The Islamic holy month of Ramadan (called Ramazan in Turkey) is a special time. The holy month, and the 3-day holiday that follows it, can affect travelers' plans.
Being an Islamic holiday, Ramazan begins 11 days earlier each succeeding year. Note that Islamic calendar days start and end at sunset, so if Ramazan begins, for example, on "Thursday, the 15th," it will actually begin at sunset on Wednesday, the 14th, and this "first day" will continue until sunset on Thursday, the 15th. (Thus, the evening of the 15th is actually the beginning of the second day of Ramazan.)
The beginning date for Ramazan depends on the sightings of the moon in Mecca rather than a date certain proclaimed in advance, so all dates are estimates until the sighting takes place. This means that Ramazan may begin a day earlier or later than the estimated dates.
Here are the estimated Ramazan dates for the next few years.
Ramazan (Şeker) Bayramı
Ramazan is followed immediately by the three-day national holiday of Ramazan Bayramı (also called Şeker Bayramı, Candy Festival; Eid es-Seghir or Eid al-Fitr in Arabic). Some offices and businesses may close for the full three-day holiday. Most shops, bazaars, and museums close on the first day of the holiday and reopen on the second and third days.
Ramazan Bayramı falls on these (estimated) dates:
Overview of Şeker Bayramı Dates
- 2021: May 12-14
- 2022: May 2-4
- 2023: April 21-23
- 2024: April 10-12
- 2025: March 30 - April 1
- 2026: March 20-22
- 2027: March 9-11
2024:
The half-day "preparation" (arife) holiday will take place on Tuesday, April 9, and a full-day holiday will be observed on Wednesday, April 10. Shops, offices, and many other establishments may be closed, and museums, which are typically open on Wednesdays, may also be closed in honor of the first day of the Bayram. The full-day holidays will continue on April 11 and 12 (Thursday-Friday).
2025:
A half-day "preparation" (arife) holiday will occur on Saturday, March 29, followed by a full-day holiday on Sunday, March 30. Shops, offices, and other venues may be closed, and museums, which are generally open on Sundays, may also be closed in observance of the first day of the Bayram. Full-day holidays will extend through March 31 and April 1 (Monday-Tuesday).
2026:
The half-day "preparation" (arife) holiday will fall on Thursday, March 19, leading into a full-day holiday on Friday, March 20. Shops, offices, and many other places may close for the day, and museums, which are typically open on Fridays, may also be closed to mark the first day of the Bayram. Full-day holidays will follow on March 21 and 22 (Saturday-Sunday).
2027:
On Monday, March 8, there will be a half-day "preparation" (arife) holiday, followed by a full-day holiday on Tuesday, March 9. Shops, offices, and other establishments may be closed, and museums that are normally open on Tuesdays may close in honor of the first day of the Bayram. Full-day holidays will continue on March 10 and 11 (Wednesday-Thursday).
Previous years:
2021
Half-day "preparation" (arife) holiday on Tuesday, May 11, full-day holiday on Wednesday the 12th, when many shops, offices, museums, and other places may be closed; and full-day holidays on May 13 & 14 (Thursday-Friday), with travel affected through Sunday,May 16.
2022:
A half-day "preparation" (arife) holiday will be observed on Saturday, April 30, followed by a full-day holiday on Sunday, May 1. While many shops, offices, and other establishments may be closed on Sunday, as is typical, museums that are usually open on Sundays may be closed on May 1 in observance of the first day of the Bayram. Full-day holidays will continue on May 2 and 3 (Monday-Tuesday).
2023:
On Thursday, April 20, there will be a half-day "preparation" (arife) holiday, leading into a full-day holiday on Friday, April 21. Shops, offices, and other places may be closed on this day, and museums that are ordinarily open on Thursdays may also close to mark the first day of the Bayram. Full-day holidays will follow on April 22 and 23 (Saturday-Sunday).
The Night of Power
The 27th of Ramazan, Kadir Gecesi (Lailat al Kadr), the Night of Power, commemorates, among other things, the revelation of the Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammed.
In Turkey, it's celebrated on these dates, beginning—as the traditional Islamic day does—at sunset in the evening and lasting until the following evening:
- 2021: May 8-9 (Saturday-Sunday)
- 2022: April 27-28 (Wednesday-Thursday)
- 2023: April 17-18 (Monday-Tuesday)
- 2024: April 5-6 (Friday-Saturday)
- 2025: March 26-27 (Wednesday-Thursday)
- 2026: March 16-17 (Monday-Tuesday)
- 2027: March 5-6 (Friday-Saturday)
Experience Ramadan in Turkey
Ramadan, or Ramazan in Turkey, is one of the most important holidays in the Islamic world. Millions of Muslims worldwide fast and pray to remember those less fortunate than them, making communities more connected to each other.
Book your trip to Turkey to experience this powerful month yourself.
—by Tom Brosnahan, updated by Can Turan
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