Title: Iran’s 2026 Calendar: A Look at the Nation’s 25 Official Holidays
The official calendar for the Iranian year 1405 (March 2026 – March 2027) has been set, outlining a schedule of 25 national holidays that reflect the nation’s political history and religious observances.
A Year of Observances
The calendar is punctuated by significant religious commemorations and national anniversaries. The year begins with the extended Nowruz (Persian New Year) holiday, immediately followed by Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan. This creates a six-day continuous holiday period at the start of the year.
A notable feature of the upcoming year is the occurrence of two separate holidays for Eid al-Fitr, with a second observance falling in the final month of Esfand.
Months with Peak Holidays
The distribution of holidays is not uniform throughout the year. The months of Farvardin (6 holidays), Mordad (4 holidays), and Esfand (4 holidays) contain the highest number of non-working days. Conversely, the months of Ordibehesht, Mehr, and Azar have no official holidays scheduled.
Key Political and Religious Milestones
The calendar integrates pivotal moments in the nation’s history with profound religious events. Key dates include:
- 12 Farvardin: The anniversary of the Islamic Republic.
- 14 Khordad: Commemoration of the passing of Imam Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic.
- 15 Khordad: Anniversary of the 1963 uprising.
- 22 Bahman: The anniversary of the Victory of the Islamic Revolution.
- 29 Esfand: Nationalization of the Iranian Oil Industry.
These national days are observed alongside major Islamic holidays such as Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Ghadir, and the mourning periods of Muharram and Safar, which include Tasu’a, Ashura, and Arba’een.
This structured holiday schedule provides a framework for the nation’s official activities, balancing religious devotion with the commemoration of its political identity.