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Some Turkmen holidays are just days off, but a few are worth timing a trip around: Nowruz with its sumalak and horse races, Turkmen Horse Day, Carpet Day and Melon Day. These are not museum reconstructions — this is how the country actually lives.
The calendar: September 2026 – August 2027
September 2026
- 27 SeptemberIndependence Day
Turkmenistan’s main national holiday, marking independence in 1991. Ashgabat is decorated, with concerts and equestrian displays.
October 2026
- 6 OctoberDay of Remembrance
A day of remembrance for the victims of the 1948 Ashgabat earthquake, which destroyed the city in minutes.
December 2026
- 12 DecemberInternational Day of Neutrality
The anniversary of the UN General Assembly recognising Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality in 1995. The UN has since made 12 December an international day of neutrality.
January 2027
- 1 JanuaryNew Year
A public holiday.
March 2027
- 8 MarchInternational Women’s Day
A public holiday.
- 9–10 MarchOraza Bayramy
The festival marking the end of Ramadan. The exact date is set by presidential decree and may shift by a day.
- 21–22 MarchNowruz●
The Persian New Year and the start of spring, celebrated over two days. Sumalak is cooked, folk games and horse races are held — one of the most visually striking holidays in the country for visitors.
April 2027
- 25 AprilTurkmen Horse Day●
The last Sunday of April. Races, Akhal-Teke beauty contests and exhibitions — a holiday for a breed older than most of the world’s states.
May 2027
- 16–17 MayGurban Bayramy
The Feast of the Sacrifice. The date is set by presidential decree and may shift by a day.
- 18 MayConstitution and State Flag Day
A double holiday: the adoption of the 1992 constitution and the founding of the state flag.
- 30 MayTurkmen Carpet Day
The last Sunday of May. Carpet exhibitions open across Ashgabat, including the museum holding the largest handwoven carpet in the world.
August 2027
- 8 AugustTurkmen Melon Day
The second Sunday of August. A holiday for the vaharman melon — the Ashgabat bazaars carry dozens of varieties that day.
When to start the paperwork
| Window | Dates | Send documents by |
|---|---|---|
| Nowruz | 21–22 March 2027 | 7 February 2027 |
| Turkmen Horse Day | 25 April 2027 | 14 March 2027 |
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