Public holidays in Iceland in 2026 include Christian holidays, Iceland's National Day, the First Day of Summer, Labour Day and Commerce Day. Iceland also has special rules for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, which are statutory half-day holidays rather than ordinary full-day holidays.
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Next Public Holiday in Iceland
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 24, 2026 | Thursday | Christmas Eve | Confirmed – Half Day |
Public Holidays in Iceland 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year's Day | Confirmed |
| April 2, 2026 | Thursday | Maundy Thursday | Confirmed |
| April 3, 2026 | Friday | Good Friday | Confirmed |
| April 6, 2026 | Monday | Easter Monday | Confirmed |
| April 23, 2026 | Thursday | First Day of Summer | Confirmed |
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | Labour Day | Confirmed |
| May 14, 2026 | Thursday | Ascension Day | Confirmed |
| May 25, 2026 | Monday | Whit Monday | Confirmed |
| June 17, 2026 | Wednesday | National Day | Confirmed |
| August 3, 2026 | Monday | Commerce Day | Confirmed |
| December 24, 2026 | Thursday | Christmas Eve | Confirmed – Half Day |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | Confirmed |
| December 26, 2026 | Saturday | Boxing Day | Confirmed |
| December 31, 2026 | Thursday | New Year's Eve | Confirmed – Half Day |
How Public Holidays Work in Iceland
Iceland's holiday system combines Church of Iceland holy days with several secular statutory days off. The legal framework includes New Year's Day, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter, Easter Monday, Ascension Day, Pentecost, Whit Monday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day among Church holidays.
Other statutory days off include the First Day of Summer, 1 May, Iceland's National Day on 17 June and the first Monday in August. These rules are set out in Icelandic legislation, including the Act on the 40-hour Working Week and the Act concerning religious observance.
National Day in Iceland
Iceland's National Day is celebrated on 17 June each year. The date commemorates the establishment of the Republic of Iceland in 1944 and is one of the country's statutory days off.
In 2026, 17 June falls on a Wednesday. Government and financial-sector holiday calendars include the date among Iceland's official holidays.
First Day of Summer in Iceland
The First Day of Summer, known in Icelandic as Sumardagurinn fyrsti, is an official day off in Iceland. It is observed on the first Thursday after 18 April under the traditional Icelandic calendar.
In 2026, the First Day of Summer falls on Thursday, 23 April. Unlike most of Iceland's spring holidays, it is not based on the Christian Easter calendar.
Commerce Day in Iceland
Commerce Day is observed on the first Monday in August. Icelandic law has designated the first Monday in August as a day off since 1983, with pay governed according to the rules applicable to other general holidays under collective agreements.
Commerce Day falls on Monday, 3 August in 2026. Because it is always observed on a Monday, it normally creates a three-day weekend for employees who do not work on Saturdays and Sundays.
Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve Are Half-Day Holidays
Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve require special treatment in Iceland's holiday calendar. Under Icelandic working-time legislation, both become statutory days off from 13:00.
The Government of Iceland's national-holiday calendar therefore identifies 24 December and 31 December as half days rather than ordinary full-day public holidays.
This distinction is important for employers, employees and travellers because morning opening hours may differ from those on full public holidays.
Religious Holidays in Iceland
Several Icelandic public holidays follow the Christian calendar and therefore change dates from year to year. These include Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Ascension Day and Whit Monday.
Icelandic law also recognizes Easter Sunday and Pentecost Sunday as Church of Iceland holy days. Because they always fall on Sundays, they are not separately included as additional rows in the main 2026 public-holiday database used on this page.
Are Banks Closed on Public Holidays in Iceland?
Yes. The Central Bank of Iceland publishes a public-holiday calendar and lists its operations as closed on the official holiday dates in its 2026 schedule.
The Bank's 2026 calendar includes New Year's Day, the Easter holidays, the First Day of Summer, Labour Day, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, 17 June, Commerce Day and the Christmas and New Year holiday dates.
Customers should still check individual commercial banks for branch opening hours and service availability, particularly around Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
Are Shops and Businesses Open on Public Holidays in Iceland?
Opening hours can vary. Public holidays do not necessarily mean that every shop, restaurant, tourism business or service closes for the entire day.
Tourism businesses and some shops may remain open, particularly in Reykjavík and major visitor areas, while government offices, banks and many other workplaces follow holiday schedules. Christmas and New Year opening hours can be especially limited.
Long Weekends in Iceland in 2026
Several Icelandic public holidays create useful long weekends in 2026 for people whose normal weekend is Saturday and Sunday.
- Easter: Good Friday on 3 April and Easter Monday on 6 April create a four-day weekend.
- Labour Day: Friday, 1 May creates a three-day weekend from 1–3 May.
- Whit Monday: Monday, 25 May creates a three-day weekend from 23–25 May.
- Commerce Day: Monday, 3 August creates a three-day weekend from 1–3 August.
- Christmas: Christmas Day falls on Friday, 25 December, followed by Boxing Day on Saturday, 26 December.
The First Day of Summer falls on Thursday, 23 April, and Ascension Day falls on Thursday, 14 May. Taking annual leave on the following Friday could create a four-day break, but those Fridays are not official public holidays.
Does Iceland Give Substitute Holidays When a Holiday Falls on a Weekend?
Iceland does not automatically move every fixed-date public holiday to the following Monday simply because it falls on a weekend. The statutory holiday remains on its legally specified date unless another rule or collective agreement applies.
This matters in 2026 because Boxing Day falls on Saturday, 26 December. Employees should consult the collective agreement or employment rules that apply to their workplace when determining pay or compensatory time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the next public holiday in Iceland?
The next holiday changes during the year. The live VisaBoards section near the top of this page displays the next upcoming holiday from the current Iceland public holiday database.
What is Iceland's country code?
Iceland's ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code is IS.
When is National Day in Iceland in 2026?
Iceland's National Day is Wednesday, 17 June 2026. The holiday commemorates the establishment of the Republic of Iceland in 1944.
When is Easter in Iceland in 2026?
The statutory Easter-period holidays listed in the main 2026 calendar include Maundy Thursday on 2 April, Good Friday on 3 April and Easter Monday on 6 April. Easter Sunday falls on 5 April.
When is the First Day of Summer in Iceland in 2026?
The First Day of Summer falls on Thursday, 23 April 2026. It is a statutory day off under Icelandic law.
When is Commerce Day in Iceland in 2026?
Commerce Day falls on Monday, 3 August 2026. Icelandic law establishes the first Monday in August as a statutory day off.
Is Christmas Eve a public holiday in Iceland?
Christmas Eve is a statutory half-day holiday. Under Icelandic working-time legislation, the holiday period begins at 13:00 on 24 December.
Is New Year's Eve a public holiday in Iceland?
New Year's Eve is also a statutory half-day holiday, with the legislated day off beginning at 13:00 on 31 December.
Are banks closed on public holidays in Iceland?
Yes. The Central Bank of Iceland lists the official dates in its public-holiday calendar as closed days. Individual commercial-bank arrangements should be checked separately.
Are Easter Sunday and Pentecost Sunday public holidays in Iceland?
They are recognized as Church of Iceland holy days under Icelandic law. Because both always fall on Sundays, they are not separately added to the main VisaBoards database as additional weekday public-holiday dates.
Official Sources for Public Holidays in Iceland
- Central Bank of Iceland – Public Holidays in Iceland: provides the official 2026 holiday calendar used to verify the principal dates.
- Government of Iceland – Diplomatic and Consular List: provides the Government's multi-year Icelandic National Holidays table and identifies Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve as half days.
- Alþingi – Act No. 88/1971: establishes statutory days off including the First Day of Summer, 1 May, 17 June, the first Monday in August and the half-day rules for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
- Alþingi – Act No. 32/1997: identifies the Church of Iceland holy days relevant to the public-holiday system.
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