Wednesday, 7 January 2026
Confirmed — source checked
This is the first listed date for this year; a separate observance date has not been assigned.
Egypt observes Coptic Christmas Day on 7 January. The holiday celebrates the Nativity according to the calendar used by the Coptic Orthodox Church and is distinct from Gregorian Christmas Day on 25 December.
Bank, office and school arrangements require the applicable authority or institution notice. Missing scope data does not mean open.
Thursday, 7 January 2027 · Estimated / awaiting confirmation
Next listed holiday day on or after today; this can be a closure day rather than the festival date.
Recorded confirmation and independent source review are shown separately. An institution-specific notice does not establish closure for every employer or school.
Official holiday calendar or legal framework
Confirmed · Scope: public · Checked 2026-09-30
Confirmed by the current official calendar or governing rule. Annual Prime Ministerial decisions establish observed public-sector dates; future observed dates are provisional until those decisions issue.
The Prime Minister’s 2026 decision made Wednesday 7 January a paid holiday for ministries, public bodies, local administration and public-sector companies; private-sector coverage was separately announced by the Labour Ministry.
Egyptian banks ordinarily close when the Central Bank announces the Coptic Christmas bank holiday. Confirm the annual notice for transaction cut-offs.
Schools and universities normally close, although an official decision may preserve scheduled examinations. Institution notices take precedence for students.
The Coptic Orthodox Church follows the Coptic liturgical calendar for the Nativity feast. Christmas follows the Advent fast and is celebrated after the Christmas Eve liturgy.
The holiday has national importance for Egypt’s Coptic Christian community and is officially granted as a paid public holiday through government decisions.
Worshippers attend a lengthy Christmas Eve service, then families break the fast with festive meals. Greetings and public messages emphasize shared citizenship and community.
Expect heavier traffic around major churches on the evening of 6 January and limited services on the 7th. Security controls can affect access near prominent celebrations.
Use the verified date table and the annual Egyptian announcement; lunar and transferred observances can change.
Government and banking closures follow their respective official decisions, which may have different operational scopes.
Only fixed dates or dates backed by the competent annual announcement should be described as confirmed.
View all Egypt public holidays 2026