Republic Day 2026

What is Republic Day?

Republic Day marks the day a country became or was proclaimed a republic, though the exact event differs. Italy celebrates it on 2 June, the anniversary of the referendum of 1946 in which Italians chose to abolish the monarchy, and the date is marked by the Festa della Repubblica with a military parade in Rome. Portugal observes 5 October, in memory of the proclamation of the republic in 1910, which ended the monarchy. Each of these holidays relates to a country that changed its form of government or political structure at a particular time.

Turkey celebrates Republic Day on 29 October, which marks the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923 under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and the celebration begins on the afternoon of the 28th. Malta's Republic Day is 13 December, the date in 1974 on which Malta became a republic within the Commonwealth, and North Macedonia observes it on 2 August, which recalls the Ilinden uprising of 1903 and the first session of the anti-fascist assembly ASNOM in 1944. The day is often marked with flags, concerts and awards for citizens, and in Turkey, with torchlight processions in the evening.

Why it is observed

Republic days usually mark a break with monarchy or with colonial arrangements. Italy's referendum of 2 and 3 June 1946 was held after the Second World War and the end of the fascist period, and it led to the republican constitution of 1948. Portugal's 1910 revolution ended the monarchy, and the date was removed from the public calendar for a time during 2013 to 2015 and then restored. Turkey's date reflects the founding of the modern state after the First World War. Each holiday therefore reflects a very different national story.

How the date is set

There is no single date. Republic Day is a generic name for the anniversary of the proclamation of a republic, and the date and the event depend on the country. All the dates are fixed in the calendar.

How it is observed

Where it is a public holiday, banks, offices, schools and most shops close, and in the capital there are official events, such as the parade on Via dei Fori Imperiali in Rome or the ceremonies in Ankara. Some countries move holidays that fall on a weekend, and others do not. Because the history differs by country, check the specific holiday page. Pay and time off depend on national law and the contract. Check the country page. In Turkey the national holiday begins at lunchtime on 28 October, so government offices and many businesses close for a day and a half, and in Italy the holiday is celebrated even in years when 2 June falls on a weekend, since it is fixed.