Public Holidays in Ethiopia 2026
13 listed public holiday dates in 2026
Ethiopia's public holidays follow three overlapping traditions: the Ethiopian Orthodox calendar, the Islamic lunar calendar and modern national commemorations.
Ethiopia Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 7 | Wednesday | Ethiopian Christmas |
| Jan 19 | Monday | Timket |
| Mar 2 | Monday | Adwa Victory Day |
| Mar 20 | Friday | Eid al-Fitr Moon |
| Apr 10 | Friday | Good Friday |
| Apr 12 | Sunday | Ethiopian Easter |
| May 1 | Friday | International Labour Day |
| May 5 | Tuesday | Patriots' Victory Day |
| May 27 | Wednesday | Eid al-Adha Moon |
| May 28 | Thursday | Derg Downfall Day |
| Aug 25 | Tuesday | Prophet's Birthday Moon |
| Sep 11 | Friday | Ethiopian New Year |
| Sep 27 | Sunday | Meskel |
* 2027 Islamic dates are provisional and may shift after official religious confirmation.
Ethiopian Calendar and Religious Diversity 2026
Ethiopian Christmas, Timket, Easter and Meskel follow the Ethiopian Orthodox tradition. Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha and the Prophet's Birthday follow the Islamic calendar.
Holiday Rules in Ethiopia
Orthodox holidays are calculated using the Ethiopian religious calendar. Islamic dates are lunar and require official confirmation. Ethiopian New Year falls on 11 September in most years and 12 September in the year before a Gregorian leap year.
Ethiopia Holiday Calendar: What to Know
- Adwa Victory Day is 2 March.
- Ethiopian New Year can fall on 11 or 12 September.
- Meskel is observed on 27 September.
- Islamic dates need religious confirmation.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Ethiopian New Year in 2027?
It falls on 12 September 2027 under the Ethiopian calendar relationship with the Gregorian calendar.
Why are some 2027 dates marked provisional?
The marked Islamic holidays depend on the lunar calendar and official confirmation.
When is Adwa Victory Day?
It is observed on 2 March.
Is Ethiopian Christmas on 25 December?
No. Ethiopian Christmas is observed on 7 January in the Gregorian calendar.
Sources & methodology
View sources used for this page
Institutional 2026 calendar cross-referencing Ethiopian public holidays.
Independent calendar cross-check used for date, weekday and observed-day review. Government notices and statutory rules take precedence where they differ.
Source hierarchy: government, statutory or institutional material is the primary reference. Timeanddate is retained only as an independent cross-check; later official declarations take precedence.