When Is the Judicial Vacation? 2026 Start and End Dates

With the approach of the summer months, one of the most frequently asked questions by both legal professionals and individuals with ongoing lawsuits, execution proceedings, or pending legal deadlines is when is the judicial recess question. The judicial recess is a special period during which courts scale back their routine operations, while certain lawsuits and proceedings continue uninterrupted. In this article, we examine the start and end dates of the judicial recess, proceedings conducted during the recess, how deadlines are affected, and frequently encountered issues along with their legal basis.

What is Judicial Vacation?

The judicial recess is a practice established to provide annual leave for judges, prosecutors, and court personnel, and to alleviate the workload of courthouses during a specific period. This period was formerly referred to as “judicial adjournment.” The primary legal basis for the judicial recess is Articles 102 through 104 of the Code of Civil Procedure (HMK) No. 6100 for civil proceedings, and Article 331 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CMK) No. 5271 for criminal proceedings.

The judicial recess does not mean the complete shutdown of the judiciary. To prevent the loss of rights and ensure that urgent matters are not disrupted, the legislature provided for certain lawsuits and proceedings to continue during this period, designated duty courts, and suspended many legal deadlines. Therefore, the judicial recess is better understood not as “a period when courthouses are completely closed,” but rather as “a period when judicial operations are restricted and deadlines are largely tolled.”

When Does Judicial Vacation Begin?

The scheduling of when the judicial recess begins is explicitly regulated by law. According to Article 102 of the HMK, the judicial recess begins every year on July 20’da begins. This date is fixed and enters into force on the same day of the year without the need for a special decision.

To concretize for the year 2026, the judicial vacation will begin on Monday, July 20, 2026. Following this, except for lawsuits and matters deemed as exceptions by law, no new hearings are held by the courts and the periods subject to the judicial vacation do not run. It is beneficial for attorneys, clients, and everyone involved in legal proceedings to mark these starting dates on their calendars, as time calculations may vary based on this date.

When Does Judicial Vacation End?

When does the judicial vacation end is also answered in Article 102 of the HMK. The judicial vacation every year on August 31’ta concludes and the new judicial year on September 1’de begins.

In 2026, the judicial vacation will end on Monday, August 31, 2026, and the new judicial year will begin on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Accordingly, the judicial vacation covers a period of approximately six weeks (43 days). With the end of the judicial vacation, the courts return to their normal operating order, hearings resume from where they left off, and statutory deadlines start running again due to the end of the judicial vacation.

In summary, the judicial vacation schedule is the same every year: between July 20 and August 31 is the judicial vacation, and September 1 is the beginning of the new judicial year.

Are Courts Closed During Judicial Vacation?

A common misconception is that all courthouses are closed during the judicial vacation. However, are the courts closed during the judicial recess? The answer is a definitive "no". Courthouses do not physically close; the buildings remain open, registry operations are carried out, and duty courts continue to function.

Duty courts are designated in every courthouse during the judicial recess. These assigned courts handle lawsuits and matters that are deemed urgent by law and must be heard during the judicial recess. For instance, matters where delay could be prejudicial, such as filings, preliminary injunctions, preliminary attachments, and the preservation of evidence, can still be adjudicated during this period. Therefore, instead of saying "the courts are closed," it is more accurate to state that "the courts operate in a manner restricted only to the matters specified by law."

Chief public prosecutor's offices, on the other hand, are not subject to the judicial recess. Prosecutor investigations continue uninterrupted during the summer period, just as they do throughout the entire year.

Cases Heard During Judicial Vacation (Matters Handled During Judicial Vacation)

Lawsuits to be heard during the judicial recess and operational status during the judicial recess , are exhaustively listed in Article 103 of the HMK. As seen in this list, the lawsuits and matters set forth in this article are, as a rule, not heard during the judicial recess, and procedural deadlines are suspended. The comprehensive lawsuits and proceedings that can be heard during the judicial recess, as excepted under Article 103 of the HMK, are as follows:

Decisions regarding requests for provisional legal remedies such as preliminary injunctions, preliminary attachments, and the determination of evidence; the collection of maritime reports, the appointment of dispatchers, and objections and applications to be made against them.
All types of alimony lawsuits, as well as lawsuits and proceedings concerning filiation, custody, and guardianship.
Proceedings and lawsuits regarding the correction of civil registry records.
Lawsuits brought arising from service contracts or employment agreements.
Proceedings concerning the issuance of a lost document certificate due to the loss of commercial books and cancellation proceedings arising from the loss of negotiable instruments.
Legal proceedings and lawsuits concerning bankruptcy, concordat, and the restructuring of capital companies and cooperatives through settlement.
Proceedings and actions ordered to be conducted during the judicial recess.
Lawsuits and matters falling within the jurisdiction of the court pursuant to arbitration proceedings.
Non-contentious proceedings.
Lawsuits and matters specified by law as applicable or deemed urgent by the court upon the request of one of the parties.

Even in these lawsuits, if the parties do not agree on separation or if the trial is held in the absence of one party, it is possible for the proceedings to be conducted after the judicial recess upon the request of the present party. Basic logic of the network scheme: matters that may lead to the explosion of delays or other damages, ensure the protection of the family and disintegration, or must be heard promptly as required, are not suspended; the remaining separations are postponed to the new judicial term.

Can a Lawsuit Be Filed During Judicial Vacation?

One of the most frequently asked questions in practice is also whether to file a lawsuit during the judicial recess question. The situation is as follows: it is legally possible to file a lawsuit during the judicial recess period. There is no obstacle to the submission of the petition to the court; the required amounts, fees, and expenses are deposited, and the case file is opened.

However, there is an important distinction here. If the filed lawsuit is not one of the urgent and exceptional matters enumerated in Article 103 of the HMK, although the petition is accepted, substantive review and hearings are generally postponed until after the expiration of the judicial recess. Conversely, if the lawsuit involves an urgent protective measure request, such as a preliminary injunction, the duty court may evaluate this request even during the judicial recess.

As a cautionary note: if the limitation period for filing a lawsuit (statute of limitations or forfeiture period) expires during the judicial recess, filing the lawsuit without waiting for the last day of the period is the safest approach. Although there are exceptional extension rules regarding time limits, acting early is always better to eliminate the risk of loss of rights.

Do Enforcement Offices Operate During Judicial Vacation?

Do enforcement offices operate during the judicial recess? question closely concerns creditors and debtors. Unlike regular courts, enforcement and bankruptcy offices are not subject to the judicial recess and continue to operate during the summer period. In other words, enforcement proceedings can be initiated, payment orders can be sent, attachment procedures can be carried out, and sale procedures can be executed.

As a rule, deadlines regarding enforcement proceedings are not affected by the judicial recess; these deadlines continue to run. Therefore, the common notion that “the courthouse has gone on summer recess, so my enforcement proceedings have also stopped” is inaccurate. Failing to keep track of critical deadlines related to your enforcement file, such as the objection period, payment period, or complaint period, during the judicial recess can prevent serious losses of rights.

However, enforcement courts handling disputes arising from enforcement law (for instance, lawsuits reviewing objections to enforcement proceedings or the annulment of tenders) possess the character of a court and are subject to the judicial recess decision regarding non-urgent matters. In other words, while enforcement offices continue their operations, hearings for certain lawsuits in enforcement courts may take place after the judicial recess. This subtle distinction must certainly be evaluated for the specific case with a lawyer.

What Happens to Deadlines During the Judicial Recess?

One of the most critical effects of the judicial recess pertains to deadlines. According to Article 104 of the HMK, in lawsuits and proceedings subject to the judicial recess, if the statutory deadline for actions coincides with the recess period, these deadlines are considered extended by one week starting from the day the judicial recess ends, without the need for a separate decision.

To illustrate this situation with an example: if the final day of a legal remedy such as an appeal, regional appellate review (istinaf), or objection falls between July 20 and August 31, i.e., during the judicial recess, the deadline is automatically extended. Specifically for the year 2026, a deadline whose final day coincides with the judicial recess is deemed extended by one week from August 31, 2026—when the recess ends—meaning until September 7, 2026. You do not need to file a separate petition or make a request to the court for this extension; the extension occurs automatically by operation of law.

The point to be careful about is this: if the final day of the deadline falls after the judicial recess (for example, on September 5), the additional one-week extension does not apply. The extension is only available for deadlines whose final day coincides with the recess. Since deadline calculations may vary depending on the file type, branch of judiciary (civil, criminal, administrative judiciary), and the applicable procedural law, consulting an expert on critical dates is the correct approach.

Judicial Recess in Criminal Cases

Judicial recess in criminal proceedings is regulated in Article 331 of the CMK. Accordingly, judicial authorities and courts handling criminal matters also suspend work between July 20 and August 31. However, investigation procedures, prosecutions concerning detention matters, and other urgent issues are conducted during this period. Cases involving detained suspects, custody, and other matters directly related to personal liberty are affected by the judicial recess. The Council of Judges and Prosecutors determines how these matters will be carried out in a manner that prevents suspension.

Judicial Recess in Administrative Proceedings

The judicial recess covers not only civil and criminal proceedings, but also administrative proceedings. Pursuant to Article 61 of the Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577 (İYUK), regional administrative directorates, administrative courts, and tax courts also suspend their work every year from July 20 to August 31. Accordingly, the judicial recess provisions also apply to administrative disputes such as annulment actions, full remedy actions, or tax lawsuits.

There is an important exception to keep in mind in administrative judiciary: regional administrative courts and courts outside the central jurisdiction where there is only a single administrative or tax court in that location continue to work without interruption during the judicial recess. Furthermore, pursuant to the İYUK, if the final day to file a lawsuit or apply for a legal remedy falls within the judicial recess, this period is calculated starting from seven days following the day the recess ends. Since deadlines in administrative proceedings are often forfeiture periods (hak düşürücü süre), it is particularly important to apply this extension rule correctly.

What Attorneys and Parties Must Consider During the Judicial Recess

The judicial recess period requires planned action for anyone with legal matters. First, it is necessary to determine which branch of judiciary your file belongs to and the applicable procedural law, because different rules apply regarding the extension of deadlines and procedures in civil, criminal, and administrative judiciary. Second, determining from the outset whether the file will be considered "urgent" is critical from the standpoint that deadlines will not be suspended during the recess. Finally, when a forfeiture period is set to expire right during the recess period, completing the procedure early rather than relying on the automatic extension rule is a safe method. Therefore, reviewing all critical files before the summer recess largely prevents potential losses of rights.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Judicial Recess

Is there a suspension during the judicial recess? As a rule, no; however, duty courts (nöbetçi mahkemeler) can hold hearings in urgent lawsuits and matters listed under Article 103 of the HMK.

Can service of process be made during the judicial recess? Service of process can be made; however, if the last day of the periods tied to the service falls within the judicial recess, the period is extended as explained above.

Are divorce cases heard during the judicial recess? Uncontested divorce cases can be heard upon a request for approval; whereas matters concerning alimony, custody, and guardianship are among the proceedings handled during the judicial recess by law.

Can I initiate enforcement proceedings during the judicial recess? Yes. Once the enforcement offices resume their operations, it is possible to initiate new proceedings.

Conclusion

When the judicial recess takes place is briefly as follows: it begins every year on July 20, ends on August 31, and the new judicial year starts on September 1. However, behind this simple calendar lie many subtle details ranging from the scope of operations to the extension of deadlines, from the ability to file lawsuits to the continuation of enforcement proceedings. Misunderstanding these details may lead to irreversible loss of rights and remedies.

If you have an ongoing lawsuit, an enforcement file, or an upcoming legal deadline, it is advisable to evaluate with an attorney how the judicial recess will affect these matters based on your specific case. The purpose of this article is general information and does not constitute formal legal advice; professional support should be obtained to determine the appropriate steps for your individual situation. You can review the statutory provisions regulating the judicial recess periods via Legislation Information System‘s. For further information, you can contact our office via contact you may.

Prepared by Atty. Batın Yılmaz