17 February Revolution anniversary2026 · Date · History
Libyan News Agency reporting of Government of National Unity 2026 official commemoration programme
About 17 February Revolution anniversary
February 17 is an official Libyan anniversary associated with the 2011 revolution.
Libya’s Law No. 5 of 2012 lists February 17 as an official holiday for the 2011 Libyan Revolution, and the Government of National Unity again designated February 17, 2026 as a holiday in public institutions while announcing commemorative events.
Why 17 February Revolution anniversary matters
The date functions as a national civic commemoration in the legal and Government of National Unity sources reviewed here.
Because Libya has experienced prolonged political division, descriptions of current ceremonies should identify the responsible institution and avoid treating one authority’s political messaging as a neutral account of all Libyan views.
History of 17 February Revolution anniversary
Law No. 5 of 2012, issued by Libya’s National Transitional Council, included February 17 in the country’s official-holiday schedule as the anniversary of the 2011 Libyan Revolution.
For 2026, a prime-ministerial decision implementing that law designated February 17 as a holiday in public institutions, and the Government of National Unity announced a program of symbolic commemorative events.
This guide records those legal and institutional facts without endorsing political actors, slogans or contested interpretations of Libya’s post-2011 politics.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Libyan National Transitional Council
Law No. (5) of 2012 on official holidays
Implemented the February 17, 2026 official holiday in GNU-administered public institutions under Law No. 5 of 2012.
Government of National Unity / Prime Minister · Prime Minister Decision No. 55 of 2026
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
5 fields not established in reviewed sources
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
Also known as
February 17th Revolution
How to Observe 17 February Revolution anniversary
Read the text of Libya’s official-holiday law and current government notices to understand the formal basis of the date.
Compare historical accounts from multiple reputable sources when studying the 2011 uprising and its aftermath.
When discussing the anniversary, distinguish documented legal status from political claims made by current or former actors.
Use neutral language when sharing historical material, especially where institutions or communities describe the revolution differently.
17 February Revolution anniversary Facts
Libya’s Law No. 5 of 2012 includes February 17 in the official-holiday schedule.
The law describes the date as the anniversary of the 2011 Libyan Revolution.
A 2026 Government of National Unity decision again made February 17 a holiday in public institutions under that law.
The 2026 GNU program was described as a symbolic national commemoration.
This guide does not treat any current Libyan political authority’s interpretation as universally representative.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Remembrance Civic Context Care.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
DCAF legal database — Law No. 5 of 2012
Libyan Law Society legal repository — Prime Minister Decision No. 55 of 2026
Libyan News Agency — 2026 GNU commemoration program
DCAF Legal Database — Libya Law No. 5 of 2012 on official holidays (opens in a new tab)
Legal Text Repository
Libyan Law Society — PM Decision No. 55 of 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Legal Text Repository
Libyan News Agency — 2026 February 17 commemoration (opens in a new tab)
Government News Agency Current Observance
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is 17 February Revolution anniversary?
17 February The documented recurrence rule is: 17 February.
Does 17 February Revolution anniversary fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is 17 February Revolution anniversary an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Libya — Government of National Unity commemoration context. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes 17 February Revolution anniversary?
The reviewed sources identify Libyan National Transitional Council as the proclaiming or establishing body.
Is 17 February Revolution anniversary international or country-specific?
No single country is assigned to this observance. Its documented scope is: Libya — Government of National Unity commemoration context. Use that scope rather than assuming worldwide or country-specific status.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-28.
When is the 17 February Revolution anniversary?
It is marked on February 17.
Is February 17 an official holiday in Libya?
Law No. 5 of 2012 places it in Libya’s official-holiday schedule, and the Government of National Unity issued a 2026 implementation decision for public institutions.
What does the date commemorate?
The legal text identifies it as the anniversary of the 2011 Libyan Revolution.
Does this page take a position on Libyan politics?
No. It reports the legal and institutional observance and keeps contemporary political interpretations attributed and neutral.
Other observances on February 17
These observances are also listed on February 17, 2027.
February 17 Revolution anniversary
Libyan government sources identify February 17 as the anniversary of the February 17 Revolution and list it as an official holiday/commemoration.
Global Tourism Resilience Day
A/RES/77/269
Independence Day
Kosovo’s 2008 Law No. 03/L-064 expressly designates February 17 as Independence Day and a paid official holiday under its legal framework; the 17 February 2008 declaration supplies the hist…
National Public Science Day
A 2000 NCAR/UCAR release says National Public Science Day was sponsored by AAAS and celebrated on February 17; current observance references continue to use February 17 annually.
National Tennis Pro Day
National Day Archives gives February 17 and identifies Maria Oddy as the creator in 2020, with the inaugural observance described for 2021.
Random Acts of Kindness Day®
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation identifies Random Acts of Kindness Day® as 17 February and describes it as an internationally observed campaign.