Evacuation Day 2026, 2027 and 2028 in Tunisia
On 15 October, Tunisia marks “Evacuation Day”, a public holiday commemorating the final evacuation of the last French forces from Bizerte, Tunisia, on 15 October, 1963.
In 2026, Evacuation Day falls on Thursday 15 October. The holiday will be on Friday 15 October in 2027.
| Year | Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15 Oct | Thu | Evacuation Day |
| 2027 | 15 Oct | Fri | Evacuation Day |
| 2028 | 15 Oct | Sun | Evacuation Day |
| Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates. | |||
Like the rest of North Africa, Tunisia came under European domination during the Colonial Era. In 1881, Tunisia fell under French control, and it did not become an independent nation until 1956. However, France retained control over the city of Bizerte due to its strategic importance along the Mediterranean Coast.
In 1961, Tunisia decided to blockade and besiege the city of Bizerte to rid it of French forces and to bring it back under their control. This triggered a military retaliation by France. Tunisia soon lost the nearby city of Menzel Bourguiba to France as well. But France’s aggressive actions earned it the condemnation of the UN Security Council, and finally, France relented and withdrew all of its troops from Tunisia on 15 October, 1963.
Today, Evacuation Day is a national holiday celebrated all over Tunisia, but the main celebration takes place in the city of Bizerte and is overseen by Tunisia’s president.
Previous Years
| Year | Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 Oct | Wed | Evacuation Day |
| 2024 | 15 Oct | Tue | Evacuation Day |