Iceland has 14 public holidays in 2027, plus Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve from 13:00. 9 of the 14 fall on a weekday: 1 January, 25, 26 and 29 March, 22 April, 6 and 17 May, 17 June and 2 August. Labor Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on a weekend.
14
Holidays on a weekday
9
Holidays on a weekend
5
Easter break
25 to 29 March
Half days
24 and 31 December
Icelandic public holidays (frídagar) are set in Act 88/1971 on the 40-hour Week, article 6. They are the holidays of the national church, listed in Act 32/1997, plus the First Day of Summer, 1 May, 17 June, Commerce Day in August, and Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve from 13:00. Easter, Ascension Day and Whitsun move with Easter, which is on 28 March in 2027. A holiday that falls on a weekend is not moved.
Public holidays in Iceland, 2027
<table class="ert-table"><thead><tr><th>Date</th><th>Day</th><th>Public holiday</th><th>Icelandic name</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1 January</td><td>Friday</td><td>New Year's Day</td><td>Nýársdagur</td></tr><tr><td>25 March</td><td>Thursday</td><td>Maundy Thursday</td><td>Skírdagur</td></tr><tr><td>26 March</td><td>Friday</td><td>Good Friday</td><td>Föstudagurinn langi</td></tr><tr><td>28 March</td><td>Sunday</td><td>Easter Sunday</td><td>Páskadagur</td></tr><tr><td>29 March</td><td>Monday</td><td>Easter Monday</td><td>Annar í páskum</td></tr><tr><td>22 April</td><td>Thursday</td><td>First Day of Summer</td><td>Sumardagurinn fyrsti</td></tr><tr><td>1 May</td><td>Saturday</td><td>Labor Day</td><td>1. maí</td></tr><tr><td>6 May</td><td>Thursday</td><td>Ascension Day</td><td>Uppstigningardagur</td></tr><tr><td>16 May</td><td>Sunday</td><td>Whit Sunday</td><td>Hvítasunnudagur</td></tr><tr><td>17 May</td><td>Monday</td><td>Whit Monday</td><td>Annar í hvítasunnu</td></tr><tr><td>17 June</td><td>Thursday</td><td>National Day</td><td>17. júní</td></tr><tr><td>2 August</td><td>Monday</td><td>Commerce Day</td><td>Frídagur verslunarmanna</td></tr><tr><td>24 December</td><td>Friday</td><td>Christmas Eve, from 13:00</td><td>Aðfangadagur jóla</td></tr><tr><td>25 December</td><td>Saturday</td><td>Christmas Day</td><td>Jóladagur</td></tr><tr><td>26 December</td><td>Sunday</td><td>Boxing Day</td><td>Annar í jólum</td></tr><tr><td>31 December</td><td>Friday</td><td>New Year's Eve, from 13:00</td><td>Gamlársdagur</td></tr></tbody></table>
The rule behind each Icelandic public holiday
<table class="ert-table"><thead><tr><th>Public holiday</th><th>Rule</th><th>Law</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>New Year's Day</td><td>1 January</td><td>Act 32/1997, art. 2 (church holidays), through Act 88/1971, art. 6</td></tr><tr><td>Maundy Thursday</td><td>The Thursday before Easter Sunday</td><td>Act 32/1997, art. 2 (church holidays), through Act 88/1971, art. 6</td></tr><tr><td>Good Friday</td><td>The Friday before Easter Sunday</td><td>Act 32/1997, art. 2 (church holidays), through Act 88/1971, art. 6</td></tr><tr><td>Easter Sunday</td><td>The Sunday after the first full moon on or after 21 March</td><td>Act 32/1997, art. 2 (church holidays), through Act 88/1971, art. 6</td></tr><tr><td>Easter Monday</td><td>The day after Easter Sunday</td><td>Act 32/1997, art. 2 (church holidays), through Act 88/1971, art. 6</td></tr><tr><td>First Day of Summer</td><td>The first Thursday after 18 April</td><td>Act 88/1971, art. 6, para. 1</td></tr><tr><td>Labor Day</td><td>1 May</td><td>Act 88/1971, art. 6, para. 1</td></tr><tr><td>Ascension Day</td><td>39 days after Easter Sunday, always a Thursday</td><td>Act 32/1997, art. 2 (church holidays), through Act 88/1971, art. 6</td></tr><tr><td>Whit Sunday</td><td>The 7th Sunday after Easter Sunday</td><td>Act 32/1997, art. 2 (church holidays), through Act 88/1971, art. 6</td></tr><tr><td>Whit Monday</td><td>The day after Whit Sunday</td><td>Act 32/1997, art. 2 (church holidays), through Act 88/1971, art. 6</td></tr><tr><td>National Day</td><td>17 June</td><td>Act 88/1971, art. 6, para. 1</td></tr><tr><td>Commerce Day</td><td>The first Monday in August</td><td>Act 88/1971, art. 6, para. 2</td></tr><tr><td>Christmas Eve, from 13:00</td><td>24 December, from 13:00</td><td>Act 88/1971, art. 6, para. 1</td></tr><tr><td>Christmas Day</td><td>25 December</td><td>Act 32/1997, art. 2 (church holidays), through Act 88/1971, art. 6</td></tr><tr><td>Boxing Day</td><td>26 December</td><td>Act 32/1997, art. 2 (church holidays), through Act 88/1971, art. 6</td></tr><tr><td>New Year's Eve, from 13:00</td><td>31 December, from 13:00</td><td>Act 88/1971, art. 6, para. 1</td></tr></tbody></table>
What this means for remote teams
Easter is the long break in Iceland in 2027. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday on 25 and 26 March and Easter Monday on 29 March give 5 days off in a row from Thursday to Monday. April and May are busy: the First Day of Summer on Thursday 22 April and Ascension Day on Thursday 6 May sit next to Fridays many people take off, and Whit Monday is 17 May. National Day on 17 June is a Thursday, and Commerce Day on Monday 2 August makes a long weekend. Labor Day falls on a Saturday, and Christmas Day and Boxing Day on a weekend, but Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve are Fridays, off from 13:00. Under Act 88/1971, Commerce Day is paid by the same rules that collective agreements set for the other holidays. Plan releases and meetings around these dates if part of your team is in Iceland.
Hiring in Iceland? Our guide to hiring in Iceland covers employer costs and labor rules. Need the right person? We place remote professionals across Europe, with a shortlist of 3 within 21 days. See how placement works.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and collective agreements can set different terms. Confirm with a local accountant or lawyer before you hire.
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does Iceland have in 2027?
14, plus Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve from 13:00. 9 of the 14 fall on a weekday.
When is Easter in Iceland in 2027?
Maundy Thursday is 25 March, Good Friday 26 March, Easter Sunday 28 March and Easter Monday 29 March 2027. All 4 are public holidays.
When is the First Day of Summer in 2027?
Thursday 22 April 2027. It is always the first Thursday after 18 April, and it is a public holiday under Act 88/1971.
Are holidays that fall on a weekend moved in Iceland?
No. The law sets the days and does not move a holiday to a weekday when it falls on a Saturday or Sunday.
Is Christmas Eve a public holiday in Iceland?
From 13:00. Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve are holidays from 13:00 under Act 88/1971. Christmas Day and Boxing Day are full public holidays.
