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New Year’s Day
Kazakhstan

New Year’s Day 2026 and 2027 in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan celebrates New Year’s Day with a public holiday every 1 January, as does most of the rest of the world. However, the celebrations really begin 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
20261 JanThuNew Year's Day
2 JanFriNew Year Holiday
20271 JanFriNew Year's Day
4 JanMonNew Year Holiday
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.

Although Kazakhstan celebrates Nauryz as a traditional New Year’s Day of the Central Asian Steppes, it has also observed New Year’s Day on 1 January since the mid-1900s, when Russian invasion and settlement in the region first began.

On 31 December, celebrations officially kick off. Towns all across the country put on open-air street parties and festive events. As you walk along the streets, people will wish you a happy New Year. You may also spot Father Frost and snow maidens wandering the town square. And Father Frost brings good boys and girls presents on New Year’s Day.

Houses will often contain a family “New Year’s tree” for Father Frost to place the presents under. The whole family eats a table full of food and may stay up almost till the break of day feasting and partying. The president of Kazakhstan will give a speech on New Year’s Eve, and most people get the first two days of the new year off work.

Previous Years

YearDateDayHoliday
20251 JanWedNew Year's Day
2 JanThuNew Year Holiday
3 JanFriNew Year Holiday
20241 JanMonNew Year's Day
2 JanTueNew Year Holiday