Is Eid al-Fitr 2026 a Public Holiday in the Philippines? Here’s What You Need to Know

The Muslims and non-Muslims in the Philippines are gearing towards the conclusion of the Ramadan period and many people are inquiring: Will Eid al-Fitr be a public holiday in 2026?

The simple answer is no, it is because the Eid al- Fitr is a national holiday in the Philippines, although the specific holiday is verified by a special presidential holiday, Malacaquiasis.

Eid al-Fitr is a National Philippine Holiday

Eid al-Fitr, the festival of ending the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, is officially pegged as a common national holiday in the Philippines.

This was put in place with the introduction of the Republic Act No. 9177 that states that the first day of Shawwal in the Islamic calendar is a national holiday where the observance of Eid al-Fitr takes place.

On this day:

• Offices in the government are closed.
• A majority of businesses put their businesses on hold.
• Labor laws allow workers to have usual holiday payments.

The holiday lets the Muslim Filipino communities and Muslims in the entire country rejoice on the breaking of the Ramadan through prayers, family events and charity.

Expected Date for Eid al-Fitr 2026

In 2026 the calendar suggests that the holiday will be at approximately and around March 20, 2026, but there also will be a precise date with the sighting of the crescent moon that will mark the beginning of the Islamic month of Shawwal. 

The year is also based on the lunar calendar, and hence the dates may change by a few days every year, and usually by a day based on the sight of the moon.

Malacañang announces the final date

The law dictates that Eid al-Fitr is an ordinary holiday, but the exact date of the holiday is announced independently by Malacañang Palace every year.

As per the proclamation of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in the year 2026 will be on the specific days of Eid and will be announced later by means of the signing of separate proclamations, according to the Proclamation No. 1006 (2025) in the article of which the general holidays of 2026 are written off. 

The process works like this:

• The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos is the body that sets the probable date using the calculations of the lunar day.
• This is recommended to the President.
• The official proclamation of the accurate date of a holiday in the country is made by Malacañang.

Meaning of the holiday to the Filipinos

The Islamic festival of Eid al-Fitr is a significant feature in the country, and the major holiday of Islam at least in the areas that have the majority of Muslims, which include:

• Mindanao
• Muslim Mindanao Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

The day is marked by:

• The morning prayers of Eid in the mosques or an open field.
• Huge dinner parties and celebrations.
• True generosity and charity to the poor (Zakat al-Fitr).

The holiday in recent years has also been an activity which is an aspect of culture to many non-Muslim Filipinos since it is a period of togetherness and celebration.

The Bottom Line

Eid al-Fitr 2026 will be a Philippine public holiday and this is a legal requirement. The actual official date is however established by Malacañang by a separate proclamation after the lunar calendar establishes the cessation of Ramadan.

The festival will currently be celebrated during March 20, 2026 although the actual day will depend on what the moon will see.

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