Public Holidays in Kazakhstan 2026
19 listed public holiday dates in 2026
Kazakhstan's holiday law combines national civic dates with Nauryz, Orthodox Christmas and the first day of Qurban Ait. Weekend holidays generate substitute days for most national and state holidays.
Kazakhstan Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | Thursday | New Year's Day |
| Jan 2 | Friday | New Year holiday |
| Jan 7 | Wednesday | Orthodox Christmas |
| Mar 8 | Sunday | International Women's Day |
| Mar 9 | Monday | Women's Day holiday Observed |
| Mar 21 | Saturday | Nauryz |
| Mar 22 | Sunday | Nauryz holiday |
| Mar 23 | Monday | Nauryz holiday |
| Mar 24 | Tuesday | Nauryz holiday Observed |
| Mar 25 | Wednesday | Nauryz holiday Observed |
| May 1 | Friday | People's Unity Day |
| May 7 | Thursday | Defender of the Fatherland Day |
| May 9 | Saturday | Victory Day |
| May 11 | Monday | Victory Day holiday Observed |
| May 27 | Wednesday | Qurban Ait |
| Jul 6 | Monday | Capital Day |
| Oct 25 | Sunday | Republic Day |
| Oct 26 | Monday | Republic Day holiday Observed |
| Dec 16 | Wednesday | Independence Day |
* 2027 Qurban Ait is provisional, and any weekend substitute days should be checked against the final official Kazakhstan calendar.
Nauryz and Weekend Substitution 2026
Nauryz runs from 21 to 23 March. In 2026, weekend overlap creates additional days off on 24 and 25 March. Orthodox Christmas and Qurban Ait are non-working days but do not generate substitute days.
Holiday Rules in Kazakhstan
When a national or state holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday, the day off generally extends by one day. Orthodox Christmas and the first day of Qurban Ait are exceptions and are not transferred.
Kazakhstan Holiday Calendar: What to Know
- Independence Day is 16 December.
- Nauryz is observed 21 to 23 March.
- 2026 has additional Nauryz substitute days.
- Kazakhstan now uses UTC+5 nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are there five Nauryz days off in 2026?
The official eGovernment calendar adds substitute days because 21 and 22 March fall on the weekend.
Is Orthodox Christmas shifted if it falls on a weekend?
No. The official guidance says Orthodox Christmas does not generate a substitute day.
When is Independence Day?
It is observed on 16 December.
Why is 2027 Qurban Ait marked provisional?
The date follows the Muslim calendar and should be confirmed against the official annual calendar.
Sources & methodology
View sources used for this page
Official 2026 public-holiday and transferred-day calendar.
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 used as the primary reference where available. Timeanddate is retained only as an independent calendar cross-check. Later official declarations take precedence.