← National days · Turkmenistan
September 27 1991· State day
Independence Day
Turkmenistan declared independence in 1991. Since 2018 Independence Day has been celebrated every year on 27 September.
In a nationwide referendum on 26 October 1991 the Turkmen people voted almost unanimously for independence, and the next day the Supreme Council adopted the Constitutional Law on the Independence and Foundations of the State System of Turkmenistan. Once marked in October, Independence Day has been celebrated on 27 September since 2018.
During the years of independence Ashgabat became known worldwide for its white-marble buildings and entered the Guinness World Records as the city with the most white-marble buildings. In Independence Park in the south of the city stand the Independence Monument, erected in 2001, and statues of great figures of Turkmen history.
The main holiday
Independence Day is Turkmenistan's main state holiday. Ashgabat hosts a grand military parade, a procession of Akhal-Teke horses, folk festivities, concerts and fireworks, and celebrations are held throughout the country.
Video
Photos
Independence Monument in Ashgabat · Hans Birger Nilsen / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 
The Independence Monument and park · Hans Birger Nilsen / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 
Statue of Gorkut Ata in Independence Park · John Pavelka from Austin, TX, USA / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 
Independence Day parade in Ashgabat · Kerri-Jo Stewart from Vancouver, Canada / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 
Independence parade · Kerri-Jo Stewart from Vancouver, Canada / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 
Ashgabat by night · Hans Birger Nilsen / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 
A parade of Akhal-Teke horses on the racetrack · Ulruppelt / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Turkmenistan: other days
- January 1New Year's Day
- January 27Defenders of the Fatherland Day
- March 8International Women's Day
- March 21National Spring Festival (Nowruz)
- AprilTurkmen Horse Day
- May 9Victory Day
- May 18Constitution and State Flag Day
- May 25Ashgabat City Day
- MayTurkmen Carpet Day
- June 27Day of Culture Workers and Magtymguly Pyragy's Poetry
- October 3Founding of the Organization of Turkic States
- October 6Remembrance Day (1948 earthquake)
- NovemberHarvest Day
- December 12Neutrality Day
- December 21Memorial Day of the First President S. A. Niyazov
- 10 Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic calendar — the feast of the Hajj pilgrimage; moves about 11 days earlier each yearEid al-Adha
- 1 Shawwal in the Islamic calendar — the end of the Ramadan fast; moves about 11 days earlier each yearEid al-Fitr