Public holidays in Finland in 2026 include church holidays established under the Church Act together with May Day and Independence Day. The national calendar includes fixed holidays such as New Year’s Day and Christmas, movable Easter-related holidays, and Saturday-based holidays such as Midsummer Day and All Saints’ Day. Midsummer Eve and Christmas Eve may be days off under collective agreements, but they are not general nationwide statutory public holidays.
On this pageTable of Content
Also Explore: Public Holiday in France
Next Public Holiday in Finland
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 31, 2026 | Saturday | All Saints’ Day | Confirmed |
Public Holidays in Finland 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day | Confirmed |
| January 6, 2026 | Tuesday | Epiphany | Confirmed |
| April 3, 2026 | Friday | Good Friday | Confirmed |
| April 5, 2026 | Sunday | Easter Sunday | Confirmed |
| April 6, 2026 | Monday | Easter Monday | Confirmed |
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | May Day | Confirmed |
| May 14, 2026 | Thursday | Ascension Day | Confirmed |
| May 24, 2026 | Sunday | Whit Sunday / Pentecost | Confirmed |
| June 20, 2026 | Saturday | Midsummer Day | Confirmed |
| October 31, 2026 | Saturday | All Saints’ Day | Confirmed |
| December 6, 2026 | Sunday | Independence Day | Confirmed |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | Confirmed |
| December 26, 2026 | Saturday | Boxing Day / Second Day of Christmas | Confirmed |
How Public Holidays Work in Finland
Finland’s public-holiday system combines church holidays established under the Church Act with national holidays established under other legislation and national practice.
Section 6 of the current Church Act, 652/2023 identifies Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, Epiphany, Good Friday, Easter Day, Easter Monday, Ascension Day, Whit Sunday, Midsummer Day and All Saints’ Day as church holidays.
The University of Helsinki Almanac Office explains that these church holidays, together with May Day and Independence Day, make up Finland’s national public holidays.
Easter Holidays in Finland in 2026
Finland observes several statutory holidays connected with the Christian Easter calendar. Because Easter moves each year, these dates must be recalculated annually.
- Good Friday: 3 April 2026
- Easter Sunday: 5 April 2026
- Easter Monday: 6 April 2026
- Ascension Day: 14 May 2026
- Whit Sunday: 24 May 2026
All five are church holidays under the Church Act. Their Gregorian calendar dates vary according to the Easter cycle.
May Day in Finland
May Day, known as Vappu, is observed on 1 May and is a national public holiday in Finland.
Finland also has specific legislation concerning May Day. The Act on arranging May Day as a day off provides that employees whose work is normally free on Sundays must receive May Day as a day off when it falls on a weekday.
The same legislation provides rules for increased remuneration when qualifying employees work on May Day.
In 2026, May Day falls on Friday, 1 May.
Midsummer Day in Finland in 2026
Midsummer Day is one of Finland’s statutory church holidays. In 2026, it falls on Saturday, 20 June.
The University of Helsinki Almanac Office confirms 20 June 2026 as Midsummer Day and the Day of the Finnish Flag.
Midsummer Day should be distinguished from Midsummer Eve. Midsummer Eve is widely treated as a day off under collective agreements, but it is not one of the general nationwide statutory public holidays listed in the Church Act.
All Saints’ Day in Finland
All Saints’ Day is a statutory church holiday and is observed on a Saturday in the autumn.
In 2026, All Saints’ Day falls on Saturday, 31 October.
Because the holiday is tied to a Saturday rather than a fixed calendar date, its date changes between years.
Independence Day in Finland
Finland celebrates Independence Day on 6 December. It is a national public holiday and an official flag day.
The University of Helsinki Almanac Office confirms Sunday, 6 December 2026 as Independence Day.
Independence Day is separate from the church-holiday framework and has its own national significance and legal treatment.
Christmas Holidays in Finland
Finland has two statutory Christmas holidays under the Church Act.
- Christmas Day: Friday, 25 December 2026.
- Boxing Day: Saturday, 26 December 2026.
Christmas Eve on 24 December is not included among the general statutory church holidays. It is nevertheless commonly treated as a paid day off under many collective agreements.
Are Midsummer Eve and Christmas Eve Public Holidays?
Not under the general national statutory holiday list. The University of Helsinki Almanac Office explains that Midsummer Eve and Christmas Eve are defined as paid public holidays in many collective agreements.
This means their employment treatment may be highly significant in practice, but they should not be classified as nationwide statutory public holidays for every employee in Finland.
The distinction is important for a national holiday database because agreement-specific days should not be presented as if they automatically apply to the entire workforce.
Are Public Holidays Paid in Finland?
Public-holiday pay in Finland depends partly on legislation and partly on the applicable collective agreement and employment terms.
May Day has specific statutory protection, while collective agreements commonly contain more detailed provisions on holiday pay, Sunday work, Midsummer Eve, Christmas Eve and other working-time arrangements.
Employers and employees should therefore check the applicable collective agreement when determining the precise pay treatment for work performed on a public holiday.
Does Finland Move Weekend Public Holidays to Monday?
Finland does not generally move every statutory holiday to Monday when it falls on Saturday or Sunday.
This is particularly relevant because several Finnish holidays are intentionally linked to weekends. Midsummer Day is observed on a Saturday, All Saints’ Day is observed on a Saturday, and Easter Sunday and Whit Sunday naturally occur on Sundays.
In 2026, Independence Day also falls on Sunday, 6 December, while Boxing Day falls on Saturday, 26 December. These dates remain the statutory holidays rather than automatically creating substitute Monday holidays.
Public Holidays and Flag Days Are Not the Same
Finland has many official and customary flag days, but a flag day is not automatically a public holiday.
For example, the University of Helsinki Almanac Office lists numerous cultural, historical and civic flag days during 2026. These should not be inserted into a public-holiday database unless they also have a separate legal status as a public holiday.
May Day, Midsummer Day and Independence Day are notable because they are both public holidays and official flag days.
Long Weekends in Finland in 2026
Several nationwide public holidays create useful extended breaks in 2026.
- Easter: Good Friday on 3 April and Easter Monday on 6 April create a four-day Easter weekend.
- May Day: Friday, 1 May creates a three-day weekend for employees with Saturday and Sunday off.
- Ascension Day: Thursday, 14 May can be combined with annual leave on Friday for a four-day break, although Friday is not itself a public holiday.
- Christmas: Christmas Day falls on Friday, 25 December, followed by Boxing Day on Saturday, 26 December.
Collective agreements may also make Midsummer Eve and Christmas Eve paid days off, but these agreement-based arrangements should be distinguished from nationwide statutory holidays.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the next public holiday in Finland?
The next public holiday changes throughout the year. The live VisaBoards section near the top of this page displays the next upcoming holiday from the Finland public-holiday database.
How many nationwide public holiday dates does Finland have in 2026?
The general Finnish public-holiday calendar contains 13 individual dates in 2026 when the 11 Church Act holidays are combined with May Day and Independence Day.
What is Finland’s country code?
Finland’s ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code is FI.
When is Easter in Finland in 2026?
Easter Sunday falls on 5 April 2026. Good Friday is 3 April and Easter Monday is 6 April.
When is Ascension Day in Finland in 2026?
Ascension Day falls on Thursday, 14 May 2026 and is a statutory church holiday.
When is Whit Sunday in Finland in 2026?
Whit Sunday, or Pentecost, falls on Sunday, 24 May 2026.
When is Midsummer Day in Finland in 2026?
Midsummer Day falls on Saturday, 20 June 2026. It is both a public holiday and an official Finnish flag day.
Is Midsummer Eve a public holiday in Finland?
Midsummer Eve is not part of the general statutory nationwide public-holiday list. However, many collective agreements define it as a paid day off.
Is Christmas Eve a public holiday in Finland?
Christmas Eve is not one of the general statutory public holidays under the Church Act. Many collective agreements nevertheless treat it as a paid day off.
Does Finland move Sunday holidays to Monday?
No general rule automatically transfers every weekend public holiday to Monday. Holidays such as Independence Day remain on their statutory calendar dates even when they fall on a weekend.
Is May Day a public holiday in Finland?
Yes. May Day on 1 May is a national public holiday. Finnish legislation also provides specific rules giving qualifying employees a day off when May Day falls on a weekday.
Are all Finnish flag days public holidays?
No. Finland has many official and customary flag days that are not public holidays. Only dates with separate public-holiday status should be included in the national holiday calendar.
Official Sources for Public Holidays in Finland
- Finlex – Church Act 652/2023: Section 6 identifies Finland’s statutory church holidays.
- University of Helsinki Almanac Office – Holidays and Flag Days: explains Finland’s church holidays, May Day, Independence Day and the treatment of Midsummer Eve and Christmas Eve.
- University of Helsinki Almanac Office – Flag Days in 2026: confirms 20 June 2026 as Midsummer Day and 6 December 2026 as Independence Day.
- Finlex – Act on May Day as a Day Off: establishes statutory rules for May Day leave and remuneration in qualifying employment.
Join the conversation
Have thoughts on this topic? Share them with others.
Ask questions, share experience, and learn from the Visaboards Community.