Independence Day 2026 and 2027 in Tunisia

Tunisian Independence Day is on 20 March to commemorate the day in 1956 when Tunisia left behind 75 years of French colonial rule.

Year	Date	Day	Holiday
2026	20 Mar	Fri	Independence Day
2027	20 Mar	Sat	Independence Day
Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates.

Tunisia’s strategic location in the centre of the north African coast had long made it a prized possession of empires. The Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, Ottoman Turks, and French all took their turns. The French invaded in 1881 and made Tunisia a French protectorate.

During the “occupation”, many French and Italian immigrants settled in Tunisia, but it remained overwhelmingly Arab. After World War II, Tunisia began to demand independence. In 1952, a guerrilla war broke out against the French, led by Habib Bourqeiba, who eventually became Tunisia’s first president. The war had succeeded by 1956 enough to persuade France to recognise Tunisian independence on 20 March of that year.

For Independence Day, the Tunisian government puts on a number of special luncheons where political speeches are made and the deeds and courage of the soldiers of independence are remembered. Many politicians also lay wreaths or flowers on the graves of those who gave their lives for independence.

Previous Years

Year	Date	Day	Holiday
2025	20 Mar	Thu	Independence Day
2024	20 Mar	Wed	Independence Day