Public holidays in Moldova in 2026 include fixed national holidays, two Christmas observances and several holidays linked to the Orthodox Easter calendar. Moldova's Labour Code defines the nationwide non-working holidays, while the exact Easter-related dates must be identified for each calendar year.
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Next Public Holiday in Moldova
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | Confirmed |
Public Holidays in Moldova 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day | Confirmed |
| January 7, 2026 | Wednesday | Orthodox Christmas Day | Confirmed |
| January 8, 2026 | Thursday | Orthodox Christmas Holiday | Confirmed |
| March 8, 2026 | Sunday | International Women’s Day | Confirmed |
| April 12, 2026 | Sunday | Easter Sunday | Confirmed |
| April 13, 2026 | Monday | Easter Monday | Confirmed |
| April 20, 2026 | Monday | Memorial Easter (Paștele Blajinilor) | Confirmed |
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | International Workers’ Solidarity Day | Confirmed |
| May 9, 2026 | Saturday | Victory Day and Commemoration of Fallen Heroes / Europe Day | Confirmed |
| June 1, 2026 | Monday | International Children’s Day | Confirmed |
| August 27, 2026 | Thursday | Independence Day | Confirmed |
| August 31, 2026 | Monday | Romanian Language Day | Confirmed |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | Confirmed |
How Public Holidays Are Defined in Moldova
Article 111 of Moldova's Labour Code establishes the country's statutory non-working public holidays. The list includes fixed-date national and social holidays as well as Easter, Easter Monday and Memorial Easter, whose dates depend on the church calendar.
The Labour Code also recognizes the patron-saint day of the church in an individual municipality, town, commune or village when declared according to the applicable local procedure. Because this Hram holiday is locality-specific rather than nationwide, it is not included in the main Moldova public-holiday dataset.
Christmas Public Holidays in Moldova
Moldova recognizes Christmas under both the old-style and new-style calendars. January 7 and January 8 are statutory non-working holidays for the Nativity of Jesus Christ according to the old-style calendar, while December 25 is also a statutory Christmas public holiday.
This means Moldova has three individual nationwide Christmas-related non-working dates in 2026: January 7, January 8 and December 25.
Easter Holidays in Moldova in 2026
Moldova's Labour Code makes both the first and second days of Easter non-working public holidays according to the church calendar. In 2026, Easter falls on Sunday, April 12, followed by Easter Monday on April 13.
Official Moldovan government tourism material identifies the 2026 Easter period as running from Easter on April 12 through Memorial Easter on April 20. Moldovan diplomatic missions also confirmed April 13 and April 20 as non-working public holidays under Article 111 of the Labour Code.
Memorial Easter – Paștele Blajinilor
Paștele Blajinilor, commonly described in English as Memorial Easter, is observed on the Monday one week after Easter. It is expressly included among Moldova's statutory non-working holidays.
In 2026, Paștele Blajinilor falls on Monday, April 20.
May 9 in Moldova
May 9 has two statutory designations in Moldova's Labour Code. The law recognizes the Day of Victory and Commemoration of the Heroes Fallen for the Independence of the Motherland and also Europe Day on the same calendar date.
Because both observances fall on May 9, they represent one nationwide non-working calendar date rather than two separate holiday dates in the VisaBoards database.
International Children's Day
June 1 is International Children's Day and is now a statutory non-working public holiday in Moldova. The holiday was added to Article 111 of the Labour Code through Law No. 170/2023.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection specifically confirmed that Monday, June 1, 2026 is a non-working public holiday.
Independence Day and Romanian Language Day
Two important national holidays are observed at the end of August. Independence Day is a statutory non-working holiday on August 27, while Romanian Language Day is observed on August 31.
In 2026, Independence Day falls on Thursday, August 27, and Romanian Language Day falls on Monday, August 31.
Do Weekend Public Holidays Move to Another Day in Moldova?
The Labour Code lists the statutory non-working holidays but does not establish an automatic rule in Article 111 that every holiday falling on Saturday or Sunday is moved to the following Monday.
Public authorities or employers may make separate arrangements concerning working and rest days where legally permitted. Such arrangements should not be treated as nationwide substitute public holidays unless an applicable official decision specifically declares them.
This distinction matters in 2026 because International Women's Day falls on Sunday, March 8 and May 9 falls on Saturday. The statutory holiday dates themselves remain March 8 and May 9 in the nationwide holiday dataset.
Are Public Holidays Paid in Moldova?
Moldova's Labour Code contains specific payment rules for statutory non-working holidays. For employees paid by piecework or by units of time such as hourly or daily pay, the Code provides average salary for listed non-working holidays when those holidays do not coincide with weekly rest days.
The Labour Code also regulates work that may be performed on public holidays. Certain continuous operations, services required by the population and urgent repair or loading and unloading work may continue on statutory non-working days.
Long Weekends in Moldova in 2026
Several statutory holidays create or contribute to extended breaks for people who normally work Monday to Friday.
- Easter: Easter Sunday on April 12 is followed by the statutory Easter Monday holiday on April 13.
- Memorial Easter: Monday, April 20 follows the normal weekend.
- May Day: Friday, May 1 creates a three-day weekend for a standard Monday-to-Friday schedule.
- International Children's Day: Monday, June 1 creates a three-day weekend.
- Romanian Language Day: Monday, August 31 follows the weekend.
- Christmas Day: Friday, December 25 creates a three-day weekend.
These examples assume a standard Saturday-Sunday weekly rest pattern. Individual employment schedules may differ.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nationwide public holiday dates are there in Moldova in 2026?
There are 13 nationwide statutory non-working public-holiday dates in Moldova in 2026. This count treats May 9 as one calendar date even though the Labour Code gives it two official commemorative designations.
What is the next public holiday in Moldova?
The next public holiday changes throughout the year. The live Next Public Holiday section near the top of this page displays the upcoming Moldova holiday from the VisaBoards public-holiday database.
When is Orthodox Christmas in Moldova in 2026?
Old-style Orthodox Christmas is observed with statutory non-working holidays on January 7 and January 8, 2026.
Is December 25 a public holiday in Moldova?
Yes. December 25, the Nativity of Jesus Christ according to the new-style calendar, is a statutory non-working public holiday under Moldova's Labour Code.
When is Easter in Moldova in 2026?
Easter Sunday falls on April 12, 2026. Easter Monday, April 13, is also a statutory non-working public holiday.
When is Paștele Blajinilor in Moldova in 2026?
Paștele Blajinilor, or Memorial Easter, falls on Monday, April 20, 2026 and is a statutory non-working public holiday.
Is May 9 one or two public holidays in Moldova?
The Labour Code recognizes two observances on May 9: Victory Day and the Commemoration of Fallen Heroes, and Europe Day. Because both fall on the same date, they count as one public-holiday date in the 2026 calendar.
Is June 1 a public holiday in Moldova?
Yes. International Children's Day on June 1 is a statutory non-working public holiday. The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection specifically confirmed June 1, 2026 as a non-working day.
Does Moldova automatically move weekend public holidays to Monday?
An automatic Monday substitution should not be assumed for every weekend holiday. The statutory date remains the date specified by the Labour Code unless an applicable official decision establishes a separate work-and-rest arrangement.
Are local Hram celebrations nationwide public holidays?
No. The Labour Code permits a church patron-saint day to be declared for an individual locality, but this is a local holiday rather than a single nationwide public holiday applying across Moldova.
Official Sources for Public Holidays in Moldova
- Republic of Moldova Labour Code – Article 111 — establishes Moldova's statutory non-working holidays, including the Easter holidays, June 1 and the locality-specific Hram provision.
- National Tourism Office of Moldova – Easter 2026 — confirms Easter on April 12 and the 2026 Easter period through Paștele Blajinilor on April 20.
- Embassy of Moldova in Hungary – Easter Holiday Notice — confirms April 13 and April 20, 2026 as non-working public holidays.
- Ministry of Labour and Social Protection – International Children's Day 2026 — confirms June 1, 2026 as a statutory non-working public holiday.
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