Afghanistan Holidays and Festivals in 2027: Dates and What They Mean for Your Trip
A holiday in Afghanistan can make a trip, with streets full of families in new clothes and tables full of sweets, or quietly stall it, when offices and some shops close for days. Here are the 2027 dates and what each one means for a traveller.
In 2027 Ramadan runs from about 8 February to 9 March, Eid al-Fitr is about 10 to 12 March, and Eid al-Adha (Eid-e Qurban) about 16 to 19 May; the exact days depend on the moon and are announced a day or two before. Independence Day is 19 August. Nowruz, on 21 March, is no longer an official holiday but is still celebrated by families. Tours run through all of them; government offices close, so we arrange the permits beforehand.
What are the holidays in Afghanistan in 2027?
| Date in 2027 | Holiday | For your trip |
|---|---|---|
| 15 February | Liberation Day: the Soviet withdrawal in 1989 | Offices closed |
| About 8 February – 9 March | Ramadan, the month of fasting | Restaurants closed by day; shorter days |
| About 10–12 March | Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan | Offices, banks and many shops closed |
| 21 March | Nowruz, the new year (no longer official) | Family picnics; the last big buzkashi games |
| 28 April | Victory Day: the mujahideen's entry into Kabul in 1992 | Offices closed |
| About 16–19 May | Eid al-Adha (Eid-e Qurban) | Offices, banks and many shops closed; busy roads and flights |
| About 15 June | Ashura | A day of mourning for Shia Muslims; a quiet day |
| 15 August | Anniversary of the Islamic Emirate's return to Kabul in 2021 | Offices closed |
| 19 August | Independence Day (1919) | Offices closed; flags across the cities |
| 31 August | Anniversary of the withdrawal of foreign forces in 2021 | Offices closed |
Ramadan, the two Eids and Ashura follow the Islamic lunar calendar, so they move about eleven days earlier each year, and the exact day is fixed only when the new moon is seen.
Can you travel in Afghanistan during Ramadan?
Yes. Tours run as usual, but most restaurants are closed during the day, and eating, drinking or smoking in public is not acceptable while people are fasting. Your guide and driver will usually be fasting too, so days start a little later and end before sunset, when everyone breaks the fast at iftar, often the best meal of the day to be invited to. Hotels serve breakfast to guests. February and March are cold in Kabul and Bamyan, but mild in Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif and Jalalabad.
What happens at Eid?
Eid al-Fitr ends Ramadan and lasts three days; Eid al-Adha, Eid-e Qurban, lasts three or four, with a sheep or goat sacrificed and shared by families who can afford it. Families visit each other in new clothes, children get money and sweets, and the parks and shrines are crowded. Government offices, banks and many shops close, and roads and flights are busy, so book flights early and don't plan permits or changing money for those days.
Is Nowruz still celebrated in Afghanistan?
Yes, at home. Nowruz, the new year on 21 March, has not been an official holiday since 2022, and the big public celebrations, such as the raising of the Jahenda banner at the shrine in Mazar-e-Sharif, are no longer held. Families still mark it with haft-mewa, a bowl of seven dried fruits and nuts soaked in water, with picnics when the weather allows, and in the north with the last big buzkashi games of the winter.
How do holidays affect a trip?
- Permits: the travel letter is issued by a government office, so we arrange it before a holiday starts.
- Money: money changers close for the first day or two of Eid, so change enough beforehand.
- Flights: domestic flights fill up before each Eid, so book them early.
- Every week: Friday is the day off, and many offices also close on Thursday afternoon.
Choosing your dates? Read the best time to visit Afghanistan and what to wear in Afghanistan.
Sources: timeanddate.com: holidays in Afghanistan, 2027; Wikipedia: public holidays in Afghanistan. Islamic dates are expected dates and are confirmed when the moon is seen.
Questions about holidays in Afghanistan
When is Eid in Afghanistan in 2027?
Eid al-Fitr is expected on about 10 March 2027 and Eid al-Adha on about 16 May 2027; each lasts three or four days, and the exact dates depend on the moon.
When is Ramadan 2027 in Afghanistan?
From about 8 February to 9 March 2027. Tours run as usual, but most restaurants are closed during the day.
Is Nowruz a public holiday in Afghanistan?
Not any more: it has not been an official holiday since 2022, though families still mark the new year on 21 March.
When is Afghanistan's Independence Day?
19 August. It marks the end of British control of Afghanistan's foreign affairs in 1919.
Can tourists travel in Afghanistan during Eid?
Yes. Tours run and the holiday atmosphere is a highlight, but offices, banks and money changers close, so the permits, flights and cash are arranged beforehand.
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