Public holidays in Norway (helligdager) are 10 days each year when most employees are entitled to time off. Norwegian public holidays are regulated by the Holiday Act (Ferieloven) and the Working Environment Act (Arbeidsmiljøloven). As an employer, you need to know which holidays apply, how to pay employees, and how the holiday pay (feriepenger) system interacts with public holidays.
Norway’s public holiday system includes both Christian and secular holidays, with specific rules for compensation when holidays fall on weekends. The unique aspect of the Norwegian system is the “day before” rule — Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are treated as half-holidays. This guide covers all Norwegian public holidays for 2026 and your obligations under Norwegian employment law.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Consult an employment lawyer for guidance specific to your organisation.
2026 Norwegian Public Holidays
| Holiday | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day (Nyttårsdag) | 1 January | Thursday |
| Maundy Thursday (Skjærtorsdag) | 2 April | Thursday |
| Good Friday (Langfredag) | 3 April | Friday |
| Easter Sunday (Første påskedag) | 5 April | Sunday |
| Easter Monday (Andre påskedag) | 6 April | Monday |
| Labour Day (1. mai) | 1 May | Friday |
| Constitution Day (17. mai) | 17 May | Sunday |
| Ascension Day (Kristi Himmelfartsdag) | 14 May | Thursday |
| Whit Sunday (Første pinsedag) | 24 May | Sunday |
| Whit Monday (Andre pinsedag) | 25 May | Monday |
| Christmas Day (Første juledag) | 25 December | Friday |
| Boxing Day (Andre juledag) | 26 December | Saturday |
Note: Easter Sunday (5 April) falls on a Sunday, Constitution Day (17 May) falls on a Sunday, Whit Sunday (24 May) falls on a Sunday, and Boxing Day (26 December) falls on a Saturday in 2026.
“Day Before” Holidays
Norway has a unique system where the day before certain holidays is treated as a half-holiday:
| Half-Holiday | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas Eve (Julaften) | 24 December | Thursday |
| New Year’s Eve (Nyttårsaften) | 31 December | Thursday |
| Holy Saturday (Skjærtorsdag) | 2 April | Thursday |
These “day before” holidays are not full public holidays, but many employers grant time off as a goodwill measure or under collective agreements.
How to Pay Employees on Public Holidays
Fixed Salary Employees
Fixed salary employees receive their regular monthly salary for public holidays. The holiday is included in their salary.
Holiday Pay (Feriepenger) System
Norway has a unique holiday pay system that affects how public holidays are compensated:
- Holiday pay is earned during the working year (typically 12% of gross salary)
- Holiday pay is paid during the employee’s annual leave
- Public holidays during annual leave are paid from the holiday pay fund, not as regular salary
This system means that public holidays during annual leave are effectively “free” days — they don’t consume leave days and are paid from the holiday pay fund.
Calculating a Day’s Pay
- Fixed salary: Monthly salary ÷ average working days per month (typically 22)
- Hourly: Hours normally worked × hourly rate
Example: An employee earning NOK 50,000/month works Monday to Friday. Labour Day (1 May) falls on a Friday. Their daily pay is NOK 50,000 ÷ 22 working days = NOK 2,272.73.
Working on Public Holidays
Norwegian law does not prohibit work on public holidays. However:
- Collective agreements often require premium pay for holiday work
- Employee consent is generally required
- Essential services may require work regardless
Common Premium Rates
| Situation | Premium |
|---|---|
| Collective agreement (general) | 50-100% premium |
| Easter/Christmas holidays | 100% premium |
| Essential services | Varies by agreement |
Always check your collective agreement for the applicable rate.
Public Holidays and Annual Leave
Under the Holiday Act (Ferieloven), public holidays that fall during an employee’s annual leave (ferie) are excluded from the leave count. If a public holiday occurs while the employee is on leave, their leave is extended by one day.
Important: Only public holidays are excluded — regular working days during the holiday period still count as leave.
Example: An employee takes annual leave from 24-31 December 2026. Christmas Eve (24 December), Christmas Day (25 December), Boxing Day (26 December), and New Year’s Eve (31 December) fall within this period. The employee uses 3 leave days (27, 28, 30 December), not 6. The public holidays and half-holidays are excluded.
Constitution Day (17. mai)
Constitution Day (17 May) is Norway’s national day — a celebration of the Norwegian constitution. It falls on a Sunday in 2026.
For employees who don’t work Sundays, Constitution Day has no practical impact. However:
- Many employers grant the day off anyway as a goodwill measure
- Some collective agreements provide for a substitute day
- Schools and public offices are closed
Easter and Whit Sunday
Easter and Whit Sunday fall on Sundays in 2026. For employees who don’t work Sundays, these holidays have no practical impact. For employees who do work Sundays:
- Easter Sunday — No substitute day is automatically granted
- Whit Sunday — No substitute day is automatically granted
Check your collective agreement for how these are handled.
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve
These half-holidays deserve special attention:
- Christmas Eve (24 December) — A half-holiday, treated as a working day with reduced hours
- New Year’s Eve (31 December) — A half-holiday, treated as a working day with reduced hours
Many employers grant a full day off on these days as a goodwill measure. Check your collective agreement for the specific rules.
Common Mistakes
Not Extending Annual Leave
Public holidays during annual leave must be excluded from the leave count. Failing to extend leave is a common compliance error.
Ignoring Collective Agreements
Norwegian employment law relies heavily on collective agreements. An employee covered by a collective agreement has additional entitlements beyond what the law requires.
Forgetting Half-Holidays
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are half-holidays. Many employers grant a full day off, but this is not legally required unless the collective agreement provides for it.
Incorrect Holiday Pay Calculations
The holiday pay system (feriepenger) affects how public holidays during annual leave are compensated. Using the wrong base can result in incorrect payments.
Key Takeaways
- Norway observes 10 public holidays each year — all are mandatory
- Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are half-holidays — check your collective agreement for full-day rules
- Fixed salary employees receive regular pay for public holidays
- Public holidays during annual leave extend the leave period and are paid from the holiday pay fund
- Constitution Day (17 May) falls on a Sunday in 2026 — check your collective agreement for substitute rules
- Collective agreements significantly affect holiday entitlements and premium pay
Managing Norwegian public holidays — especially the half-day rules and holiday pay system — requires careful tracking. Leave Balance automates holiday calendars so you never miss an entitlement.