Public holidays in Greece in 2026 include fixed national and religious holidays as well as Orthodox Easter Monday, whose date changes each year. Greek employment law identifies nine days as mandatory holidays for businesses covered by the general Sunday and public-holiday rules. Other dates, including Clean Monday, Good Friday and Whit Monday, may appear on government, consular or banking calendars without having the same nationwide mandatory classification for all businesses.
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Next Public Holiday in Greece
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 28, 2026 | Wednesday | Ohi Day | Confirmed |
Public Holidays in Greece 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day | Confirmed |
| January 6, 2026 | Tuesday | Epiphany | Confirmed |
| March 25, 2026 | Wednesday | Greek Independence Day | Confirmed |
| April 13, 2026 | Monday | Easter Monday | Confirmed |
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | Labour Day | Confirmed |
| August 15, 2026 | Saturday | Dormition of the Mother of God | Confirmed |
| October 28, 2026 | Wednesday | Ohi Day | Confirmed |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | Confirmed |
| December 26, 2026 | Saturday | Second Day of Christmas | Confirmed |
How Public Holidays Work in Greece
Greek labour law does not treat every commonly observed holiday as having the same legal status. Article 203 of the current codified Labour Law identifies nine mandatory holidays for businesses, establishments and work generally covered by the country's Sunday and public-holiday closure rules.
The statutory list includes New Year's Day, Epiphany, 25 March, Easter Monday, 1 May, 15 August, 28 October, Christmas Day and 26 December. The Greek Ministry of Labour and Social Security publishes the general rules governing these holidays.
The law also allows additional mandatory or optional holidays to be designated by ministerial decision. Local holidays may be established at regional level, so a local observance should not automatically be treated as a nationwide public holiday.
Greek Orthodox Easter Holidays in 2026
Orthodox Easter is an important part of the Greek holiday calendar. In 2026, Orthodox Easter Sunday falls on 12 April and Easter Monday falls on 13 April. Easter Monday is one of Greece's statutory mandatory holidays.
Good Friday falls on 10 April 2026. Although Good Friday appears on official Greek government and banking holiday calendars, it is not one of the nine mandatory nationwide holidays listed in Article 203 for all businesses. Greek labour legislation nevertheless contains specific restrictions concerning shop operation on Good Friday.
Clean Monday and Whit Monday in Greece
Clean Monday falls on 23 February 2026 and Whit Monday falls on 1 June 2026. Both are widely recognised religious dates and appear on official Greek calendars, including the 2026 calendar published by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
They should not, however, be automatically classified with the nine generally mandatory holidays established under Article 203. Their practical effect can depend on the employer, sector, collective arrangements or the specific institution concerned.
Bank Holidays in Greece in 2026
Banking calendars in Greece do not always match the general statutory holiday list used for private-sector employment.
The Bank of Greece 2026 holiday calendar includes Clean Monday on 23 February, Good Friday on 10 April and Whit Monday on 1 June alongside several statutory holidays.
This distinction matters when planning bank transactions. A date shown as a Bank of Greece holiday should not automatically be interpreted as an additional nationwide mandatory holiday for every Greek employer.
Greek Independence Day and Ohi Day
Greek Independence Day
Greek Independence Day is observed on 25 March. It is a nationwide mandatory holiday under Greek labour law and also coincides with the religious Feast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos.
Ohi Day
Ohi Day is observed on 28 October and commemorates Greece's rejection of the Italian ultimatum in 1940. The current statutory holiday framework includes 28 October among Greece's mandatory holidays.
Are Employees Paid on Public Holidays in Greece?
Greek labour rules generally prohibit employment on statutory public holidays for businesses covered by the Sunday and holiday closure provisions, although legal exceptions apply to certain industries and categories of work.
Employees who legally work on Sundays or statutory holidays are entitled to additional holiday remuneration under Greek employment legislation. The Greek Ministry of Labour states that qualifying work on these days attracts an additional payment calculated at 75% under the applicable statutory rules.
Specific payroll treatment can depend on whether an employee is paid monthly or by daily wage and on whether the business is normally permitted to operate on public holidays.
Can Greece Declare Additional Public Holidays?
Yes. Greek labour legislation permits the Minister of Labour and Social Security, following the prescribed procedure, to designate additional mandatory or optional holidays. The legislation allows up to five additional holidays per year at national level.
Local holidays may also be designated by the competent regional authorities. This is why local or regional observances should be kept separate from the nationwide public-holiday database unless an authoritative decision confirms broader applicability.
Long Weekends in Greece in 2026
Several 2026 holidays create useful long-weekend opportunities without requiring an assumed substitute holiday.
- Easter weekend: Easter Monday falls on Monday, 13 April, extending the Orthodox Easter weekend.
- Labour Day: 1 May falls on a Friday, creating a three-day weekend for people who normally have Saturday and Sunday off.
- Christmas: Christmas Day falls on Friday, 25 December. The statutory Second Day of Christmas falls on Saturday, 26 December.
New Year's Day falls on Thursday, 1 January 2026. Employees who independently use annual leave on Friday, 2 January may be able to create a longer break, but that Friday should not be treated as an official public holiday unless separately declared.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the next public holiday in Greece?
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 Greece public-holiday database.
How many mandatory public holidays does Greece have?
The current Greek Labour Code lists nine mandatory holiday dates applicable generally to businesses covered by the country's Sunday and public-holiday rules. Separate bank, local, sector-specific and other observances should not be added to that total automatically.
What is Greece's country code?
Greece's ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code is GR.
When is Greek Easter in 2026?
Orthodox Easter Sunday falls on 12 April 2026, while Easter Monday falls on 13 April 2026. Easter Monday is a mandatory public holiday under Greek labour law.
Is Good Friday a mandatory public holiday for every business in Greece?
No. Good Friday is officially observed in several Greek government and banking calendars, but it is not included among the nine mandatory holidays listed in Article 203 for all businesses. Separate legal restrictions apply to shop operation on Good Friday.
Is Clean Monday a nationwide mandatory holiday in Greece?
Clean Monday is widely observed and appears on official Greek calendars, including banking calendars, but it is not one of the nine generally mandatory holidays listed under Article 203.
Is Whit Monday a public holiday in Greece?
Whit Monday is officially observed by a number of institutions and appears on the Bank of Greece holiday calendar. It is not part of the nine-date general mandatory holiday list under Article 203.
Are banks closed on every Greek public holiday?
Bank closures follow a banking calendar that can differ from the general mandatory holiday schedule. The Bank of Greece publishes its own annual list of observed holidays.
Can local areas in Greece have additional holidays?
Yes. Greek law allows local holidays to be designated through the competent regional authorities. A local holiday should therefore not be classified as nationwide unless the relevant legal decision gives it national application.
Do employees receive extra pay for working on a public holiday in Greece?
Employees who legally work on Sundays and statutory holidays may be entitled to additional remuneration. Greek Ministry of Labour guidance provides for a 75% statutory holiday supplement, with the precise calculation depending on the employee's pay arrangement and employment circumstances.
Official Sources for Public Holidays in Greece
- Hellenic Labour Inspectorate – Codified Labour Law: Article 203 identifies the statutory mandatory holidays.
- Greek Ministry of Labour and Social Security – Working Time Rules: explains mandatory holidays and employment rules for work performed on holidays.
- Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Public Holidays 2026: confirms the 2026 calendar, including Orthodox Easter dates and other officially observed Greek holidays.
- Bank of Greece – Holidays to Be Observed During 2026: confirms the separate banking holiday calendar for 2026.
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