Iraq declares June 26 a public holiday to mark Islamic New Year

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers has declared Thursday, June 26, 2025, a public holiday across all government institutions to mark the beginning of the Islamic New Year.

The announcement coincides with the first day of Muharram on the Islamic calendar, which marks the start of the Hijri year — a period of religious reflection and remembrance observed across the Muslim world.

The Islamic New Year is based on the lunar Hijri calendar, which begins with the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina — a foundational event in Islamic history. While the day is not widely celebrated with festivities, it holds religious and cultural importance for many in Iraq and beyond.