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
Norway has 12 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 |
| Maundy Thursday | Apr 2Thu | National |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | National |
| Easter Sunday | Apr 5Sun | National |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | National |
| Labor Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Ascension Day | May 14Thu | National |
| Constitution Day | May 17Sun | National |
| Pentecost | May 24Sun | National |
| Pentecost Monday | May 25Mon | National |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25Fri | National |
| Second Day of Christmas | Dec 26Sat | National |
Showing 12 of 12 public holidays 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 12 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 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.
School holidays in Norway
School term dates in Norway
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.