California Recognizes Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as State Holidays

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California has officially recognized Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as state holidays after Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2017 into law on September 27, 2026.  The legislation, known as the California Eid State Holiday Act, adds the two major Islamic holidays to California’s list of state holidays. The law was authored by Assemblymember Matt Haney and was approved by the governor as Chapter 571, Statutes of 2026.

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Eid al-Adha, observed on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic lunar calendar, is one of the two major Islamic festivals. Under the new law, K-12 public schools and community colleges may close for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha through locally negotiated agreements. Students observing either holiday are also entitled to an excused absence under the provisions of the law.

The legislation also allows eligible state and school employees to use existing holiday credits or leave time to observe the two Islamic holidays. However, the law does not require every private employer to close or provide a paid holiday to all workers. It also does not make the two Eids judicial holidays.

The legislation does not designate the month of Ramadan itself as a state holiday. Instead, it formally recognizes the two Eids that occur in the Islamic calendar. California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the signing of AB 2017 as part of a legislative update on September 27.