Turkey Confirms Kurban Bayram Holiday: Public Sector Granted 5.5 Days Off, Not Extended to 9 Days

The long-anticipated decision regarding the 2025 Kurban Bayram (Eid al-Adha) holiday in Turkey has been finalized. Contrary to public speculation, the holiday will not be extended to nine days. Instead, public sector employees will receive 5.5 days off in accordance with the current calendar.

According to the announcement, the holiday for civil servants will begin on Thursday, June 5, starting at noon, and will run through Monday, June 9, with work resuming on Tuesday, June 10.

Four Days of Administrative Leave Granted

A formal statement from the Presidency’s Communications Directorate, delivered via social media by Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, confirmed the leave arrangement.

Public employees will be considered on administrative leave during the official four days of the holiday — June 6, 7, 8, and 9 — in addition to the half-day on June 5, marking a total break of five and a half days.

No Extension to 9 Days Despite Expectations

There had been widespread public discussion about the potential for a 9-day holiday extension, especially by combining the holiday with the adjacent weekend. However, the government opted to adhere to the standard holiday calendar without modification.

This decision aligns with previous holiday scheduling patterns but comes as a disappointment to those in the tourism and travel sectors, who had anticipated a longer break that might boost domestic tourism.