National days · Turkmenistan

January

• 1JanHolidayNew Year's DayThe first day of the new year — a public holiday by law in all eight Turkic states; in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan 1–2 January are days off.
• 27JanState day · 1992Defenders of the Fatherland DayThe anniversary of the founding of the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan.

March

• 8MarHolidayInternational Women's DayA day honouring women — a public holiday by law in Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
• 21MarHolidayNational Spring Festival (Nowruz)In Turkmenistan Nowruz is celebrated on 21–22 March as the National Spring Festival, with days off, semeni, folk games, horse races and festive tables.

April

• ·AprHolidayLast Sunday of AprilTurkmen Horse DayThe festival of the world-famous Akhal-Teke horses, with races, beauty contests and awards for horse breeders; held on the last Sunday of April.

May

• 9MayHoliday · 1945Victory DayThe day of victory over fascism in the Second World War in 1945; in Azerbaijan it is called Victory over Fascism Day. Tens of thousands of Turkic sons fell in that war.
• 18MayState dayConstitution and State Flag DayA public holiday honouring Turkmenistan's Constitution and its green, carpet-patterned flag.
• 25MayHolidayAshgabat City DayThe festival of the capital Ashgabat, with concerts, exhibitions and openings of new buildings in the white-marble city.
• ·MayHolidayLast Sunday of MayTurkmen Carpet DayThe festival of Turkmen carpet weaving, with exhibitions and awards for weavers; Turkmen carpet guls also appear on the state flag. Held on the last Sunday of May.

June

• 27JunHolidayDay of Culture Workers and Magtymguly Pyragy's PoetryA day devoted to the poetry of the great Turkmen poet Magtymguly Pyragy and to culture workers, with poetry evenings, concerts and literary contests.

September

• 27SepState day · 1991Independence DayTurkmenistan declared independence in 1991. Since 2018 Independence Day has been celebrated every year on 27 September.

October

• 3OctHistorical event · 2009Founding of the Organization of Turkic StatesOn 3 October 2009 the Nakhchivan Agreement founded the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States, renamed the Organization of Turkic States in 2021.
• 6OctAnniversary · 1948Remembrance Day (1948 earthquake)On the night of 6 October 1948 a magnitude 7.3 earthquake destroyed Ashgabat; the victims are remembered on this day.

November

• ·NovHolidaySecond Sunday of NovemberHarvest DayHasyl toýy, the festival of farmers and cotton growers, with produce fairs, folk festivities and awards for leading farmers; held on the second Sunday of November.

December

• 12DecState day · 1995Neutrality DayOn 12 December 1995 the UN General Assembly recognised Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality.
• 21DecAnniversary · 2006Memorial Day of the First President S. A. NiyazovThe day on which Saparmurat Niyazov (1940–2006), the first President of independent Turkmenistan, died; an official memorial day.

Holidays with changing dates

These holidays follow the Islamic (lunar) calendar or the church calendar, so they fall on a different date each year. The exact dates are announced by the government annually.

• ·Holiday10 Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic calendar — the feast of the Hajj pilgrimage; moves about 11 days earlier each yearEid al-AdhaThe great feast of sacrifice and charity — a public holiday by law in Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan (Gurban Baýramy), Kazakhstan (Kurban Ait), Kyrgyzstan (Kurman Ait), Uzbekistan (Qurbon Hayiti) and the TRNC.
• ·Holiday1 Shawwal in the Islamic calendar — the end of the Ramadan fast; moves about 11 days earlier each yearEid al-FitrThe festival marking the end of the Ramadan fast — a public holiday by law in Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan (Oraza Baýramy), Kyrgyzstan (Orozo Ait), Uzbekistan (Ramazon Hayiti) and the TRNC.