Travel guide
Bahrain National Day Holiday 2026: How Many Days, and Where to Travel in December
Quick answer: Bahrain's National Day and Accession Day holiday in 2026 falls on Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 December. With the Friday–Saturday weekend that is 4 days off in a row (16–19 December); take 3 days' leave (Sunday 13 to Tuesday 15) and it becomes 9 days (Friday 11 to Saturday 19 December). Note for families: public-school students have no December winter break; their mid-year break is 17–28 January 2027.
Holiday calendar, December 2026 to March 2027
| Occasion | Date | Day | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Day & Accession Day | 16–17 Dec 2026 | Wed–Thu | Official holiday (Central Bank of Bahrain 2026 list) |
| New Year's Day | 1 Jan 2027 | Friday | Falls on the weekend |
| Public-school mid-year break | 17–28 Jan 2027 | Sun–Thu | With weekends: Fri 15 to Sat 30 Jan (16 days) |
| Ramadan 2027 (estimate) | 8 Feb – 8 Mar 2027 | – | Per the school calendar; subject to moon sighting |
| Eid al-Fitr 2027 (estimate) | 9–11 Mar 2027 | – | Per the school calendar; subject to moon sighting |
The Crown Prince and Prime Minister's circular on the National Day holiday is usually issued about a week before (9 December in 2025, 10 December in 2024). We will update this page when the 2026 circular is out.
How many days off? Three ready-made plans
| Plan | Leave days you take | Trip length | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| No leave | 0 | 4 days | Wed 16 – Sat 19 Dec |
| Before the holiday | 3 (13–15 Dec) | 9 days | Fri 11 – Sat 19 Dec |
| After the holiday | 5 (20–24 Dec) | 11 days | Wed 16 – Sat 26 Dec |
The 4-day plan suits a nearby city with a nonstop flight; the 9-day plan is enough for Georgia, Azerbaijan or Thailand at a relaxed pace.
Families: there is no December school holiday
According to the Ministry of Education's 2026–2027 academic calendar (published 9 June 2026):
- Term 1 runs from 3 September 2026 to 14 January 2027.
- End-of-term exams start in December: secondary from 21 December 2026, intermediate certificate from 24 December, other grades from 31 December, all ending 12 January 2027.
- Mid-year break: Sunday 17 to Thursday 28 January 2027, i.e. 16 days including weekends.
- Term 2 starts Sunday 31 January 2027.
What this means: families with children in public schools can realistically travel on 16–19 December only (before exams begin), and the best window for a longer family trip is the January break. Private schools set their own calendars, so check with your school.
Where to travel in December from Bahrain
Cold weather and snow: Georgia and Azerbaijan
- Georgia (Tbilisi): December average 8.1 °C by day, 1.2 °C at night. Gulf Air flies nonstop to Tbilisi. Bahrainis are visa-free, most residents too, with mandatory insurance since 2026. Read our Georgia trip from Bahrain guide.
- Azerbaijan (Baku): December average 9.4 °C by day, 4.7 °C at night; Gulf Air flies nonstop to Baku.
- An honest word on snow: ski resorts open when the snow allows. In the 2025/26 season Shahdag (Azerbaijan) opened on 15 December and Gudauri (Georgia) on 27 December. So ski snow on 16–19 December is not guaranteed; it is far more reliable in the January break.
A 4-day trip on a nonstop flight
- Istanbul: December about 11 °C by day, 5.6 °C at night; markets, food and winter atmosphere. (Turkey visa rules depend on your passport; ask us.)
- Cairo: December 20.5 °C by day, 11.7 °C at night, one of the best times of year to visit.
- Salalah: December 29.3 °C by day, 20.8 °C at night, almost no rain (3.6 mm). Nonstop flights are seasonal, so check the schedule.
- Saudi Arabia by car: Riyadh is about 434 km from the causeway. Read our Saudi visa for Bahrain residents and causeway guide.
Sun and sea: Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Kerala
- Phuket: 31.7 °C by day, 24.4 °C at night; December starts the dry season (December to March).
- Bangkok: 32.3 °C by day, 23.2 °C at night, very little rain (11.6 mm).
- Langkawi (Malaysia): 31.6 °C, with a short dry season December–February. Avoid Malaysia's east-coast islands (Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang): the north-east monsoon brings heavy rain there from November to March, per the Malaysian Meteorological Department.
- Sri Lanka: the south-west coast (Colombo and southwards) is the better side in December; the north and east are wetter.
- Maldives: 30.4 °C by day, but December still sees rain (about 212 mm in Malé); February and March are the driest months. Fine for a honeymoon if you expect short showers.
- Kerala (Kochi): 32.9 °C by day, 21.8 °C at night, little rain; an excellent time to go.
Christmas markets in Europe: Vienna and Prague
- Vienna: 2026 market dates from the Vienna Tourist Board: Rathausplatz 13 November – 26 December; Schönbrunn Palace 6 November 2026 – 6 January 2027. Average 4.7 °C by day, 0.7 °C at night.
- Prague: 4.8 °C by day, 0.6 °C at night.
- Schengen visa: apply by mid-November at the latest. Read our Schengen visa from Bahrain guide.
December weather in popular destinations from Bahrain
| Destination | High / low (°C) | December is good for |
|---|---|---|
| Tbilisi, Georgia | 8.1 / 1.2 | Winter atmosphere, mountain snow (skiing not guaranteed before late Dec) |
| Baku, Azerbaijan | 9.4 / 4.7 | City break; skiing at Shahdag once open |
| Istanbul, Türkiye | ~11 / 5.6 | Short city break |
| Cairo, Egypt | 20.5 / 11.7 | Sightseeing in mild weather |
| Salalah, Oman | 29.3 / 20.8 | Sun, dry weather |
| Phuket, Thailand | 31.7 / 24.4 | Beach, start of dry season |
| Langkawi, Malaysia | 31.6 / 24.4 | Beach (avoid the east coast) |
| Colombo, Sri Lanka | 30.9 / 23.5 | South-west coast |
| Malé, Maldives | 30.4 / 25.6 | Honeymoon (expect showers) |
| Kochi, India | 32.9 / 21.8 | Kerala at its best |
| Vienna, Austria | 4.7 / 0.7 | Christmas markets |
Long-term averages from national meteorological data; actual weather varies year to year.
Where to go in the mid-year school break (January 2027)
The 16-day break from 15 to 30 January 2027 is the best family window this winter:
- Snow is far more reliable in Georgia (Gudauri, Bakuriani) and Azerbaijan (Shahdag) in January.
- Phuket, Langkawi and south-west Sri Lanka are in the heart of their dry season.
- Book before the end of October: many families travel the same week, and the break ends shortly before Ramadan 2027 (expected 8 February).
Booking tips for the December holiday
- Book flights now: departures on 15–16 December and returns on the 19th usually fill early.
- Check the live schedule: most routes are back after this spring's regional airspace disruptions, but winter schedules change, so confirm your flight before paying.
- Visa first: Schengen by mid-November, Georgia's mandatory insurance, and the Saudi e-visa for residents online.
- Passport and residence validity: many countries want 6 months on the passport and 3 months on the residence permit after return.
- Don't plan a short mid-December ski trip without a fallback in case the resort hasn't opened.
Plan your holiday with GoTrips in Riffa
We arrange your National Day or January trip end to end: flights, hotels, itinerary, travel insurance and visa help, for families in Riffa, Isa Town, A'ali and across Bahrain.
GoTrips is a licensed travel agency in East Riffa, arranging Bahrain travels end to end from one office.
Visit us: Office v30, Road 7, Block 907, East Riffa (opposite Al Rayan Hospital, free parking).
Hours: Sat–Thu 9 am–1 pm and 4–9 pm · Fri 4–8:30 pm · phones answered 24/7.
Call / WhatsApp: +973 7790 7722
Frequently asked questions
When is the Bahrain National Day holiday in 2026?
How many days off for Bahrain National Day 2026?
Is there a December winter break for public schools in 2026?
Where should I travel in December from Bahrain?
Will there be snow in Georgia or Azerbaijan over National Day?
If a holiday falls on a Friday or Saturday, is a day given in lieu?
Official sources (checked 30 September 2026)
- Central Bank of Bahrain, official holidays 2026 cbb.gov.bh
- Ministry of Education, 2026–2027 academic calendar announcement moe.gov.bh
- Ministry of Education, academic calendar moe.gov.bh
- Prime Minister's Office, 2025 National Day holiday circular pmo.gov.bh
- Prime Minister's Office, 2023 circular (day in lieu) pmo.gov.bh
- Malaysian Meteorological Department, monsoons met.gov.my
- Vienna Tourist Board, Christmas markets wien.info
General guidance only. Hijri dates are estimates subject to moon sighting, and flight schedules change. Contact us to confirm details before booking.