National Day2026 · Date · History
Kuwait Government Online documents the National Day history: the first celebration was held on 19 June 1962; celebrations used 19 June through 1964; an Amiri decree merged National Day with the accession anniversary and moved the recurring celebration to 25 February, used from 1965. A 2026 Civil Service Commission notice separately confirms current official-government holiday treatment for 25 February.
About National Day
Kuwait marks National Day on 25 February. Kuwait Government Online explains that the country’s first National Day celebration took place on 19 June 1962 and that the observance used June 19 through 1964 before moving to February 25.
The modern date is tied to the anniversary of Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah’s accession and is distinct from Kuwait’s independence date of 19 June 1961. Current closure details should be taken from current government notices rather than assumed from the historical anniversary alone.
Why National Day matters
National Day is a civic observance of Kuwait’s state history. The February 25 date reflects a later scheduling decision that combined the national celebration with an accession anniversary rather than reproducing the calendar date of independence.
In 2026, Kuwait’s Civil Service Commission declared February 25 and 26 official holidays for ministries, government bodies and public institutions for National Day and Liberation Day; entities with special work requirements could set their schedules through the relevant authorities.
History of National Day
Kuwait became independent on 19 June 1961.
Kuwait Government Online records the first National Day celebration on 19 June 1962 and annual June 19 celebrations through 1964.
The same official history says an Amiri decree merged National Day with the anniversary of Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah’s accession and moved the celebration to February 25; celebrations on the new date began in 1965.
Official Kuwait Government Online pages are not fully consistent about the decree’s adoption year/date, so this guide leaves that narrow provenance field unresolved rather than selecting one official version.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Amir of Kuwait
Amiri decree merging National Day with the accession anniversary of Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah
First documented observance
Kuwait Government Online explicitly identifies the 19 June 1962 celebration as Kuwait’s first National Day celebration.
Declared 25–26 February 2026 official holidays for ministries, government bodies and public institutions, with special-work entities following relevant authorities.
Civil Service Commission, State of Kuwait · 2026 National Day and Liberation Day official-holiday notice
State of Kuwait
Kuwait Government Online and the Civil Service Commission document current official National Day observance and government-holiday arrangements.
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.
3 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
Kuwait National Day
How to Observe National Day
Use February 25 when listing Kuwait’s recurring National Day.
Keep June 19, 1961 as the historical independence date rather than relabeling it as the current National Day date.
For office or service planning, check the Civil Service Commission or the relevant authority’s current-year notice.
When explaining the history, distinguish the first 1962 National Day celebration from the later move to February 25.
National Day Facts
Kuwait’s National Day is observed on February 25.
The first National Day celebration documented by Kuwait Government Online was on June 19, 1962.
National Day was celebrated on June 19 from 1962 through 1964 before moving to February 25.
February 25 is tied to the accession anniversary of Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, while Kuwait’s independence date is June 19, 1961.
A 2026 government notice made February 25 an official holiday for ministries, government bodies and public institutions, with special-work entities following their relevant authorities.
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.
Kuwait Government Online — 2026 National/Liberation Day government holiday notice (opens in a new tab)
Government First Party
Kuwait Government Online — National Day history (opens in a new tab)
Government First Party
Australian DFAT — National Days protocol register (opens in a new tab)
Government Diplomatic Protocol
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 National Day?
25 February The documented recurrence rule is: 25 February.
Does National Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is National Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Kuwait. 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 National Day?
The reviewed sources identify Amir of Kuwait as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as State of Kuwait.
Is National Day international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to Kuwait. Its fuller verified scope is: Kuwait.
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 2026-10-02.
When is Kuwait National Day?
Kuwait National Day is observed on February 25.
Was Kuwait always celebrated on February 25?
No. Kuwait Government Online says National Day was celebrated on June 19 from 1962 through 1964 and then moved to February 25, with celebrations on the new date beginning in 1965.
Is February 25 Kuwait’s independence date?
No. Kuwait’s independence date is June 19, 1961; the current National Day date is tied to the accession anniversary of Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.
Are government offices closed?
For 2026, the Civil Service Commission declared February 25 and 26 official holidays for ministries, government bodies and public institutions, while entities with special work requirements could set schedules through the relevant authorities.
Other observances on February 25
These observances are also listed on February 25, 2027.
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