Public holidays
Iceland: 14 public holiday dates in 2026 (14 days off) and 14 in 2027 (14 days off), with 250 working days in 2026 and 252 in 2027. National holidays only: regional ones are not included.
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday 1 January 2026 | 2026-W01 | New Year's Day | Yes |
| Thursday 2 April 2026 | 2026-W14 | Maundy Thursday | Yes |
| Friday 3 April 2026 | 2026-W14 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Sunday 5 April 2026 | 2026-W14 | Easter Sunday | Yes |
| Monday 6 April 2026 | 2026-W15 | Easter Monday | Yes |
| Thursday 23 April 2026 | 2026-W17 | First Day of Summer | Yes |
| Friday 1 May 2026 | 2026-W18 | Labor Day | Yes |
| Thursday 14 May 2026 | 2026-W20 | Ascension Day | Yes |
| Sunday 24 May 2026 | 2026-W21 | Pentecost | Yes |
| Monday 25 May 2026 | 2026-W22 | Pentecost Monday | Yes |
| Wednesday 17 June 2026 | 2026-W25 | National Day | Yes |
| Monday 3 August 2026 | 2026-W32 | Commerce Day | Yes |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Saturday 26 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | Second Day of Christmas | Yes |
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 1 January 2027 | 2026-W53 | New Year's Day | Yes |
| Thursday 25 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Maundy Thursday | Yes |
| Friday 26 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Sunday 28 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Easter Sunday | Yes |
| Monday 29 March 2027 | 2027-W13 | Easter Monday | Yes |
| Thursday 22 April 2027 | 2027-W16 | First Day of Summer | Yes |
| Saturday 1 May 2027 | 2027-W17 | Labor Day | Yes |
| Thursday 6 May 2027 | 2027-W18 | Ascension Day | Yes |
| Sunday 16 May 2027 | 2027-W19 | Pentecost | Yes |
| Monday 17 May 2027 | 2027-W20 | Pentecost Monday | Yes |
| Thursday 17 June 2027 | 2027-W24 | National Day | Yes |
| Monday 2 August 2027 | 2027-W31 | Commerce Day | Yes |
| Saturday 25 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Sunday 26 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Second Day of Christmas | Yes |
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maundy Thursday | Thursday 2 April 2026 | Thursday 25 March 2027 | −8 days, changes month |
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April 2026 | Friday 26 March 2027 | −8 days, changes month |
| Easter Sunday | Sunday 5 April 2026 | Sunday 28 March 2027 | −8 days, changes month |
| Easter Monday | Monday 6 April 2026 | Monday 29 March 2027 | −8 days, changes month |
| Ascension Day | Thursday 14 May 2026 | Thursday 6 May 2027 | −8 days |
| Pentecost | Sunday 24 May 2026 | Sunday 16 May 2027 | −8 days |
| Pentecost Monday | Monday 25 May 2026 | Monday 17 May 2027 | −8 days |
| First Day of Summer | Thursday 23 April 2026 | Thursday 22 April 2027 | −1 day |
| Commerce Day | Monday 3 August 2026 | Monday 2 August 2027 | −1 day |
A shift ignores the year: +19 days means 19 days later in the calendar.
| Month | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21 | 20 | −1 |
| February | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| March | 22 | 20 | −2 |
| April | 18 | 21 | +3 |
| May | 18 | 19 | +1 |
| June | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| July | 23 | 22 | −1 |
| August | 20 | 21 | +1 |
| September | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| October | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| November | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| December | 22 | 23 | +1 |
| Q1 | 63 | 60 | −3 |
| Q2 | 57 | 61 | +4 |
| Q3 | 65 | 65 | 0 |
| Q4 | 65 | 66 | +1 |
| Year | 250 | 252 | +2 |
Weekdays by the local weekend (Sunday and Saturday), minus the public holidays most people have off.
The first day of the calendar year in the Gregorian calendar, 1 January. Cultures and religions that follow a lunisolar or lunar calendar celebrate their New Year at other points of the year. Japan celebrates New Year on 1 January, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, instead of with the Chinese calendar that was in use until 1873.
At work: Fine to mention, and a natural moment to wish colleagues well.
The Thursday before Easter, which commemorates the Last Supper and Jesus washing his disciples' feet. It begins the Paschal Triduum, the three days before Easter.
At work: A day off in several countries, and the start of the Easter break.
A solemn Christian holy day commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus, observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum. It falls on the Friday immediately before Easter Sunday.
At work: Fine to mention the long weekend. It is a sombre day for those who observe it, so avoid "Happy Good Friday". Its date moves every year with Easter, so check the calendar when planning spring deadlines.
Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and is the most important feast of the Christian year. Families go to church and share a festive meal, and in many places Easter eggs are decorated and broken together as a symbol of the empty tomb. Easter is a moveable feast, with its date set by a lunisolar calendar. Easter Monday, the day after, is a public holiday in more than 50 predominantly Christian countries.
At work: Widely welcome to mention. Colleagues may be away for the whole long weekend.
Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and is the most important feast of the Christian year. Families go to church and share a festive meal, and in many places Easter eggs are decorated and broken together as a symbol of the empty tomb. Easter is a moveable feast, with its date set by a lunisolar calendar. Easter Monday, the day after, is a public holiday in more than 50 predominantly Christian countries.
At work: Widely welcome to mention. Colleagues may be away for the whole long weekend.
Sumardagurinn fyrsti is a moveable public holiday and a flag day in Iceland. It is one of the days set by the Icelandic parliament as public holidays.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off.
International Workers' Day, on 1 May, honours workers and the labour movement. The date was chosen to commemorate the 1886 general strike in the United States that culminated in the Haymarket affair, and the day was adopted in support of a "great international demonstration" for the eight-hour day.
At work: Fine to mention the day off. In some countries it has a political side, so keep it about the break.
Ascension Day is a Christian feast commemorating Jesus's ascension into heaven. It is held 39 days after Easter Sunday, which is the 40th day of Easter, so it always falls on a Thursday.
At work: Where it is a holiday, everyone is off on Thursday.
Pentecost, also called Whit Sunday, is a Christian holiday on the 49th day (50th, counting inclusively) after Easter. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus's followers. It is a Sunday, with a public holiday on the Monday in many countries.
At work: Mostly a weekend event with services and family time. Where it is a holiday it comes with Whit Monday, so expect a slow Monday too.
Whit Monday is the day after Pentecost, which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus's followers on the 50th day after Easter. Pentecost is a Sunday, so the holiday is the Monday that follows.
At work: A long weekend. Plan around slower replies.
Marks the foundation of the Republic of Iceland on 17 June 1944. The date was chosen for the birthday of Jón Sigurðsson, leader of the 19th-century independence movement. People celebrate with parades through towns and villages, usually led by a brass band.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off.
The first Monday in August (Frídagur verslunarmanna) is part of the long weekend that is usually the largest domestic travel weekend in Iceland.
At work: Welcome to mention. A day off, and the weekend is usually the busiest domestic travel weekend.
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on 25 December. Eastern Christian Churches that follow the older Julian calendar celebrate it on 25 December of that calendar, which currently corresponds to 7 January. It is a public holiday in many countries, and many non-Christians celebrate it culturally too.
At work: Widely welcome to mention. Plan important meetings before the break. If you're unsure whether someone celebrates it, "Happy holidays" is a safe choice.
Boxing Day is celebrated on 26 December, the day after Christmas. It was once a day to donate gifts to those in need and has become part of the Christmas festivities. It originated in the United Kingdom and is celebrated in several Commonwealth nations. It is usually concurrent with Saint Stephen's Day, which in parts of Europe is the second day of Christmas.
At work: Fine to mention. It is part of the Christmas break.
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