Early signs suggest 2026 could be a surprisingly generous year for workers in Pakistan, with most public holidays expected to fall on regular working days rather than Sundays. While the final holiday notification will only be issued by the Cabinet Division closer to the start of the year, tentative calendars circulating online point to a schedule that offers frequent breaks without disrupting weekends.
According to preliminary listings, the first public holiday of 2026 is expected on February 5, when Kashmir Day falls on a Thursday. This early weekday holiday sets the tone for a year in which employees may enjoy more time off without losing weekends.
Much of the focus, however, is on the Eid holidays, which traditionally shape travel and business activity across the country. Tentative dates suggest Eid-ul-Fitr holidays from Saturday, March 21 to Monday, March 23, subject to moon sighting. If confirmed, this would result in a long weekend, offering families and businesses a predictable break early in the year.
In May, Labour Day is expected to fall on Friday, May 1, creating another three-day weekend. Later the same month, Youm-e-Takbeer on May 28 is also listed as a public holiday, adding another pause to the work calendar. Eid-ul-Adha is tentatively expected to begin around Wednesday, May 27, which could turn into an extended break depending on how the dates align with weekends and moon sighting.
The pattern continues into mid-year. Ashura is provisionally scheduled for Thursday and Friday, June 25 and 26, offering two consecutive weekdays off without affecting Sundays. Independence Day, observed on Friday, August 14, is set to deliver a nationwide long weekend, while Eid Milad-un-Nabi ﷺ is expected to fall on Wednesday, August 26, providing a midweek pause.
Toward the end of the year, Iqbal Day on November 9 appears in the tentative list, followed by Quaid-e-Azam Day and Christmas in December. A restricted holiday on December 26 is expected to apply to Christian employees.
Officials stress that all Islamic holidays remain provisional and depend on official moon sightings. Still, if the tentative schedule holds, 2026 may stand out as one of the most employee-friendly years in recent memory, with public holidays neatly spread across working days rather than lost to weekends.
