Public Holidays in Montenegro 2026 – Orthodox & National Holidays
Montenegro observes a series of state, national, and religious holidays. Montenegrin law grants compensatory non-working days when a state holiday falls on a weekend, extending observance to the following working days.
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List of Montenegro’s Public Holidays in 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Remarks / Observance |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Thursday | New Year’s Day (Nova godina) | State holiday |
| January 2 | Friday | Day after New Year’s | Continuation of New Year holiday |
| January 6 | Tuesday | Orthodox Christmas Eve (Badnji dan) | Religious observance (Orthodox) |
| January 7 | Wednesday | Orthodox Christmas (Božić) | Religious holiday |
| January 8 | Thursday | Second Day of Orthodox Christmas | Continuation of Christmas observance |
| April 10 | Friday | Orthodox Good Friday | Religious observance |
| April 13 | Monday | Orthodox Easter Monday | Religious holiday after Easter |
| May 1 | Friday | Labour Day / May Day (Praznik rada) | State holiday |
| May 2 | Saturday | Labour Day – 2nd day | Additional holiday; compensatory rules apply |
| May 21 | Thursday | Independence Day (Dan nezavisnosti) | State holiday marking 2006 referendum |
| May 22 | Friday | Independence Day Holiday | Additional holiday following Independence Day |
| July 13 | Monday | Statehood Day (Dan državnosti) | State holiday |
| July 14 | Tuesday | Statehood Day Holiday | Second day of Statehood observance |
| November 13 | Friday | Njegoš Day (Njegošev dan) | State holiday honoring poet-prince Njegoš |
| November 14 | Saturday | Njegoš Day Holiday | Compensatory holiday rules apply |
List of Montenegro’s Public Holidays in 2025
| Date | Day | Holiday | Remarks / Observance |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Wednesday | New Year’s Day (Nova godina) | State holiday |
| January 2 | Thursday | Day after New Year’s | Continuation of New Year holiday |
| January 6 | Monday | Orthodox Christmas Eve (Badnji dan) | Religious observance |
| January 7 | Tuesday | Orthodox Christmas (Božić) | Religious holiday |
| January 8 | Wednesday | Second Day of Orthodox Christmas | Continuation of Christmas observance |
| April 18 | Friday | Orthodox Good Friday | Religious observance |
| April 21 | Monday | Orthodox Easter Monday | Religious holiday after Easter |
| May 1 | Thursday | Labour Day / May Day (Praznik rada) | State holiday |
| May 2 | Friday | Labour Day – 2nd day | Additional holiday |
| May 21 | Wednesday | Independence Day (Dan nezavisnosti) | State holiday |
| May 22 | Thursday | Independence Day Holiday | Additional holiday |
| July 13 | Sunday | Statehood Day (Dan državnosti) | State holiday; compensatory days apply |
| July 14 | Monday | Statehood Day Holiday | Compensatory holiday |
| July 15 | Tuesday | Statehood Day Holiday (continued) | Extended observance |
| November 13 | Thursday | Njegoš Day (Njegošev dan) | State holiday |
| November 14 | Friday | Njegoš Day Holiday | Compensatory holiday |
Notes & Observations
- Religious holidays are non-working for adherents of that religion under Montenegrin law.
- If a state holiday falls on a Sunday, the next two working days (Monday and Tuesday) are non-working; if it falls on Saturday, the next Monday is non-working.
- Several holidays (Labour Day, Independence Day, Statehood Day, Njegoš Day) include additional days of observance.
- Always check official announcements for any special one-off non-working days.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many public holidays are there in Montenegro in 2026?
Montenegro observes around 15–16 national and religious holidays in 2026 when additional observance days are included.
What is Statehood Day?
Statehood Day (13 July) commemorates Montenegro’s recognition as an independent state in 1878 and the 1941 uprising.
What happens if a holiday falls on Sunday?
If a state holiday falls on Sunday, the following Monday and Tuesday are non-working days; if it falls on Saturday, the following Monday is non-working.
Which holidays are religious?
Religious holidays include Orthodox Christmas (January 6–8), Orthodox Good Friday, and Orthodox Easter Monday, and apply to Orthodox Christian adherents.
Conclusion
Public holidays in Montenegro reflect a balance of statehood milestones and Orthodox Christian tradition. With extended observance rules for weekend holidays, these dates play a significant role in structuring work, travel, and cultural life across the country.
