Eid al-Adha (Sacrifice Holiday) 2026
Duration: 4 days (May 27, 2026 – May 30, 2026)
Eve: May 26, 2026 (half-day holiday)
History
Made Official In: 1925
Eid al-Adha (Kurban Bayramı in Turkish) commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son to God and God's substitution of a ram in his place. It is one of the two most important holidays of Islam. It begins on the 10th day of Dhul-Hijjah (12th month of the Hijri calendar) and lasts 4 days. Recognized as a public holiday in Turkey since the proclamation of the Republic. The eve (Arefe) is a half-day holiday in the afternoon.
Features
- One of the two great holidays of Islam (the other is Eid al-Fitr)
- 4 official public holiday days
- Half-day holiday on the afternoon of the eve
- Tradition of qurban (animal sacrifice — cattle or sheep)
- Sacrificed meat shared 1/3 self, 1/3 relatives, 1/3 to those in need
💡 Interesting Fact
Approximately 3-3.5 million cattle are sacrificed annually during Eid al-Adha in Turkey. The Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) publishes updated sacrifice prices each year. Animal sacrifice is only valid during the first 3 days of the holiday.