National Day 2024, 2025 and 2026 in Cyprus

National Day is observed in Cyprus on 1 April each year. This holiday is also known to some as Greek Cypriot National Day.

Year	Date	Day	Holiday
2024	1 Apr	Mon	National Day
2025	1 Apr	Tue	National Day
2026	1 Apr	Wed	National Day
Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates.

Cyprus had been under British administration since 1878 after the island was handed over in an agreement with the Ottoman Empire for British military support, if needed, against Russia.

On 1 April 1955, a guerilla organisation was established called Ethnikí Organósis Kipriakóu Agónos (EOKA), or the National Organisation of the Cypriot Struggle. It’s aim was to secure Cyprus’s independence from colonial Britain, and for union with Greece (known as enosis). The organisation was established by Archbishop Makarios III and led by General George Grivas.

In the four years following, EOKA fought against British installations in Cyprus with bombings and armed warfare. The British troops were temporarily depleted due to the Suez Crisis but, in 1957, the British Army sent in extra forces and sought out EOKA hideouts in the mountains.

During this time, Archbishop Makarios III was exiled. In 1958, he agreed to accept independence only for Cyprus, rather than union with Greece, which was becoming more difficult to attain. In February 1959, the United Kingdom, Turkey and Greece signed an agreement with Cyprus in Zurich and the EOKA guerilla forces disbanded.

The agreement declared that the State of Cyprus would become a republic with a Greek President, a Turkish Vice President, the national languages of Greece and Turkey, and its own flag. The agreement came into practical effect later in 1960.

Previous Years

Year	Date	Day	Holiday
2023	1 Apr	Sat	National Day
2022	1 Apr	Fri	National Day
2021	1 Apr	Thu	National Day
2020	1 Apr	Wed	National Day
2019	1 Apr	Mon	National Day
2018	1 Apr	Sun	National Day
2017	1 Apr	Sat	National Day