The Egyptian government has announced that October 6, 2026, will be a public holiday for government and private sector employees, in commemoration of the Armed Forces Day and the anniversary of the October War victory. According to a decision by the Minister of Labor, this holiday is one of the official celebrations that are considered a paid leave for employees. The holiday is expected to be observed on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
The decision to declare October 6 as a public holiday is based on the rules regulating official holidays in Egypt. The holiday is applicable to employees in the government, public sector, and private sector. The Minister of Labor's decision, number 294 of 2025, stipulates that Armed Forces Day, which falls on October 6 every year, is a paid holiday for employees.
The Egyptian government has the authority to postpone the holiday to another day if it falls on a day that is not suitable for work. In previous years, the government has issued decisions to postpone some public holidays to a later date to regulate working hours and holidays. For example, in 2025, the government decided to postpone the Armed Forces Day holiday from Monday, October 6, to Thursday, October 9.
For government employees, the holiday is part of the official celebrations and is considered a paid leave. The holiday applies to employees in ministries, government agencies, public sector companies, and local administration units. The government has the right to issue a decision to postpone the holiday to another day if necessary.
In the private sector, employees are also entitled to the holiday with full pay, according to the Labor Law. However, the employer has the right to require employees to work on the holiday if necessary, in which case the employee is entitled to a compensatory day off or additional pay.
The October 6 holiday is one of the most important national celebrations in Egypt, commemorating the anniversary of the October War victory and the Armed Forces Day. The holiday is a paid leave for employees, and its date may be subject to change if it falls on a day that is not suitable for work.
The Egyptian government has announced a series of holidays for 2026, including the October 6 holiday. Other holidays and celebrations will be observed throughout the year, in accordance with the rules regulating official holidays in Egypt.
Key points
- The October 6, 2026, holiday is a paid leave for government and private sector employees in Egypt.
- The holiday may be postponed to another day if it falls on a day that is not suitable for work.
- The holiday is part of the official celebrations in Egypt, commemorating the Armed Forces Day and the anniversary of the October War victory.
