Quick answer: North Cyprus has 16 public-holiday days in 2027, and 12 of them fall on weekdays. It is 16 rather than 17 because the fourth day of Kurban Bayram (Eid al-Adha) lands on 19 May, which is already a holiday. Eid al-Fitr (Ramazan Bayramı) is 9–11 March and Eid al-Adha (Kurban Bayramı) is 16–19 May. The eves (arife) are 8 March and 15 May.
Whether you live in North Cyprus, study here, own a holiday home or are planning a visit, this guide lists every TRNC public holiday for 2027, explains what stays open during bayram, and shows the long weekends and school breaks worth planning around.
Last updated: 12 November 2026 · Dates checked against the TRNC Ministry of National Education 2026–2027 academic calendars, Diyanet’s list of religious days and the TRNC Official Gazette.
Table of Contents
North Cyprus Public Holidays 2027: Full List
| Date | Day | Holiday | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2027 | Friday | New Year’s Day (Yılbaşı) | 3-day weekend |
| 8 March 2027 | Monday | Eve of Eid al-Fitr (Ramazan Bayramı Arifesi) | Schools closed (MEB) |
| 9–11 March 2027 | Tuesday–Thursday | Eid al-Fitr (Ramazan Bayramı) | 3 days |
| 23 April 2027 | Friday | National Sovereignty and Children’s Day (Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı) | 3-day weekend |
| 1 May 2027 | Saturday | Labour and Solidarity Day (Emek ve Dayanışma Günü) | Falls on a weekend |
| 15 May 2027 | Saturday | Eve of Eid al-Adha (Kurban Bayramı Arifesi) | Falls on a weekend; schools closed (MEB) |
| 16–19 May 2027 | Sunday–Wednesday | Eid al-Adha (Kurban Bayramı) | 4 days |
| 19 May 2027 | Wednesday | Atatürk Commemoration, Youth and Sports Day (Atatürk’ü Anma, Gençlik ve Spor Bayramı) | Same day as the 4th day of Kurban Bayram |
| 20 July 2027 | Tuesday | Peace and Freedom Day (20 Temmuz Barış ve Özgürlük Bayramı) | TRNC only |
| 1 August 2027 | Sunday | Social Resistance Day (Toplumsal Direniş Bayramı) | TRNC only |
| 14 August 2027 | Saturday | Mawlid / Prophet’s Birthday (Mevlid Kandili) | Falls on a weekend |
| 30 August 2027 | Monday | Victory Day (Zafer Bayramı) | 3-day weekend |
| 29 October 2027 | Friday | Turkish Republic Day (29 Ekim) | 3-day weekend |
| 15 November 2027 | Monday | TRNC Republic Day (15 Kasım) | TRNC only; 3-day weekend |
Bayram, Arife and Idari Tatil: Key Terms Explained
- Bayram: a festival. In everyday use it usually means the two religious festivals, Ramazan Bayramı (Eid al-Fitr) and Kurban Bayramı (Eid al-Adha), although several national days also carry the word in their names.
- Arife: the eve of a religious festival, the day before bayram begins.
- İdari tatil: an administrative day off for public offices, granted separately by the TRNC Council of Ministers (Bakanlar Kurulu).
Muslim holidays follow the lunar calendar, so their dates move about 11 days earlier each year in the Western (Gregorian) calendar. That is why Eid falls in March and May in 2027.
Holidays Left in 2026 and the Next Day Off
- 15 November 2026 (Sunday): TRNC Republic Day
- 1 January 2027 (Friday): New Year’s Day
For the full 2026 calendar, see our guide to North Cyprus public holidays in 2026.
Bayram Holidays 2027: Dates and Number of Days
Eid al-Fitr 2027 (Ramazan Bayramı): 9–11 March
- Arife (eve): Monday 8 March
- Bayram: Tuesday 9 March to Thursday 11 March (3 days)
- Schools are closed for 4 days, 8–11 March (MEB calendar).
- Take 8 March (arife) and 12 March off and you get 9 days in a row, from 6 to 14 March. If the Council of Ministers declares 8 March an administrative day off, public-sector staff only need to take 12 March.
Eid al-Adha 2027 (Kurban Bayramı): 16–19 May
- Arife (eve): Saturday 15 May
- Bayram: Sunday 16 May to Wednesday 19 May (4 days)
- The fourth day of bayram falls on 19 May, so one holiday day is effectively “lost” this year.
- Take 20–21 May off and you can have 9 days off, from 15 to 23 May.
Mawlid 2027 (Mevlid Kandili): Saturday 14 August
According to the Diyanet calendar, the Mevlid Kandili night is the evening of Friday 13 August. In the TRNC the holiday is observed on the day after the kandil night: in 2026 the kandil was on 24 August and the holiday on 25 August. The TRNC Ministry of National Education’s 2026–2027 calendar also lists Saturday 14 August 2027 as a one-day public holiday. As it falls on a Saturday, it does not add a day off for employees.
Public Holidays Unique to North Cyprus
- Peace and Freedom Day (20 Temmuz Barış ve Özgürlük Bayramı), 20 July: marks the start of the 1974 Turkish military operation in Cyprus, known in Turkish as the Kıbrıs Barış Harekâtı.
- Social Resistance Day (Toplumsal Direniş Bayramı), 1 August: the anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Resistance Organisation (TMT). Its official name is “Toplumsal Direniş Bayramı ve Türk Mukavemet Teşkilatının Kuruluşu”.
- TRNC Republic Day (15 Kasım), 15 November: marks the declaration of the TRNC in 1983.
None of these three days is a holiday in Türkiye. Likewise, Türkiye’s 15 July Democracy and National Unity Day is not a public holiday in the TRNC.
Long Weekends in North Cyprus in 2027
| Dates | Days off | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 January | 3 days | New Year’s Day is a Friday |
| 6–14 March | 9 days | Take 8 and 12 March off |
| 23–25 April | 3 days | 23 April is a Friday |
| 15–23 May | 9 days | Take 20–21 May off |
| 17–20 July | 4 days | Take 19 July off |
| 28–30 August | 3 days | 30 August is a Monday |
| 29–31 October | 3 days | 29 October is a Friday |
| 13–15 November | 3 days | 15 November is a Monday |
North Cyprus School Holidays 2026–2027
- End of first term (report cards): Friday 29 January 2027
- Mid-year break (primary schools): 1–15 February 2027
- Mid-year break (secondary and high schools): 30 January – 15 February 2027
- Second term starts: Tuesday 16 February 2027
- Eid al-Fitr: 8–11 March 2027 (4 days including arife)
- Eid al-Adha: 15–19 May 2027 (5 days including arife)
- End of the school year (report cards): primary schools Monday 14 June 2027; secondary and high schools Friday 11 June 2027
- 2027–2028 school year starts: Wednesday 15 September 2027
Source: TRNC Ministry of National Education (MEB) 2026–2027 academic calendars.
What's Open and Closed on Public Holidays in North Cyprus?
- Government offices and banks: closed on public holidays, including the bayram days. Arife is not automatically a full day off for public offices, but when an arife falls between a weekend and bayram, the Council of Ministers can grant an administrative day off (idari tatil), as it did on 19 July 2021. Monday 8 March 2027 is in the same position, and we will update this guide once a decision is announced.
- Schools: closed according to the MEB calendar.
- Supermarkets, restaurants and shopping malls: most stay open, though hours may be shorter on the first day of bayram.
- Official paperwork such as vehicle transfers and driving licences: book your appointment early so you are not caught in the rush before bayram.
Planning to buy or sell a car, a phone or furniture before the holidays? Browse listings on Pazarkibris.
North Cyprus vs Türkiye vs South Cyprus: Holiday Differences
- The dates of Ramazan Bayramı and Kurban Bayramı are the same as in Türkiye.
- Extended “9-day holiday” decisions announced in Türkiye do not apply in the TRNC.
- South Cyprus has different holidays, such as Orthodox Easter, Christmas on 25 December and Greek Cypriot national days. These are not public holidays in the North.
- 15 July, a public holiday in Türkiye, is not a holiday in the TRNC.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public holidays are there in North Cyprus in 2027?
There are 16 public-holiday days in North Cyprus in 2027, and 12 of them fall on weekdays. The count is 16 rather than 17 because the fourth day of Kurban Bayram falls on 19 May, which is already a public holiday. The two arife days (8 March and 15 May) are not included in that number.
When is Eid al-Fitr 2027 in North Cyprus?
Eid al-Fitr (Ramazan Bayramı) runs from Tuesday 9 March to Thursday 11 March 2027. The eve (arife) is Monday 8 March, and schools are closed from 8 to 11 March.
When is Kurban Bayram 2027 in North Cyprus?
Kurban Bayram (Eid al-Adha) runs for four days, from Sunday 16 May to Wednesday 19 May 2027. The eve (arife) is Saturday 15 May. The last day coincides with the 19 May holiday.
Is arife a public holiday in North Cyprus?
For schools, yes: the TRNC Ministry of National Education calendar lists the 8 March and 15 May arifes as holidays. For public offices, arife is not automatically a full day off; in some years the Council of Ministers grants a separate administrative day off (idari tatil).
Are banks open during bayram in North Cyprus?
No. Banks and government offices are closed on public holidays, including the bayram days. Supermarkets, restaurants and shopping malls mostly stay open, although hours may be shorter on the first day of bayram.
Is 14 August 2027 a holiday in North Cyprus?
Yes. Saturday 14 August 2027 is a public holiday for Mawlid, the Prophet’s Birthday (Mevlid Kandili). Because it falls on a Saturday, it does not give employees an extra day off.
If a holiday falls on a weekend, is it moved?
No. In North Cyprus, public holidays that fall on a weekend are generally not moved to a weekday. In some years the Council of Ministers grants a separate administrative day off.
Is 15 July a holiday in North Cyprus?
No. 15 July (Democracy and National Unity Day) is a public holiday in Türkiye, not in the TRNC.
Sources
- TRNC Ministry of National Education (MEB) – 2026–2027 primary school academic calendar
- TRNC Ministry of National Education (MEB) – 2026–2027 secondary school academic calendar
- Diyanet (Türkiye’s Presidency of Religious Affairs) – 2027 list of religious days
- TRNC Official Gazette (Resmî Gazete), Issue 158 (14 July 2021) – Council of Ministers decision E.S.(K-I)941-2021 (administrative day off on arife)
- Turkish Cypriot Banks Association (Kıbrıs Türk Bankalar Birliği) – bank holidays
