Public Holidays in Denmark (2026)

The 2026 list of public holidays in Denmark

Denmark has ten statutory public holidays in 2026. Because most are tied to Easter, the spring dates shift each year. Here is the full set:

What about Store Bededag?

If you are working from an older list, you may expect Store Bededag (Great Prayer Day) – but it was abolished as a public holiday with effect from 2024, the first such change in modern Danish history. It would have fallen on 1 May in 2026, but it is now an ordinary working day. The change was made to help fund increased defence spending, and salaried employees receive a small compensating supplement (0.45% of annual pay) for the lost day. It is the single most common mistake in Denmark holiday planning, so leave it off.

Days that aren’t official holidays – but feel like it

Three more dates shape the Danish calendar without being statutory public holidays:

• Constitution Day (Grundlovsdag), 5 June – widely treated as a half or full day off; many workplaces and shops close or shorten hours.
• Christmas Eve (24 December) – effectively a day off for most; this is the main Danish Christmas celebration, and almost everything closes.
• New Year’s Eve (31 December) – many places close early.

One more to note: the Friday after Ascension (15 May 2026) is not a holiday, but many public offices close, so it is a poor day for appointments and paperwork.

What closes on public holidays

On the statutory “red days”, expect banks, public offices and most shops to be closed. Under the shop-closing rules, larger stores must close on public holidays – and also on Constitution Day, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve from mid-afternoon. Many supermarkets and convenience stores open with reduced hours, public transport runs to a Sunday-style timetable, and museums and attractions vary – so check ahead, especially around Easter and Christmas.

Are public holidays paid?

There is no single law guaranteeing paid public holidays for everyone in Denmark. Salaried employees (covered by the Salaried Employees Act, Funktionaerloven) simply receive their normal monthly pay regardless. For hourly-paid workers, whether the day is paid depends on the collective agreement or individual contract. Note too that public holidays are separate from the statutory annual holiday entitlement (25 days under the Holiday Act).

Questions and answers

How many public holidays does Denmark have in 2026?

Ten statutory public holidays, following the abolition of Store Bededag in 2024.

Is Store Bededag still a holiday?

No. Great Prayer Day was abolished as a public holiday from 2024, so 1 May 2026 is an ordinary working day. Salaried staff get a 0.45% pay supplement for the lost day.

Is Constitution Day a public holiday in Denmark?

Not officially, but 5 June is widely treated as a half or full day off, with many workplaces and shops closing or shortening hours.

What closes on Danish public holidays?

Banks, public offices and most shops close; supermarkets often open with limited hours, and public transport runs a reduced timetable.

Are public holidays paid in Denmark?

Salaried employees are paid as normal; for hourly workers it depends on their collective agreement or contract. They are separate from the 25 days of annual holiday.