Living in Portugal
Portugal public holidays in 2026
Portugal has thirteen national public holidays in 2026, and knowing which ones land midweek is the difference between a smooth quarter and a stalled one.
The full 2026 calendar
| Date | Day | Holiday | Fixed or moving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Thursday | Ano Novo (New Year's Day) | Fixed |
| 3 April | Friday | Sexta-feira Santa (Good Friday) | Moves |
| 5 April | Sunday | Páscoa (Easter Sunday) | Moves |
| 25 April | Saturday | Dia da Liberdade (Freedom Day) | Fixed |
| 1 May | Friday | Dia do Trabalhador (Labour Day) | Fixed |
| 4 June | Thursday | Corpo de Deus (Corpus Christi) | Moves |
| 10 June | Wednesday | Dia de Portugal | Fixed |
| 15 August | Saturday | Assunção de Nossa Senhora | Fixed |
| 5 October | Monday | Implantação da República | Fixed |
| 1 November | Sunday | Todos os Santos (All Saints) | Fixed |
| 1 December | Tuesday | Restauração da Independência | Fixed |
| 8 December | Tuesday | Imaculada Conceição | Fixed |
| 25 December | Friday | Natal (Christmas Day) | Fixed |
Where the long weekends are
2026 is a mixed year. Three holidays fall on a Saturday or Sunday (25 April, 15 August, 1 November), and Portugal does not move those to the following Monday, so they are simply lost for anyone on a standard week.
The good news sits at either end. Good Friday on 3 April gives a genuine four-day Easter weekend. Labour Day on Friday 1 May does the same. Corpus Christi on Thursday 4 June creates the classic ponte, where taking Friday 5 June buys four days off for one day of leave. Republic Day on Monday 5 October is another straight three-day weekend, and Christmas on a Friday closes the year cleanly.
Carnival, and why it is not on the list
Carnaval falls on Tuesday 17 February 2026. It is not a mandatory national public holiday, which surprises people every year. In practice most public administration closes, many schools close, and a large share of private employers give the day, but the legal position is that it is optional and set by government decision or employer policy each year. If it matters to your planning, confirm it rather than assume it.
Municipal holidays
Every Portuguese municipality has its own holiday, observed only in that council area. Lisbon closes for Santo António on 13 June, which in 2026 is a Saturday. Porto closes for São João on 24 June, a Wednesday in 2026. Coimbra, Braga, Faro, and every other municipality have their own dates. If your team is distributed across the country, the municipal calendar is the one that catches people out.
Planning around them
Two practical points for anyone running a business here. August remains quiet regardless of the official calendar, since much of the country takes its annual leave then. And the two December holidays landing on consecutive Tuesdays produce two half-speed weeks in a row, which is worth knowing before you schedule a launch.
Recurring calendar rules like these are exactly the kind of thing worth encoding once into an automated scheduling workflow rather than rechecking every year, which is a small example of the operational automation Digiton builds for teams working across several countries.
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does Portugal have in 2026?
Thirteen national public holidays, plus one municipal holiday specific to each council area. In 2026 three of the national holidays fall at the weekend (25 April, 15 August, and 1 November), and Portugal does not shift weekend holidays to the following Monday, so employees on a standard Monday to Friday week effectively lose those three.
Is Carnival a public holiday in Portugal?
Not a mandatory national one. Carnaval falls on Tuesday 17 February 2026, and while most public administration and many schools close, the day is optional and confirmed by government decision or employer policy each year. If your planning depends on it, confirm it with your employer or the relevant authority rather than assuming.
When are the long weekends in Portugal in 2026?
Easter gives four days from Friday 3 April. Labour Day on Friday 1 May gives three. Corpus Christi on Thursday 4 June creates the classic ponte, where one day of leave on Friday 5 June buys four days off. Republic Day on Monday 5 October is a three-day weekend, and Christmas falls on a Friday.
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