded as "Do you agree that the twenty-fourth of December should be a public holiday?". Note that December 24, 2025, and December 24, 2026, are already set to be public holidays in Hungary, but they will be compensated by the declaration of Saturday, December 13, 2025, and Saturday, December 12, 2026, respectively, as a regular working days. Similar bills were introduced in 2024, 2020 and in 2017.
Hungary Approves New December 24 Public Holiday Referendum Kormányzat Nemzetgazdasági Minisztérium (Budapest) The Hungarian National Election Committee (Nemzeti Választási Bizottság, NVB) has approved yet another referendum proposal submitted by the right-wing opposition party Jobbik that seeks to designate 24 December as an annual public holiday. As per the aforementioned announcement, the proposed referendum question would be worded as "Do you agree that the twenty-fourth of December should be a public holiday?". Note that December 24, 2025, and December 24, 2026, are already set to be public holidays in Hungary, but they will be compensated by the declaration of Saturday, December 13, 2025, and Saturday, December 12, 2026, respectively, as a regular working days. Similar bills were introduced in 2024, 2020 and in 2017.
South Sudan Declares July 9 Public Holiday Government of South Sudan Ministry of Labour, Public Service and Human Resource Development (Juba) The Undersecretary for the Ministry of Labour of South Sudan, Mary Hillary Want Pitia, has announced that the national government had declared Wednesday, July 9, 2025, as a public holiday on account of the upcoming Independence Day celebration. As per the aforementioned Public Announcement RSS/Mol/J/24, "The National Ministry of Labour hereby informs all the Civil Service Institutions, Commissions, Diplomatic Missions, UN Agencies, International and National Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the Public at large that Wednesday, 9 July 2025 will be a public holiday, being the Independence Day of South Sudan" adding that "Work will resume on Thursday, 10th July 2025". After years of de facto independence, South Sudan became an internationally-recognized independent state on July 9, 2011, following a referendum, earlier that same year.
South Sudan Declares July 9 Public Holiday Government of South Sudan Ministry of Labour, Public Service and Human Resource Development (Juba) The Undersecretary for the Ministry of Labour of South Sudan, Mary Hillary Want Pitia, has announced that the national government had declared Wednesday, July 9, 2025, as a public holiday on account of the upcoming Independence Day celebration. As per the aforementioned Public Announcement RSS/Mol/J/24, "The National Ministry of Labour hereby informs all the Civil Service Institutions, Commissions, Diplomatic Missions, UN Agencies, International and National Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the Public at large that Wednesday, 9 July 2025 will be a public holiday, being the Independence Day of South Sudan" adding that "Work will resume on Thursday, 10th July 2025". After years of de facto independence, South Sudan became an internationally-recognized independent state on July 9, 2011, following a referendum, earlier that same year.
Valencia 2026 Public Holidays Gazetted Consell de la Generalitat Valenciana (Valencia) The Conseller de Educación, Cultura, Universidades y Empleo of Spain's autonomous region of Valencia, José Antonio Rovira Jover, has gazetted in the Diari Oficial de la Generalitat Valenciana the recently-announced official calendar of 2026 non-working public holidays (calendario laboral) in the region of Valencia. The aforementioned Decreto 100/2025, de 1 de julio, del Consell, por el que se determina el calendario laboral de aplicación en el ámbito territorial de la Comunitat Valenciana para el año 2026 (DOGV de 7 de julio de 2025), confirms the unofficial announcement, earlier this month of the tentative list of 2026 Valencia public holidays. For the 2026 regional public holidays, the Consell de la Generalitat Valenciana decided not to reinstate Maundy Thursday, but rather to observe March 19 (San José) and June 24 (San Juan) as public holidays in 2026.
Valencia 2026 Public Holidays Gazetted Consell de la Generalitat Valenciana (Valencia) The Conseller de Educación, Cultura, Universidades y Empleo of Spain's autonomous region of Valencia, José Antonio Rovira Jover, has gazetted in the Diari Oficial de la Generalitat Valenciana the recently-announced official calendar of 2026 non-working public holidays (calendario laboral) in the region of Valencia. The aforementioned Decreto 100/2025, de 1 de julio, del Consell, por el que se determina el calendario laboral de aplicación en el ámbito territorial de la Comunitat Valenciana para el año 2026 (DOGV de 7 de julio de 2025), confirms the unofficial announcement, earlier this month of the tentative list of 2026 Valencia public holidays. For the 2026 regional public holidays, the Consell de la Generalitat Valenciana decided not to reinstate Maundy Thursday, but rather to observe March 19 (San José) and June 24 (San Juan) as public holidays in 2026.
