Public holiday in Azerbaijan
Republic Day in Azerbaijan
Thursday, May 28, 2026
Nationwide public holiday
Republic Day in Azerbaijan is a nationwide public holiday on 28 May. It marks the founding of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918, the country’s first modern parliamentary republic.
About Republic Day in Azerbaijan
Republic Day is the annual state holiday that commemorates the proclamation of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, which gave Azerbaijan its first experience of modern statehood. It is observed across the country and is associated with national symbols, official ceremonies and public recognition of Azerbaijan’s independence tradition. The day stands apart from other Azerbaijani state holidays by focusing on the republic established in the early twentieth century rather than on later events in the country’s modern history.
History
On 28 May 1918, Azerbaijani leaders in Tiflis proclaimed the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic after the collapse of the Transcaucasian political order. The republic is widely recognized as the first secular democratic republic in the Muslim world. Its existence was short-lived: it ended in 1920 after Soviet takeover. Republic Day was later restored as a state holiday in independent Azerbaijan.
Traditions
Common symbols associated with the day include the Azerbaijani flag and official remembrance of the 1918 republic. State ceremonies and public tributes are the most visible forms of observance, rather than family-based customs or religious rites.
How Republic Day is celebrated in Azerbaijan
In contemporary Azerbaijan, Republic Day is marked by official ceremonies, speeches and cultural events arranged by state institutions. Public attention usually centers on national history, with museums, monuments and civic venues often used for commemorative activities.
Interesting facts
The holiday is observed in late spring, when it falls alongside the anniversary of a key founding moment in Azerbaijani statehood. It is one of Azerbaijan’s main national holidays tied directly to the country’s first parliamentary republic.
Dates in published calendars
| Year | Holiday date | Observed date | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 28 May 2026 | — | Nationwide |
Import sources
- Generic ICS feed
An import is not an independent verification.