SeasonMapWhat's on in Kabul, Afghanistan through the year
Kabul, Afghanistan has 5 curated events through the year — 2 holidays, 1 hazard season, 1 closure and 1 local rule. The ones to plan around: Standing travel advisory (January) and Salang route closures (January). March is its peak-crowd month.
Updated September 2026 · every event curated and sourced · dates for 2026 where they are announced, the usual window where they are not
Kabul events and crowds by month
| Month | What starts | Crowds |
|---|---|---|
| January | Standing travel advisory, Salang route closures, Ramadan | Quiet |
| February | — | Busy |
| March | Eid al-Fitr | Peak crowds |
| April | — | Shoulder season |
| May | — | Busy |
| June | — | Shoulder season |
| July | — | Shoulder season |
| August | — | Shoulder season |
| September | — | Busy |
| October | — | Busy |
| November | — | Shoulder season |
| December | Winter cold and smoke | Quiet |
January in Kabul
Kabul weather in January →Quiet — school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather
- Rule
Standing travel advisory
1 Jan – 31 DecRiskMost foreign governments advise against all travel and have no embassy left here to help if something goes wrong. Visas are issued abroad, movement is watched, and anyone who comes does it through local fixers. Source ↗
- Closure
Salang route closures
1 Jan – 15 Mar · usuallyRiskThe tunnel and the approaches carry everything moving north, and snow and avalanche shut them for days at a time. The worst years have killed people queueing in the traffic rather than travelling in it. Source ↗
- Holiday
Ramadan
18 Feb – 19 MarClosuresThe fast is enforced in public and daytime eating places are shut. Working hours shorten, the bazaars move to after sunset, and nothing official happens in the middle of the day. Source ↗
Still on: Winter cold and smoke (1 Dec – 28 Feb)
February in Kabul
Kabul weather in February →Busy — Ramadan, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it
Nothing new starts in February.
Still on: Standing travel advisory (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Salang route closures (1 Jan – 15 Mar (usually)), Ramadan (18 Feb – 19 Mar), Winter cold and smoke (1 Dec – 28 Feb)
March in Kabul
Kabul weather in March →Peak crowds — Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr
- Holiday
Eid al-Fitr
20–23 MarRamadan & EidClosuresSeveral days of public holiday at the end of the fast. Offices and money changers close, the roads out to the provinces fill with people going home, and the mornings are the quietest the city gets. Source ↗
Still on: Standing travel advisory (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Salang route closures (1 Jan – 15 Mar (usually)), Ramadan (18 Feb – 19 Mar)
April in Kabul
Kabul weather in April →Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in April.
Still on: Standing travel advisory (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Eid al-Fitr (20–23 Mar)
May in Kabul
Kabul weather in May →Busy — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather
Nothing new starts in May.
Still on: Standing travel advisory (1 Jan – 31 Dec)
June in Kabul
Kabul weather in June →Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in June.
Still on: Standing travel advisory (1 Jan – 31 Dec)
July in Kabul
Kabul weather in July →Shoulder season — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in July.
Still on: Standing travel advisory (1 Jan – 31 Dec)
August in Kabul
Kabul weather in August →Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in August.
Still on: Standing travel advisory (1 Jan – 31 Dec)
September in Kabul
Kabul weather in September →Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather
Nothing new starts in September.
Still on: Standing travel advisory (1 Jan – 31 Dec)
October in Kabul
Kabul weather in October →Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather
Nothing new starts in October.
Still on: Standing travel advisory (1 Jan – 31 Dec)
November in Kabul
Kabul weather in November →Shoulder season — an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in November.
Still on: Standing travel advisory (1 Jan – 31 Dec)
December in Kabul
Kabul weather in December →Quiet — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather
- Hazard
Winter cold and smoke
1 Dec – 28 FebExtreme coldWinters are severe by South Asian standards and the city heats itself with whatever will burn, so the cold and the air arrive together. Power is intermittent and the hillside districts get the worst of both. Source ↗
Still on: Standing travel advisory (1 Jan – 31 Dec)