Public Holidays in Norway
Statutory public holidays in Norway, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Norway at a glance
Norway’s public holidays follow the Lutheran calendar, with Constitution Day on 17 May the great national celebration of children’s parades.
Several dates move with Easter, and the long midsummer break is the country’s main holiday period.
Norway public holidays 2026
The dates below come from Norway’s published calendar for 2026. Open the full year for the complete list.
| Holiday | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | 2026 |
| Princess Ingrid Alexandra's Day | Jan 21Wed | 2026 |
| Saami National Day | Feb 6Fri | 2026 |
| Mothers' Day | Feb 8Sun | 2026 |
| Valentine's Day | Feb 14Sat | 2026 |
| Carnival | Feb 15Sun | 2026 |
| King Harald V's Day | Feb 21Sat | 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 |
Showing 12 of 46 dates recorded for 2026.
Major cities in Norway
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Norway.
Oslo
A capital of a fjord, a sculpture park and a revitalised waterfront district.
Bergen
A Hanseatic harbour city of wooden wharves and mountains on all sides.
Trondheim
A cathedral city on a river bend, once the medieval capital and pilgrimage centre.
Stavanger
A city of a preserved wooden old town and a gateway to the fjords.
Tromso
A city above the Arctic Circle with northern lights, a cathedral and cable car.
Top attractions in Norway
The places that draw most visitors to Norway.
Geirangerfjord
A deep fjord of waterfalls, abandoned farms and sheer walls.
Bryggen, Bergen
Hanseatic wooden wharves of leaning gabled buildings.
Lofoten Islands
Granite peaks rising straight from the sea, with red fishing villages.
Sognefjord
The longest and deepest fjord in the country, cutting far inland.
Trolltunga
A narrow rock shelf jutting horizontally above a lake and fjord.
North Cape
A 300-metre cliff often described as the northernmost point of Europe.
Festivals, food and getting around Norway
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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Princess Ingrid Alexandra's Day
Falls on Jan 21
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Saami National Day
Falls on Feb 6
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🎉
Mothers' Day
Falls on Feb 8
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🎉
Valentine's Day
Falls on Feb 14
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Carnival
Falls on Feb 15
Food & drink
Getting around
Trains, coastal ferries and buses are well integrated; the fjord country is slow going but spectacularly engineered.
Travelling around Norway’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Norway 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
Norway'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.
Norway public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Norway have?
Norway has 46 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 Norway is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Norway'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, Norway typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Norway?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Norway?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.