Public Holidays in Denmark
Statutory public holidays in Denmark, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Denmark at a glance
Denmark has a compact set of public holidays, many tied to the Lutheran calendar. Great Prayer Day was abolished from 2024, leaving a shorter list than neighbouring Sweden.
Several dates move with Easter, and Constitution Day on 5 June is a half-day holiday rather than a full day off.
Denmark public holidays 2026
The dates below come from Denmark’s published calendar for 2026. Open the full year for the complete list.
| Holiday | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | 2026 |
| Valentine's Day | Feb 14Sat | 2026 |
| Carnival | Feb 15Sun | 2026 |
| March Equinox | Mar 20Fri | 2026 |
| Palm Sunday | Mar 29Sun | 2026 |
| Daylight Saving Time starts | Mar 29Sun | 2026 |
| Maundy Thursday | Apr 2Thu | 2026 |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | 2026 |
| Easter Sunday | Apr 5Sun | 2026 |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | 2026 |
| Labor Day / May Day | May 1Fri | 2026 |
| Great Prayer Day | May 1Fri | 2026 |
Showing 12 of 28 dates recorded for 2026.
Major cities in Denmark
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Denmark.
Copenhagen
A capital of canals, cycling streets and a waterfront of harbour baths.
Aarhus
A harbour city of Viking roots, a modern arts museum and a canal quarter.
Odense
Funen's capital and the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen.
Aalborg
A Limfjord port city with a reworked waterfront and a strong music scene.
Roskilde
A cathedral city with a Viking ship museum and a famous summer festival.
Top attractions in Denmark
The places that draw most visitors to Denmark.
Nyhavn
A canal front of colourful 18th-century houses and wooden ships.
Kronborg Castle
The Elsinore castle of Hamlet, guarding the narrow strait to Sweden.
Roskilde Cathedral
A brick cathedral holding the tombs of Danish monarchs.
Jelling Mounds
Runic stones and burial mounds, the baptismal certificate of Denmark.
Legoland Billund
The original Lego park, beside the company's birthplace in Jutland.
Skagen
A northern town of yellow houses and wide beaches where two seas meet.
Festivals, food and getting around Denmark
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
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New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
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Valentine's Day
Falls on Feb 14
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Carnival
Falls on Feb 15
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March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
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Palm Sunday
Falls on Mar 29
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Daylight Saving Time starts
Falls on Mar 29
Food & drink
Getting around
Trains and buses are reliable and integrated; cycling is the default way to move around Copenhagen and most towns.
Travelling around Denmark’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Denmark tighten around major holidays; reserve early for the busiest weeks.
Check opening hours
Museums, banks and government offices usually close on statutory holidays, and often on the nearest Monday.
Carry local currency
Small vendors and rural businesses frequently take cash only, especially on holidays when banks are shut.
Expect crowded transport
Long weekends produce the year's heaviest road, rail and air traffic. Build in extra travel time.
Confirm the official list
Denmark's holiday dates are confirmed by government announcement; check the year page for the final arrangement.
Plan the long weekends
Pairing a holiday with adjacent weekends gives the longest breaks of the year — and the busiest.
Denmark public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Denmark have?
Denmark has 28 dates recorded on its 2026 calendar, ranging from national statutory holidays to widely marked observances that are not days off work.
Where can I find the full 2026 list?
The complete 2026 calendar for Denmark is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Denmark's public holidays paid?
Statutory national holidays are generally paid leave for employees. Observances and commemorative days are usually not.
Do holidays move if they fall on a weekend?
Where a holiday falls on a weekend, Denmark typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Denmark?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Denmark?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.