Public Holidays in Azerbaijan 2026–2027: Dates, Days Off and Day Trips

Public holidays in Azerbaijan are set by Article 105 of the Labour Code. For 2026 the official calendar counts 19 non-working holiday days, plus the National Day of Mourning on 20 January. The longest break was 20–30 March, when Novruz and Ramazan bayramı fell together. Still to come this year: 8–10 November (Victory Day and State Flag Day, with the Sunday moved to Tuesday) and 31 December, followed by New Year on 1–2 January 2027.

Most of these dates never change. Three holidays do: Novruz, Ramazan bayramı and Qurban bayramı. Their days are fixed by the Cabinet of Ministers before the end of the previous December, and the two bayrams arrive about eleven days earlier every year because they follow the Islamic lunar calendar. Below are the official 2026 dates, what is already certain for 2027, how days off get shifted, and what that means while you are in Baku.

Holidays and days off in 2026

The March break needs a word. Novruz ran from 20 to 24 March and Ramazan bayramı on 20–21 March. Because the two overlapped and a weekend fell in the middle, the Ministry of Labour's calendar also made 25, 26, 27 and 30 March days off, so offices stayed shut from Friday 20 to Monday 30 March.

What is already known for 2027

The two "expected" dates are projections from the astronomical Islamic calendar (1 Shawwal and 10 Dhu al-Hijja of the year 1448). Countries that rely on sighting the new moon can differ by a day, and only the Cabinet's decision makes the dates official. Three of the 2027 holidays land on a weekend — 2 January, 9 May and 26 June — so under Article 105 the day off moves to the next working day. The Ministry of Labour publishes the full 2027 calendar, with every transferred day, once the Cabinet has decided.

How a weekend holiday becomes a Monday off

Three rules in Article 105 explain almost every surprise in the calendar. When a non-working holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the rest day moves to the first working day after the holiday. When Ramazan or Qurban bayramı coincides with another non-working holiday, the next working day becomes a day off. And the government may swap working days and rest days so that they run in one block, which is how a short break grows into a long one. The working day just before a non-working holiday is also one hour shorter.

Not every holiday means a day off. The Labour Code also names Restoration of Independence Day (18 October), Constitution Day (12 November) and National Revival Day (17 November), but these three are normal working days.

What stays open in Baku

On a non-working holiday the Labour Code lets employers bring staff in only in the exceptional cases it lists, so government offices and most businesses with an ordinary working week are closed. If you need a bank branch, a consulate or any official paperwork, plan it around the dates above, and sort out cash before a long break — our guide to money in Azerbaijan covers cards, cash machines and exchange.

Museums, shops and restaurants are a different matter: there is no official list of their holiday hours, and some change them over Novruz or New Year. Check the venue's own website or social page shortly before you go rather than relying on a general rule.

For what the trip itself costs — metro, buses, entry tickets and our tours — see a week in Azerbaijan, added up.

Planning a day trip around a holiday

If your dates fall on one of the days above, open the calendar on the tour page before you book — it shows which dates are available. Our day trips from Baku page lists the routes, and how long each day trip takes helps when you are fitting one around a shortened working day, an office appointment or a flight.

Going to the regions by public transport instead? Intercity bus tickets go on sale ten days ahead, and Baku to the regions by train and bus explains where to buy them.

Frequently asked questions

Is Novruz a public holiday in Azerbaijan?

Yes. Novruz gives five non-working days. In 2026 they were 20–24 March, and together with Ramazan bayramı and the transferred days, offices were closed from 20 to 30 March. The 2027 days are fixed by the Cabinet of Ministers by the end of December 2026.

Which public holidays are left in 2026?

Victory Day on 8 November (a Sunday, so Tuesday 10 November is off), State Flag Day on Monday 9 November, and the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis on 31 December, followed by New Year on 1–2 January 2027.

When are Ramazan and Qurban bayramı in 2027?

They are not official yet. By the astronomical calendar, Ramazan bayramı is expected to start around 9 March and Qurban bayramı around 16 May 2027; the Cabinet confirms the exact days by the end of December 2026.

Are museums and shops open on public holidays?

No single official rule covers them. Government offices and most offices close on non-working days; for a museum, shop or restaurant, check its own website for holiday hours.

Holiday list and rules: Labour Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Article 105 (extract published on nk.gov.az). 2026 dates: Cabinet of Ministers Decision No. 362 of 2 December 2025 and the 2026 working calendar of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (sosial.gov.az), read on 5 October 2026. Dates marked "expected" are projections, not official decisions.