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Public Holidays in Norway 2026 – National & Christian Holidays

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Public Holidays in Norway 2026 – National & Christian Holidays

Norway’s public holidays in 2026 include statutory Christian holidays, New Year’s Day, Labour Day, Constitution Day and the Christmas holidays. Most are governed by Norway’s Act relating to public holidays and public-holiday peace, while 1 May and 17 May are regulated separately as national high days. The 2026 calendar includes 12 nationwide holiday dates when Easter Sunday and Whit Sunday are counted as individual statutory holiday dates.

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Next Public Holiday in Norway

DateDayHolidayStatus
December 25, 2026FridayChristmas DayConfirmed

Public Holidays in Norway 2026

DateDayHolidayStatus
January 1, 2026ThursdayNew Year’s DayConfirmed
April 2, 2026ThursdayMaundy ThursdayConfirmed
April 3, 2026FridayGood FridayConfirmed
April 5, 2026SundayEaster SundayConfirmed
April 6, 2026MondayEaster MondayConfirmed
May 1, 2026FridayLabour DayConfirmed
May 14, 2026ThursdayAscension DayConfirmed
May 17, 2026SundayConstitution DayConfirmed
May 24, 2026SundayWhit Sunday / PentecostConfirmed
May 25, 2026MondayWhit MondayConfirmed
December 25, 2026FridayChristmas DayConfirmed
December 26, 2026SaturdaySecond Day of ChristmasConfirmed

How Public Holidays Work in Norway

Norway’s principal legislation is the Act relating to public holidays and public-holiday peace, commonly known as Helligdagsfredloven. Section 2 defines ordinary Sundays as public holidays and specifically recognizes New Year’s Day, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, Ascension Day, Whit Sunday, Whit Monday, Christmas Day and Second Day of Christmas.

Labour Day on 1 May and Constitution Day on 17 May have a separate legal basis. Under the Act relating to 1 and 17 May as national high days, both dates are treated on substantially the same basis as Sundays.

This distinction explains why Norway’s national holiday schedule combines dates established under two separate statutes rather than one annual government proclamation.

Easter Public Holidays in Norway in 2026

Norway has four statutory Easter public holiday dates in 2026: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.

Maundy Thursday falls on April 2, Good Friday on April 3, Easter Sunday on April 5 and Easter Monday on April 6. The dates of these holidays move each year because they are calculated in relation to Easter Sunday.

Norway’s Public Holidays Act expressly recognizes Easter Sunday itself as a public holiday. It should therefore remain an individual date in a nationwide holiday database even though it always falls on a Sunday.

Labour Day on 1 May

Labour Day is observed nationwide on Friday, May 1, 2026. It is one of two national high days governed by the separate Act relating to 1 and 17 May.

The law provides special protections concerning time off and pay on 1 May. Because the holiday falls on a Friday in 2026, it also creates a three-day weekend for employees who normally have Saturday and Sunday off.

Constitution Day on 17 May

Norway’s Constitution Day falls on Sunday, May 17, 2026. The date remains the official national high day even though it falls on a Sunday.

Norwegian law does not create an automatic Monday substitute simply because 17 May falls on a Sunday. The national holiday therefore remains May 17 in the 2026 public holiday schedule.

Constitution Day is legally governed together with 1 May under the Act relating to 1 and 17 May, rather than under the general Public Holidays Act.

Ascension Day and Pentecost in 2026

Ascension Day falls on Thursday, May 14, 2026. It is defined by Norwegian law as the sixth Thursday after Easter Sunday.

Whit Sunday, also known as Pentecost Sunday, falls on May 24, followed by Whit Monday on May 25. Both dates are statutory public holidays under Norway’s Public Holidays Act.

Whit Monday creates a three-day weekend for many employees because it falls immediately after the ordinary Saturday-Sunday weekend.

Christmas Public Holidays in Norway

Christmas Day is observed on Friday, December 25, 2026. Second Day of Christmas follows on Saturday, December 26. Both dates are statutory public holidays.

Christmas Eve on December 24 is culturally important and many workplaces may close early or operate reduced hours, but it is not a separate full nationwide public holiday under Section 2 of the Public Holidays Act.

New Year’s Eve on December 31 is likewise not a separate statutory nationwide public holiday. New Year’s Day on January 1 is the statutory holiday.

Does Norway Give Substitute Public Holidays?

Norway does not generally move a statutory public holiday to the following Monday simply because the holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday.

This is especially relevant in 2026 because Constitution Day falls on Sunday, May 17 and Second Day of Christmas falls on Saturday, December 26. The statutory dates remain May 17 and December 26 rather than creating additional Monday public holidays.

Individual employers, collective agreements or workplace arrangements may provide additional time off, but such arrangements should not be added to the nationwide statutory public holiday calendar unless they have a national legal basis.

Long Weekends in Norway in 2026

Several public holidays provide extended breaks in 2026 without requiring an official substitute day.

  • Labour Day falls on Friday, May 1, creating a three-day weekend for many Monday-to-Friday workers.
  • Whit Monday falls on May 25 and combines with Saturday and Sunday to create a three-day weekend.
  • Christmas Day falls on Friday, December 25, providing another three-day calendar break for many workers.

Easter provides a longer holiday period. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday occur immediately before Easter weekend, while Easter Monday follows it, producing a five-day sequence from Thursday, April 2 through Monday, April 6 in which Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday are statutory holidays.

Ascension Day falls on Thursday, May 14. Taking annual leave on Friday may create a four-day personal break, but Friday, May 15 is not an official public holiday and should not be presented as one.

Are Employees Paid for Public Holidays in Norway?

Norwegian pay rules vary depending on the particular holiday, employment contract and applicable collective agreement. There is no single general rule giving every employee the same statutory holiday supplement for all public holidays.

Special statutory rules apply to 1 May and 17 May. Workers who satisfy the legal employment conditions are entitled to full pay when they would otherwise have worked on those days.

Employees required to work on 1 May or 17 May are entitled to the same supplement that applies to Sunday work under their agreement or regulations. Where no such rate has been established, the law provides for a supplement of at least 50 percent of ordinary pay.

Are Shops Closed on Public Holidays in Norway?

Norwegian law restricts sales from permanent retail premises on public holidays, subject to statutory exceptions. Similar retail rules apply on 1 May and 17 May even though those two dates are governed by a separate national-high-days law.

Travellers and shoppers should still check individual opening hours because certain businesses and categories of retail premises may qualify for legal exceptions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many nationwide public holiday dates are there in Norway in 2026?

There are 12 nationwide statutory holiday dates in the 2026 schedule when Easter Sunday and Whit Sunday are counted individually together with 1 May and 17 May.

What is the next public holiday in Norway?

The next holiday changes throughout the year. The Next Public Holiday section above uses the VisaBoards holiday database to display the current upcoming public holiday.

Is 1 May a public holiday in Norway?

Yes. May 1 is a national high day under the Act relating to 1 and 17 May and is treated substantially on the same basis as a Sunday.

Is 17 May a public holiday in Norway?

Yes. Constitution Day on May 17 is a national high day under Norwegian law and is treated substantially on the same basis as a Sunday.

When is Easter in Norway in 2026?

Easter Sunday falls on April 5, 2026. The statutory Easter holidays include Maundy Thursday on April 2, Good Friday on April 3, Easter Sunday on April 5 and Easter Monday on April 6.

When is Ascension Day in Norway in 2026?

Ascension Day falls on Thursday, May 14, 2026. It is a statutory public holiday under Norway’s Public Holidays Act.

When is Pentecost in Norway in 2026?

Whit Sunday, or Pentecost Sunday, falls on May 24, 2026, and Whit Monday follows on May 25. Both are statutory public holidays.

Does Norway move a public holiday when it falls on Sunday?

Norway does not generally provide an automatic Monday substitute for a statutory holiday that falls on Sunday. The holiday normally remains on its legal calendar date.

Is Christmas Eve a public holiday in Norway?

No. Christmas Eve on December 24 is not a separate full statutory public holiday. Christmas Day and Second Day of Christmas are the nationwide Christmas public holidays.

Is New Year’s Eve a public holiday in Norway?

No. December 31 is not a separate statutory nationwide public holiday. New Year’s Day on January 1 is the official public holiday.

Official Sources for Public Holidays in Norway

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