Public Holidays in Finland
Statutory public holidays in Finland, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Finland at a glance
Finland’s public holidays follow the Lutheran calendar, with Midsummer and Independence Day on 6 December the biggest celebrations. Epiphany and All Saints’ Day are also public holidays.
Midsummer is celebrated on the weekend nearest 24 June, when the country heads to lakeside cottages for the midnight sun.
Finland public holidays 2026
Finland has 15 public holidays in 2026 – the statutory days off. The table below lists those public holidays; observances and other non-statutory dates are not part of the total.
| Holiday | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | National |
| Epiphany | Jan 6Tue | National |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | National |
| Easter Sunday | Apr 5Sun | National |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | National |
| May Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Ascension Day | May 14Thu | National |
| Pentecost | May 24Sun | National |
| Midsummer Eve | Jun 19Fri | National |
| Midsummer Day | Jun 20Sat | National |
| All Saints' Day | Oct 31Sat | National |
| Independence Day | Dec 6Sun | National |
Showing 12 of 15 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Finland
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Finland.
Helsinki
A coastal capital of neoclassical squares, design shops and island fortresses.
Tampere
A city between two lakes, built on textile mills and now a tech hub.
Turku
Finland's oldest city, with a medieval cathedral and a riverfront.
Oulu
A Gulf of Bothnia city of technology, cycling and the world's air guitar championships.
Rovaniemi
The gateway to Santa Claus Village and the Arctic Circle.
Jyvaskyla
A city of Alvar Aalto buildings and lake shores in central Finland.
Top attractions in Finland
The places that draw most visitors to Finland.
Suomenlinna
An 18th-century sea fortress spread across islands off Helsinki.
Old Rauma
A wooden town centre of painted houses and narrow lanes.
Lake Saimaa
Europe's fourth-largest lake, ringed by forest and holiday cottages.
Rovaniemi & Santa Claus Village
The Arctic Circle village where visitors cross the line and meet Santa.
Koli National Park
A quartzite ridge above forested lakes, a classic Finnish landscape.
Kvarken Archipelago
A Baltic archipelago rising from the sea as the land rebounds.
Festivals, food and getting around Finland
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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Epiphany
Falls on Jan 6
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Valentine’s Day
Falls on Feb 14
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March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
Good Friday
Falls on Apr 3
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🎉
Easter Sunday
Falls on Apr 5
Food & drink
Getting around
Trains and coaches are comfortable; in Lapland distances are long and a car is usually necessary.
Travelling around Finland’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Finland 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
Finland'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.
Finland public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Finland have?
Finland has 15 public holidays in 2026, counting every date typed National, Substitute or Bank in our calendar. Observances, religious dates and regional holidays are listed separately and left out of the total, because they are not days off across the whole country.
Where can I find the full 2026 list?
The complete 2026 calendar for Finland is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Finland'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, Finland typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Finland?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Finland?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Finland
School term dates in Finland
School calendar data last updated 10 Sep 2026. Dates come from education ministries and local education authorities; always re-check with the school before booking travel.