Iceland public holidays 2026 — statutory holidays + flag days

Thursday, January 1

New Year’s Day is the first day of the new year — a quiet recovery day after Iceland’s spectacularly loud Gamlárskvöld bonfires (“brennur”) and household-bought fireworks (proceeds fund the volunteer rescue service ICE-SAR). Public transport runs reduced; nearly all retail is closed under helgidagafriður (the Holiday Peace Act). Many families spend the day quietly, watching the prime minister’s New Year address re-broadcast or the satirical Áramótaskaupið review. A statutory paid holiday for all employees.

Thursday, April 2

Maundy Thursday (Skírdagur) is uniquely a full paid public holiday in Iceland — Iceland is one of only a handful of countries in the EEA (with Norway and the Faroes) that grants this day off. Marks Christ’s Last Supper. Popular date for confirmation ceremonies (ferming) in the Þjóðkirkja. Helgidagafriður takes effect from midnight; bars must close at midnight and stay shut until midnight the following day.

Friday, April 3

Good Friday is the strictest helgidagafriður day of the year — the flag flies at half-mast all day (unique in the Icelandic calendar), dance halls and betting establishments are closed, and cinemas were forbidden from showing films until a 2007 amendment. Marks the crucifixion of Christ. A traditional fasting day with quiet observance and evening church services.

Sunday, April 5

Easter Sunday is the greatest day of joy in the Christian calendar — marking Christ’s resurrection. In Iceland it is both a statutory holiday and an official flag day. Families gather for the final big páskahádegi (Easter lunch); children hunt for *páskaegg* (chocolate Easter eggs) which contain a printed *málsháttur* (proverb). The Þjóðkirkja holds light-filled morning services.

Monday, April 6

Easter Monday closes the 5-day Easter break and is typically a quiet statutory holiday. Many use the day to recover from the Easter lunch, take a long forest walk in Heiðmörk or Esjuhlíðar, or visit relatives. Shops and offices are closed. Together with Maundy Thursday + Good Friday + Easter Sunday it gives Iceland an automatic 5-day Easter break (Thu–Mon) without any leave taken — among the most generous in Europe.

Thursday, April 23

First Day of Summer (Sumardagurinn fyrsti) is uniquely Icelandic — Iceland is the only country in the world with “First Day of Summer” as a public holiday. Marks the first day of *Harpa*, the first month of summer in the Old Icelandic calendar (misseristal). Falls on the first Thursday after 18 April. The Boy Scouts have organised a Reykjavík parade since 1921. Folk belief: water frozen overnight before this day = a good summer ahead. A flag day.

Friday, May 1

Labour Day (Verkalýðsdagurinn) is International Workers’ Day. The trade-union confederation ASÍ leads major parades down Laugavegur in Reykjavík with political speeches at Ingólfstorg. Banks, schools and most shops are closed. A statutory holiday and an official flag day.

Thursday, May 14

Ascension Day (Uppstigningardagur) — the 40th day after Easter Sunday, always a Thursday — marks Christ’s ascension. A quiet church holiday with banks closed. The classic “inneklemt fredag” / bridge-day setup: take Friday off for a 4-day weekend.

Sunday, May 24

Whit Sunday (Hvítasunnudagur), the 49th day after Easter, marks the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles — considered the birthday of the Christian Church. A statutory holiday and an official flag day. Strict helgidagafriður applies on Sunday.

Monday, May 25

Whit Monday (Annar í hvítasunnu) is the last of the three Pentecost days and functions as a relaxed extension of the Whit weekend. A statutory holiday with shops and offices closed. Many Icelanders use the day for outdoor activities or family visits.

Wednesday, June 17

Iceland’s National Day (Þjóðhátíðardagurinn 17. júní) commemorates the 1944 founding of the Republic at Þingvellir — the date was chosen to coincide with the birthday of independence-leader Jón Sigurðsson (1811–1879). Massive Reykjavík programme: parade, the *fjallkona* (Lady of the Mountain) reciting poetry from the Alþingishús balcony, balloons and candy floss. The biggest celebration day of the year.

Monday, August 3

Commerce Day (Frídagur verslunarmanna) is the first Monday of August. Origin: a 13 September 1894 agreement between Reykjavík shopkeepers’ union and store owners gave commercial workers their first paid day off; moved to first Monday of August in 1931. The resulting *Verslunarmannahelgi* (Commerce Workers’ Weekend) is Iceland’s biggest internal travel weekend — about 10% of the population goes camping; the *Þjóðhátíð í Vestmannaeyjum* festival on Heimaey draws 17,000+ visitors.

Thursday, December 24

Christmas Eve (Aðfangadagur) is the main Icelandic Christmas celebration: families gather at 18:00 for *hangikjöt* (smoked lamb) or *rjúpa* (ptarmigan), exchange gifts at 20:00, and read books — every gift typically includes one (the Jólabókaflóðið / Christmas Book Flood). Shops close at noon; church bells ring at 18:00 to mark *jól* officially beginning. A statutory half-day from 13:00 — uniquely Icelandic in the EEA.

Friday, December 25

Christmas Day (Jóladagur) is a quiet family day in Iceland — playing with gifts, family lunch, walks in the snow. Many attend a morning service at the Þjóðkirkja. A statutory paid holiday and official flag day.

Saturday, December 26

Second Day of Christmas (Annar í jólum) is the main social calling day — *jólaboð* (Christmas dinners) rotate through extended family with another large Christmas meal. Restaurants are open and almost fully booked. Shops may legally open but most stay closed.

Thursday, December 31

New Year’s Eve (Gamlársdagur) is a statutory half-day from 13:00 — shops close at 13:00, then community bonfires (*brennur*) at sunset, family dinner, the satirical *Áramótaskaupið* TV review at 22:30 sharp, then mass private fireworks at midnight. The bonfire revenue funds the volunteer rescue service ICE-SAR.

Tuesday, January 6

Twelfth Night marks the end of *jól* (Christmas) — the last day of the Yule Lads in Icelandic folklore as they return to the mountains. Traditional bonfires and elf-dances in some smaller towns.

Friday, January 23

Husband’s Day is the first day of *Þorri* (the 4th winter month) in the Old Icelandic calendar — first Friday between 19 and 26 January. Wives traditionally indulge their husbands. Marks the start of *Þorrablót* — traditional Icelandic feasts.

Wednesday, February 11

Icelandic Sign Language Day — commemorates ÍTM being recognised as an official minority language in Act No. 61/2011.

Saturday, February 14

Valentine’s Day — recently imported into Iceland; Konudagur (Wife’s Day) retains a stronger cultural pull, but Valentine’s is the big retail romance day.

Monday, February 16

Bun Day is the Monday before Lent (49 days before Easter). Children make a *bolluvöndur* (paper wand) and “spank” parents who must give them *bollur* — cream-filled buns. The biggest bakery day of the year.

Tuesday, February 17

Bursting Day is the Tuesday before Lent — traditional dish *saltkjöt og baunir* (salted lamb + yellow-pea soup). Eaten until you “burst” — filled up before the long Lenten fast.

Wednesday, February 18

Ash Wednesday is Iceland’s answer to Halloween — older than the imported version. Children dress up in costumes and visit shops, singing songs in exchange for candy. School holiday in many municipalities.

Sunday, February 22

Wife’s Day is the first day of *Góa* (5th winter month) — Sunday between 18 and 25 February. Husbands give wives flowers or breakfast in bed. With Husband’s Day exactly one month earlier, both are living legacies of Iceland’s old calendar.

Sunday, March 29

Palm Sunday (Sunday before Easter) marks the start of Holy Week. Many confirmation preparations peak this week.

Sunday, May 10

Mother’s Day is the second Sunday of May in Iceland — same timing as the US and the Netherlands (unlike British “Mothering Sunday” on the 4th Sunday of Lent, usually March). Flowers, breakfast in bed and restaurant visits are traditional.

Sunday, June 7

Seamen’s Day is the first Sunday of June — an official flag day since 1987. Honours seafarers and the fishing industry (~20% of Iceland’s export value). Established 1938 in Reykjavík + Ísafjörður. Harbour towns hold major celebrations. Seafarers get the day off under industry collective agreements.

Friday, June 19

Women’s Rights Day — anniversary of women’s suffrage law signed by King Christian X on 19 June 1915 (initially limited to women aged ≥40). Public lectures and flower-laying at the Bríet Bjarnhéðinsdóttir statue.

Wednesday, June 24

St. John’s Eve (Jónsmessa, 24 June) is Iceland’s midsummer day in folk tradition — cows speak, seals shed skin and become human, healing herbs are at peak strength. Less commercially celebrated than equivalents in Sweden/Finland.

Wednesday, September 16

Day of Icelandic Nature — annual reminder day for Icelandic nature, established by the Ministry for the Environment in 2010.

Sunday, October 11

President’s Birthday — current President Halla Tómasdóttir (b. 11 October 1968). An official flag day under Forsetaúrskurður No. 5/1991.

Saturday, October 24

First Day of Winter is the Saturday between 21 and 28 October — the first day of *Gormánuður* (the winter month) in the Old Icelandic calendar. Marked on calendars but not widely celebrated.

Saturday, October 31

Halloween — imported from the US since the 2000s; growing children’s dress-up tradition but distinct from Öskudagur (Iceland’s older costume day on Ash Wednesday).

Sunday, November 1

All Saints’ Day (1 November) is a quiet Lutheran observance — minimal commercial profile in Iceland.

Sunday, November 8

Father’s Day is the second Sunday of November — American-style timing.

Monday, November 16

Day of the Icelandic Language is annually 16 November — the birthday of the national poet Jónas Hallgrímsson (1807–1845). The Minister of Culture awards the *Jónas-Hallgrímsson Prize*. An official flag day.

Tuesday, December 1

Sovereignty Day — anniversary of the 1918 Act of Union, when Iceland became a sovereign state under the Danish crown. Not a paid public holiday (unlike 17 June), but officially flagged.

Wednesday, December 23

St. Þorlákur’s Mass — feast day of Iceland’s patron saint Þorlákur helgi (Bishop of Skálholt 1178–1193). Traditional *kæst skata* (fermented skate) lunch — pungent ammonia smell fills Reykjavík. The last big shopping day before Christmas.

Thursday, January 1

Thursday, April 2

Friday, April 3

Sunday, April 5

Monday, April 6

Thursday, April 23

Friday, May 1

Thursday, May 14

Sunday, May 24

Monday, May 25

Wednesday, June 17

Monday, August 3

Thursday, December 24

Friday, December 25

Saturday, December 26

Thursday, December 31