Portugal public holidays
Portugal has 13 mandatory national holidays, set by article 234 of the Labour Code (Código do Trabalho): ten on fixed dates and three tied to Easter. Carnival Tuesday and the municipal holiday are optional (article 235).
Holidays in 2026, 2027 and 2028
| Year | National holidays | On weekdays | Optional | Business days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal 2026 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 252 |
| Portugal 2027 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 253 |
| Portugal 2028 | 13 | 10 | 1 | 250 |
Every holiday, 2026 to 2028
Fixed dates only change weekday; Easter falls on April 5, March 28, and April 16 and Corpus Christi on June 4, May 27, and June 15, respectively.
| Holiday | Rule | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day (Ano Novo) | Fixed: January 1 | |||
| Carnival Tuesday (Terça-feira de Carnaval) (optional holiday) | 47 days before Easter | |||
| Good Friday (Sexta-Feira Santa) | 2 days before Easter | |||
| Easter Sunday (Domingo de Páscoa) | Easter Sunday | |||
| Freedom Day (Dia da Liberdade) | Fixed: April 25 | |||
| Labour Day (Dia do Trabalhador) | Fixed: May 1 | |||
| Corpus Christi (Corpo de Deus) | 60 days after Easter | |||
| Portugal Day (Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas) | Fixed: June 10 | |||
| Assumption of Mary (Assunção de Nossa Senhora) | Fixed: August 15 | |||
| Republic Day (Implantação da República) | Fixed: October 5 | |||
| All Saints' Day (Dia de Todos-os-Santos) | Fixed: November 1 | |||
| Restoration of Independence (Restauração da Independência) | Fixed: December 1 | |||
| Immaculate Conception (Imaculada Conceição) | Fixed: December 8 | |||
| Christmas Day (Natal) | Fixed: December 25 |
What the Labour Code says
Article 234(1), as amended by Lei 8/2016, lists the 13 mandatory holidays: January 1, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, April 25, May 1, Corpus Christi, June 10, August 15, October 5, November 1 and December 1, 8 and 25.
From 2013 to 2015, Lei 23/2012 removed Corpus Christi, October 5, November 1 and December 1; Lei 8/2016 restored them. Good Friday may be observed on another day of local significance in the Easter period (no. 2).
Article 235 lets Carnival Tuesday and the municipal holiday be observed through a collective agreement or employment contract, or swapped for another day agreed between employer and employee.
Frequently asked questions
- What are Portugal's 13 national holidays?
- New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Freedom Day (April 25), Labour Day (May 1), Corpus Christi, Portugal Day (June 10), Assumption (August 15), Republic Day (October 5), All Saints' Day (November 1), Restoration of Independence (December 1), Immaculate Conception (December 8) and Christmas Day.
- Which holidays did Portugal restore in 2016?
- Corpus Christi, October 5 (Republic Day), November 1 (All Saints' Day) and December 1 (Restoration of Independence), removed from 2013 to 2015 and restored by Lei 8/2016.
- Is the municipal holiday mandatory in Portugal?
- Not under the Labour Code: it is optional (article 235) and depends on the collective agreement or contract. In practice most public services and many businesses close on their municipality holiday.
- Is Good Friday always a holiday in Portugal?
- Yes, it is mandatory, but article 234(2) allows it to be observed on another day of local significance in the Easter period.
Last reviewed by Arielton Oberek.