What Are The Public Holidays in Lebanon in 2026?

List of Public Holidays in Lebanon (2026)

Lebanon observes a mix of fixed‑date and religious public holidays, some of which follow the Islamic lunar calendar and are confirmed by official announcements closer to the date. The table below lists the main nationwide public holidays expected in 2026, noting that Islamic dates are approximate until formally declared by the authorities.

Do Employers Have to Provide Paid Leave on Public Holidays?

Yes, under Lebanese labour practice, employees are generally entitled to a paid day off on official public holidays when those holidays fall on a normal working day. For employees covered by the Lebanese Labour Law, public holidays are treated as rest days with full pay, similar to weekly rest days, unless the nature of the work requires continuous operation.

If your company requires employees to work on a public holiday, they are typically entitled to their normal daily wage plus a premium for work on a rest day. Many employers apply at least a 50% premium or grant a compensatory day off, and some collective agreements or internal policies provide more generous terms. Because the exact rate can depend on sector‑specific rules and contracts, you should confirm the applicable rate in your industry and in any collective bargaining agreement.

Part‑time employees are usually entitled to paid public holidays on a pro‑rata basis if the holiday falls on a day they would normally work. If the holiday falls on a non‑working day for that part‑time schedule, there is typically no additional entitlement unless your internal policy states otherwise.

Lebanon’s public holidays are national rather than regional, although some are tied to specific religious communities. In practice, the government announces the official list and dates each year, and employers follow that national calendar. When a holiday falls on a Sunday, many employers grant a substitute day off on the preceding Saturday or following Monday by custom, but this can vary and is not always mandated in the same way for every sector, so you should align with the official circulars issued for that year.

Legal Penalties for Not Providing Paid Holiday Leave

Failure to respect public holiday entitlements can expose your company to administrative penalties and employment disputes. The Ministry of Labour is the main enforcement authority and can investigate complaints, inspect workplaces and impose fines for breaches of the Labour Law, including non‑payment of wages and denial of statutory rest days and holidays.

Employees who are denied paid public holidays or correct compensation for work on those days can file complaints with the Ministry of Labour or bring claims before the competent labour courts. Outcomes can include orders to pay outstanding wages, holiday pay differentials, and in some cases additional compensation or interest. Repeated or serious non‑compliance can increase the financial and reputational risk for your business.

Common employer mistakes include treating public holidays as unpaid leave, failing to apply the correct premium when employees work on a holiday, and not aligning internal policies with the official holiday circulars issued each year. To reduce risk, you should keep written records of schedules, hours worked on holidays and the corresponding pay, and ensure your local HR and payroll teams are trained on the current rules.

How Do Holidays Affect Overtime Thresholds?

In Lebanon, public holidays interact with working time and overtime rules by effectively converting a normal working day into a rest day. Work performed on an official public holiday is generally treated as work on a rest day and should be compensated at a higher rate than ordinary hours, in addition to any overtime premium that may apply if daily or weekly limits are exceeded.

Standard working time rules under the Labour Law set maximum daily and weekly hours, with overtime payable when those limits are exceeded. If an employee works on a public holiday, you should first apply the rest‑day or holiday premium to the hours worked, and then apply any overtime premium on top if the employee’s total hours exceed the statutory or contractually agreed limits. The exact percentages can vary by sector and contract, so the safest approach is to check the Labour Law provisions that apply to your activity and any collective agreements, and to document your company’s method clearly in employment contracts and policies.

Because Islamic holidays are confirmed only shortly before they occur, you should monitor official announcements so you can adjust schedules and overtime planning in time. This helps you avoid last‑minute staffing gaps and ensures that any work performed on those days is correctly classified and paid.

Stay 100% Compliant with Leave Regulations Using Playroll

Managing public holidays in Lebanon can be tricky, especially when you are juggling fixed‑date holidays, multiple religious calendars and last‑minute government announcements. Playroll helps you simplify this by keeping your holiday calendar, contracts and payroll rules aligned with current Lebanese requirements.

With Playroll, you can onboard employees in Lebanon using locally compliant contracts, apply the correct public holiday calendar automatically and configure your policies for paid holidays, substitute days and holiday work premiums. Our in‑country experts track official circulars and updates, so when dates shift or new guidance is issued, your payroll settings stay up to date without you having to chase every change.

Playroll also makes it easier to coordinate global teams. You can see Lebanon’s public holidays alongside those in your other locations, plan project timelines around non‑working days and avoid accidental non‑compliance when employees work across borders. Clear reporting on hours worked, holiday balances and pay helps you demonstrate compliance if you face an audit or employee query.

If you are hiring or expanding in Lebanon, Playroll gives you a single platform to manage employment, time off and pay in line with local law, while your team focuses on running the business. As always, you should combine Playroll’s tools with advice from qualified Lebanese legal counsel for complex or high‑risk decisions, but for day‑to‑day holiday and leave management, Playroll keeps you organised, consistent and compliant.