Spain celebrates a number of national public holidays every year and, in addition, most regions have their own. In fact, many individual towns have separate public holidays – usually on the day of their specific patron saint on the Catholic calendar. Some public holidays are on the same date every year, but others change annually.
You should be aware that, on a public holiday, nearly all shops and businesses will be closed. Exceptions include petrol stations, emergency services, most bars and restaurants, and some 24-hour or late-opening supermarkets in tourist districts.
Spain will have seven national holidays on weekdays in 2026. Photo: Canva
If a national public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, it is not moved to the nearest weekday, meaning it is effectively missed out on. Non-national holidays may be moved to the nearest weekday if the regional government in question decides to do so. Sometimes, if two or more public holidays are very close to each other or to the nearest weekend, certain businesses and some public sector services will also close on the days in between. This is known as a puente, which translates as 'bridge'.
Here are the official dates for Spain's public holidays in 2026.
National public holidays in 2026
Many of Spain's national holidays are observed elsewhere in the world, and usually on the same date. Some, though, are unique to Spain. This year's national holidays are:
Like most countries, Spain takes New Year's Day as a national holiday. It is referred to as El Día del Año Nuevo.
The Epiphany, or the 12th day of Christmas, is a national holiday in Spain, and is known as Los Reyes ('The Kings'). Tradition dictates that the Three Wise Men from the biblical Nativity story – referred to in Spain as the Three Kings – deliver presents to children on the night of January 5; the following day is then a day of rest.
In 2026, Good Friday falls on April 3, and is the one of the biggest days of Easter week. As well as being a national holiday, it's a time when beautiful, moving parades take to the streets to depict the biblical story of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Even in years when it falls on a weekend, May 1 is a holiday in Spain for Labour Day, or El Día del Trabajador ('Day of the Worker'). This coming year, as it falls on a Thursday, the workers it is designed to commemorate will get the day off.
Celebrated in many countries with a Catholic tradition, August 15 is known as 'Day of the Assumption' (Día de la Asunción). It commemorates the date when, according to the Christian bible, Jesus Christ's mother, the Virgin Mary, went up to heaven. Although not many parts of Spain hold celebrations specifically in the name of the Assumption, the summer months are key festival time throughout the country, so you may well find processions and activities taking place on or around this public holiday anyway.
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