Public holidays and weekends around the world: what global teams should know

Public holidays differ enormously from country to country, in number, length and how they are set. Understanding a few patterns makes planning much easier.

Fixed-date holidays. Many holidays fall on the same calendar date every year, such as national days, Labor Day on May 1 in many countries, or Christmas Day. When the date lands on a weekend, some countries move the day off to a nearby weekday and others do not.

Holidays that move. Easter-related holidays change every year, which also shifts days such as Good Friday and Easter Monday in many European countries. Lunar calendar holidays, such as Lunar New Year (Seollal in Korea, Spring Festival in China) and Chuseok in Korea, move between years on the solar calendar and often come with a multi-day break.

Islamic holidays. Holidays such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha follow the Islamic lunar calendar, so they shift about ten to eleven days earlier each year, and the exact day can depend on moon sighting. Official dates are sometimes confirmed only shortly before the holiday, so plan with a buffer.

Long breaks. Some countries have well-known clusters of holidays, such as Golden Week in Japan in late April and early May or the extended breaks around Lunar New Year and the National Day period in China. Productivity and response times can drop for the whole week, not only on the official day.

Substitute holidays and bridge days. Some countries add a substitute day when a holiday falls on a weekend, and others encourage "bridge days" between a holiday and a weekend. If a holiday falls on a Thursday, many colleagues may also be away on Friday.

Regional differences inside one country. In large countries, holidays can vary by state, province or city. A national list is a good starting point, but check local rules for the specific office you work with.

Weekends. Most countries use a Saturday and Sunday weekend, but several countries in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia use Friday and Saturday, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Sudan, Israel, Bangladesh and the Maldives. The United Arab Emirates switched to Saturday and Sunday in 2022, Iran takes Friday only, and Brunei takes Friday and Sunday. Weekend rules can change by decision of the government, so confirm with your counterpart when it matters.

TeamOffDays lists upcoming public holidays for each location you add, with a short note explaining what the holiday is, and marks the day on the calendar view. Use it as a quick check, and confirm critical deadlines with an official source or with your colleagues directly.