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New Year's Day
Turkey

New Year’s Day 2024, 2025 and 2026 in Turkey

New Year’s Day is a holiday in Turkey as part of celebrations that start on New Year’s Eve and reach a high point with the turning of the clock from 11:59pm on 31 December to midnight on 1 January.

YearDateDayHoliday
20241 JanMonNew Year's Day
20251 JanWedNew Year's Day
20261 JanThuNew Year's Day
Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates.

New Year’s Day is a time of resolutions and starting fresh for some, while for others it is spent recovering from a big, late night spent with friends and family.

Turkey did not adopt the Western calendar until 1926, and 1 January only became a public holiday there in 1935. But there are many New Year’s traditions well ingrained into Turkish culture.

In Turkey, the last day of the old year and the first day of the new are celebrated more like how Westerners celebrate Christmas. You’ll see lights, decorations, “New Year’s trees, and even Santa Claus. But fireworks are also mixed into the celebrations.

People exchange gifts on New Year’s Eve, and often enough, the gift is a lottery ticket for the Milli Piyango drawing that is broadcast on television right before midnight. Everyone watches for the results, and huge numbers of people buy a ticket.

Previous Years

YearDateDayHoliday
20231 JanSunNew Year's Day
20221 JanSatNew Year's Day
20211 JanFriNew Year's Day
20201 JanWedNew Year's Day
20191 JanTueNew Year's Day
20181 JanMonNew Year's Day
20171 JanSunNew Year's Day