Annual Calendar
HOLIDAYS
| Date | Holidays | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 January | New Year | The Gregorian calendar is used to calculate years in the Azerbaijan Republic, and January 1 and 2 are known to be days off. |
| March 8, 2019 | International Women’s Day | International Women’s Day was adopted at the second international conference of socialist women held in Copenhagen in 1910. Azerbaijan celebrated that day as the Women’s Day first in 1917. 8 March was announced as a non-working day in Azerbaijan SSR in 1965. After declaring independence, Azerbaijan kept celebrating 8 March as the Women’s Day. |
| 20-21 March | Novruz Holiday | Novruz holiday is celebrates the coming of Spring and new year. First day of Spring marks the ending of Sun’s annual rotation. With the change to Code of Labour in 08.12.2006 first 5 days are non-working days. |
| May 9, 2019 | Day of Victory over Fascism | On this day of 1945 USSR announced the surrendering of Nazi Germany over the radio, thus the war ended. |
| May 28, 2019 | Republic Day | On May 28 of 1918 Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was established and lasted 23 months. Since 1990 Republic Day has become a state holiday. |
| June 15, 2019 | National Day of Liberation | In July 15, 1993 Heydar Aliyev returned to power and was chosen head of the parliament. In 1997 the National Assembly marked that day as a holiday. |
| June 26, 2019 | Armed Forces Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan | With the decision of Government of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in June 26, 1918 first military corps was created. With the Presidential Decree dated 22.05.1998 that day was announced as the Armed Forces Day. |
| October 18, 2019 | State Independence Day | A Constitutional act on “State Independence of Azerbaijan Republic” was approved at a parliamentary session held in October 18, 1991. That day is celebrated as “The Independence Day” every year. |
| November 9, 2019 | National Flag Day | National flag of Azerbaijan was first approved in November 9, 1918. It was the symbol of nation till 1920. With the Presidential Decree dated 17.11.2009 that day was announced as the National Flag Day and is celebrated every year. |
| November 12, 2019 | Constitution Day | Constitution of Azerbaijan Republic was accepted at the referendum held in November 12, 1995. From that day on 12 November is celebrated as the Constitution Day of Azerbaijan Republic. It is considered working day after certain changes to the Code of Labour in December 12, 2006. |
| November 17, 2019 | National Revival Day | As protest against Armenian’s and Kreml’s doings large scale meeting of people of Baku occurred at the Freedom Square in November 17, 1988. In 1992 that day was declared as the National Revival Day. Due to changes made to Code of Labour in 08.12.2006 it is considered as a working day. |
| December 31, 2019 | World Azerbaijani’s Solidarity Day | As per the decision of Azerbaijani Republic parliament in 25.12.1991, that day - December 31 was declared World Azerbaijani’s Solidarity Day. |
RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS
| Date | Holidays | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Changes by lunar calendar | Ramadan Holiday | Since 1993 this holiday has been celebrated on state level for 2 days. |
| Changes by lunar calendar | Muslim Festival of Sacrifice | The Feast of Sacrifice is part of the Hajj pilgrimage ceremony of Muslims. It is celebrated on the 10th day of the 12th month (Zilhija) of the Muslim calendar (Hijri-gamari): they sacrifice animals during the pilgrimage to Mecca. The holiday lasts for 2 days. |
MEMORABLE DATES
| Date | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| January 20, 2019 | National Day of Mourning | İn memory of those killed as a result of the Soviet army deployments against the masses of people on the streets and squares of Baku, protesting the policy of the USSR leadership on January 20, 1990. |
| February 26, 2019 | Khojaly Genocide Day | On February 26, 1992, in memory of the victims of the Khojaly tragedy committed by the Armenian armed forces and the 366th armored regiment of the former USSR against the Azerbaijani people. |
| March 31, 2019 | Azerbaijanis’ Genocide Day | In March-April 1918, the Armenian armed forces killed over 30,000 Azerbaijanis in Baku, Shamakhi, Guba, Mughan and Lankaran. The Presidential Decree dating March 26, 1998 marks March 31 as the "Azerbaijanis’ Genocide Day”. |
SPECIAL HOLIDAYS
| Date | Holiday | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| February 2, 2019 | Youth Day | Established on 01.02.1997 by the Presidential Order. |
| March 5, 2019 | Physical Education and Sports Day | Established on 04.03.2005 by by the Presidential Order. |
| March 10, 2019 | National Theatre Day | On March 10, 1873 the amateur theater club of the “Baku Realni School” performed the comedy "Adventure of Vezir of the Khan of Lankaran" by M.F.Akhundov for the first time. This date was announced as a holiday on the Presidential Decree dated 01.03.2013. |
| March 27, 2019 | Science Day | Established on 09.04.2018 by by the Presidential Order. |
| June 18, 2019 | National Human Rights Day | Established on 17.06.2007 by by the Presidential Order. |
| July 22, 2019 | National Journalists’ and Press Day | The first issue of the newspaper "Ekinchi" in Azerbaijani was published in Baku on July 22, 1875. That day was established as holiday on 05.07.1991 by by the Presidential Order. |
| August 1, 2019 | Azerbaijani Language and Alphabet Day | Transition to a new alphabet was completed in Azerbaijan in August of 2001. On 09.08.2001 that day was established as a holiday by the Presidential Order. |
| August 2, 2019 | Azerbaijani Film Day | On August 2, 1898, Baku hosted the first open film screening. The Presidential Decree dated 18.12.2000 proclaimed the same day as a holiday. |
| September 15, 2019 | Knowledge Day | By the Presidential Decree dating 21.08.2005 classes in schools, other educational institutes started in September 15’th and that day was established as a holiday. |
| September 18, 2019 | National Music Day | 18 September was the birthday of a leading musical figure in Azerbaijan, Uzeir Hadjibayov. The Presidential Decree dated 18.09.1995 proclaimed the same day as a holiday. |
| November 6, 2019 | Azerbaijani TV and Radio Day | The first radio system in Baku was installed in 1924, and in year 1926 the first radio station was launched. The first radio program was broadcasted on November 6 of that year. |
FESTIVALS
| Date | Festivals | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 11-13 January | Baku Coffee and Tea Festival | Purpose of the festival: Development of tea and coffee industry, business development, exchange of experiences. The festival is organized by the international union (Specialty Coffee Association). Exhibitions of companies, products, equipment and accessories, seminars and master classes, entertainment events are held here. |
| February 2, 2019 | Gabalaxy | For those who love music and travel, this festival night is held in Gabala under the open sky. |
| 25-28 July | Jara – 2019 | Around 10,000 people watch popular entertainers perform at the International Music Festival at the beach. |
| August 26, 2019 | IV International Jam Festival | The festival is organized in Gabala. Sweets experts and companies from tens of countries (more than 30 this year) gather at the festival. |
| October 7, 2019 | Apple Holiday | This festival is held in Guba for the sixth time. Ethnic compositions, national dances, different apple varieties, sweets and drinks prepared from this fruit are exhibited at the festival. |
| 18-27 October | Baku Jazz Festival | The Baku International Jazz Festival is a musical feast, which includes workshops and master classes, jazz day for children, competitions, exhibitions, concerts of world jazz stars in the city's largest halls, restaurants and other events. |
| 3-4 November | XIII Pomegranate Festival | The festival is held since 2005. Here you can find interesting national music, mugham and folklore samples, as well as local strains of pomegranates, various competitions and games. |
| 4-5 November | Persimmon Festival | At this festival in Balakan, performances of folklore collectives of a national minorities, exhibitions of cultural samples are organized, culinary products and compositions made from persimmon and exhibitions of agricultural products are demonstrated. |
| Mid December | V International Wine Festival | The festival is held in Ganja, where representatives of the leading countries in the world of wine industry are taking part in the event along with enterprises and individual entrepreneurs from the regions of Azerbaijan. |
NATIONAL SPORT EVENTS
| Date | Sport Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 08-09 February | Buta Golden Cup | Equestrian tournament (Baku) |
| 15-16 February | Memorial dedicated to the memory of A.Antipov | Athletics, jump (Baku) |
| 16-17 February | World Cup | Batut gymnastics and tumbling |
| 23-24 February | Hazi Aslanov's traditional tournament | Judo, for teenagers (Baku) |
| February 24 | Storm Capoeira Cup | Capoeira (Baku) |
| March 10 | “Baku Open” tournament | Capoeira (Baku) |
| 14-17 March | World Cup | Women's artistic gymnastics (Baku) |
| 16-17 March | “BAKU Open” tournament | National karate (Baku) |
| March | "Great Silk Road" tournament | Boxing (Baku) |
| March | International tournament | Foot tennis (Baku) |
| April 6 | Festival on the International Table Tennis Day | Table Tennis (Baku) |
| 24-25 April | Tournament among professionals (K-1) Azerbaijan-Chechnya against the world | Kickboxing (Baku) |
| 26-28 April | World Cup | Rhythmic gymnastics (Baku) |
| 26-28 April | Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix | Car sports (Bauı) |
| Aprel | “AGF Trophy” tournament | Rhythmic gymnastics (Baku) |
| April 29 | The European Tennis Tournament, dedicated to the memory of Heydar Aliyev | Tennis, for ages 14-16 (Baku) |
| May 12 | ||
| April-May | Baku “Reqby 7” Festival | Rugby (Baku) |
| 01-04 May | A tournament dedicated to Heydar Aliyev's memory | Table tennis, for teenagers (Baku) |
| 02-05 May | AWPC tournament | Powerlifting (Baku) |
| 03-05 May | World Cup | Jiu taido, for teenagers, youths, men, women (Baku) |
| 06-08 May | Traditional tournament dedicated to Heydar Aliyev's memory | Universal fight, for men and women (Baku) |
| 10-12 May | “Grand Slam” tournament | Judo (Baku) |
| 11-12 May | V Universiade dedicated to Heydar Aliyev's memory | Kyokushinkai karate and jiu taido, for students (Baku) |
| 13-14 May | International tournament | Beach volleyball (Azerbaijan) |
| 14-17 May | World Cup | Men's artistic gymnastics (Baku) |
| 15-19 May | European Championship | Aerobics gymnastics (Baku) |
| 16-19 May | European Championship | Rhythmic gymnastics (Baku) |
| 17-18 May | Heydar Aliyev Cup | Equestrian tournament; boxing, for juniors (Baku) |
| 17-19 May | Cup Race | On the determination of the location (Baku-Quba-Khachmaz) |
| 20-30 May | "Caspian Power Show" tournament | Strongmen (Baku) |
| May 29 | Europa League (final stage) | Football (Baku) |
| May | Silk Way tournament (Azerbaijan-China) | MMA (mixed Marchial arts) (Baku) |
| May | World Cup (1st stage) | Mass-wrestling (Baku) |
| 06-09 June | “Azerbaijan İnternational 2019” tournament | Badminton (Baku) |
| 17-19 June | EEVZA Championship | Beach volleyball (Azerbaijan) |
| 28-29 June | Memorial dedicated to A.Safarov's memory | Athletics (Baku) |
| June-July | Baku Open tournament | Backgammon (Baku) |
| 09-10 July | Tournament dedicated to the memory of National Hero of Azerbaijan Mubariz Ibrahimov | Juboxing Jutsu (Bilasuvar) |
| 20-28 July | XV European Youth Summer Olympic Festival | Men's and women's gymnastics, athletics, basketball, cycling, handball, swimming, judo, tennis, volleyball, wrestling (Baku) |
| July | Baku Open tournament | Footvolley (Baku) |
| July-August | The Golden Dragon tournament | Wushu (Baku) |
| 24 July - 1 August | The children's tournament dedicated to the memory of V.Hashimov | Chess (Baku) |
| July-August | EEVZA open championship | Beach volleyball (Azerbaijan) |
| 15-18 August | Turan Games | Alpagut (Gabala) |
| August | International tournament | Table tennis, for teenagers (Baku) |
| August | "Baku Open 2019" tournament | Shindo ryu and Penjak silat (Baku) |
| 06-07 September | Elite H&P Club Cup | Equestrian tournament (Baku) |
| 16-22 September | World championship | Rhythmic gymnastics (Baku) |
| 16-22 September | Autumn Cup (1st tournament) | Tennis, 18 years old (Baku) |
| 20-30 September | "BAKU-OPEN" Chess Festival | Chess (Novkhani) |
| 21-23 September | Grand Prix Azerbaijan International Tournament | Sporting (Baku) |
| 23-29 September | Autumn Cup (2nd tournament) | Tennis, 18 years old (Baku) |
| 24-29 September | "Baku Masters" tournament | Beach volleyball (Azerbaijan) |
| 25-27 September | Makkabi festival | Types of eastern combat (Baku) |
| September | "GymBala" tournament | Rhythmic gymnastics (Baku) |
| September | “Azerbaijan Open” Championship | Kickboxing (Baku) |
| September | The Caspian Cup | Motocross (Baku) |
| September-November | World Cup | Zorkhana and wrestlers (Baku) |
| 17-21 October | A tournament dedicated to the Day of Azerbaijan's Independence Restoration | Taekwando (Baku) |
| 22-27 October | World championship | Futsal (Baku) |
| October | International seminar | Aikido (Baku) |
| October | Fighting world festivals | Muay Thai (Baku) |
| October | Eurasian championship | Wushu (Baku) |
| 11-13 November | II Tournament among professionals (K-1, Lokik) | Kickboxing, for women (Baku) |
| 22-24 November | II World Championship | Alpagut (Baku) |
| 07-08 December | World Cup | Juboxing Jutsu (Baku) |
| 09-22 December | President Cup on Chovagan National Extreme | Equestrian tournament (Baku) |
| 13-15 December | International Festival | Ving Chun's Martial arts (Baku) |
| 24-27 December | 41-th World Championship Qualifiers | Go (Baku) |
| December | Abbas Agalarov's Cup 2019 | Boxing (Baku) |
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS AND CONFERENCES
| Date | Exhibition/Conference | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 14-15 February | Social-Economic Problems of Sustainable Development (conference) | https://www.esd-conference.com/conference/38 |
| 20-22 February | Caspian Realty (Exhibition) | Companies from different countries are participating in the Real Estate and Investment Fair. |
| 04-06 April | AITF 2019 (18th Travel Fair) | It is organized with the participation of numerous companies representing the tourism industry. |
| April 6 | 1st Congress of Special Needs Children | www.ferqliferqler.az |
| 15-17 April | HOREX Caucasus 2019 (exhibition) | The 13th international exhibition is dedicated to hotels, restaurants and supermarkets. |
| 16-18 April | 36th İnternational Drug Enforcement Conference | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EYjDLKFBd8 |
| 25-27 April | V European Economic Congress | At the conference organized by the universities of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Poland, issues of integration into the global economic environment are discussed. |
| 29-30 April | Young researchers conference | http://yric.az/ |
| 02 -03 May | V World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue | http://mct.gov.az/az/umumi-xeberler/forum-acilis |
| 02-03 May | Actual Problems of Modern Natural and Economic Sciences (conference) | https://gdu.edu.az/beyn%C9%99lxalq-elmi-konfrans-2/ |
| 07-08 May | X Conference on Actual Problems of Azerbaijani Studies | https://bsu-uni.edu.az/az/announce/197 |
| 15-17 May | 13th İnternational Agriculture Exhibition | www.caspianagro.az |
| 23-24 May | The Second Forum of Experts on Caucasus | http://www.science.gov.az/news/open/9667 |
| 29 May-June 1 | XXVI Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition | Each year, the exhibition brings together leading experts in the oil and gas sector, global energy companies. |
| 19-21 June | Conference dedicated to Nadir Shah Afshar | http://www.science.gov.az/news/open/10137 |
| 19-23 June | Actual problems of Azerbaijani and Turkish history in the period of globalization | http://www.science.gov.az/news/open/9975 |
| 12-14 September | 2nd İnternational Gifts and Promo Products Exhibition | www.promofair.az |
| 12-14 September | 2nd İnternational Advertising and Printing Exhibition | www.adprint.az |
| 10-12 October | 13th Education Fair | www.eduexpo.az |
| 10-12 October | 13th Career Fair | www.careerexpo.az |
| 17-18 October | Theatre traditions of Turkic people and problems of modification in modern theatre world (conference) | The conference is dedicated to the 70th anniversary of prominent director Vagif Ibrahimoglu. |
| 22-25 October | BakuBuild 2019 (exhibition) | Companies from Europe and Asia gather at this traditional International Fair. |
| 23-25 October | Modern problems of mathematics and mechanics (conference) | www.imm.az/exp/konfranslar-2/ |
| 06-07 November | 1st Medical Innovations Exhibition and Forum | www.medinex.az |
| 06-07 November | 1st Beauty Industry Exhibition | www.beautyexpo.az |
| 13-15 November | 10th Anniversary Environmental Exhibition | www.caspianecology.az |
| November 21 | Nasimi phenomenon in Islamic philosophy (conference) | www.science.gov.az/news/open/10218 |
| November | Gender equality and modern Azerbaijan (conference) | The conference covers gender equality issues. |
| 03-06 December | 25th Anniversary Telecommunications, Innovation and High Technology Exhibition and Conference | www.bakutel.az |
| December 4 | 2nd Debate Platform | www.techtalks.az |