Iceland Public Holidays and Celebrations
Which dates in Iceland are public holidays, and which are festive days, for planning opening hours, tours and meals.
Iceland has 16 official holidays per year according to the City of Reykjavík, Holidays and celebrations - City of Reykjavík (source checked 2026-11-06) and the Central Bank of Iceland lists 14 dates in 2026 as closed. Public holidays in Iceland - Central Bank of Iceland (source checked 2026-11-06) Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are days off only from 13:00 under Icelandic law. Lagasafn: Act no. 88/1971, article 6 - Alþingi (source checked 2026-11-06)
Key takeaways
- The City of Reykjavík says Iceland has 16 official holidays per year, plus various festive days. Holidays and celebrations - City of Reykjavík (source checked 2026-11-06)
- The Central Bank of Iceland lists 14 dates in 2026 as closed, including 17 June, 3 August and 24, 25, 26 and 31 December. Public holidays in Iceland - Central Bank of Iceland (source checked 2026-11-06)
- Under Act no. 88/1971, article 6, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve in Iceland are days off from 13:00. Lagasafn: Act no. 88/1971, article 6 - Alþingi (source checked 2026-11-06)
- The City of Reykjavík places Þorláksmessa on 23 December as part of Christmas preparations, and the Central Bank of Iceland’s 2026 list of closed dates does not include it. Holidays and celebrations - City of Reykjavík (source checked 2026-11-06) Public holidays in Iceland - Central Bank of Iceland (source checked 2026-11-06)
- Vísindavefurinn says the Yule Lad Stekkjastaur arrives in the night leading into 12 December and Kertasníkir in the night leading into 24 December. Vísindavefurinn: Yule Lads (svar 12802) (source checked 2026-11-06)
| Fact | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Official holidays per year | 16 | Count given by the City of Reykjavík, plus various festive days (checked November 6, 2026). |
| Closure dates in 2026 | 14 | Dates the Central Bank of Iceland lists as closed (checked November 6, 2026). |
| National day | 17 June | Independence Day, a public holiday according to the City of Reykjavík (checked November 6, 2026). |
| Commerce Day 2026 | 3 August | The first Monday in August; the Central Bank of Iceland lists it as closed (checked November 6, 2026). |
| Christmas Eve 2026 | 24 December | Day off from 13:00 under Act no. 88/1971; the Central Bank of Iceland lists it as closed (checked November 6, 2026). |
| Yule Lads arrive | 12 to 24 December | Per Vísindavefurinn, one at a time (checked November 6, 2026). |
Holiday dates may vary slightly year to year. Check current year dates before planning.
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Which dates are public holidays in Iceland in 2026?
“Iceland has 16 official holidays per year”, says the City of Reykjavík, which adds various festive days celebrated in different ways. Holidays and celebrations - City of Reykjavík (source checked 2026-11-06) The Central Bank of Iceland’s calendar lists 14 dates in 2026 as closed, from 1 January to 31 December. Public holidays in Iceland - Central Bank of Iceland (source checked 2026-11-06) The two figures come from separate sources and are not presented as one matching list.
The Central Bank’s calendar lists the dates below as closed, checked November 6, 2026. Public holidays in Iceland - Central Bank of Iceland (source checked 2026-11-06) The calendar covers the bank’s own closures and does not state whether restaurants, museums or tour operators are open.
| 2026 date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year’s Day |
| 2 April | Maundy Thursday |
| 3 April | Good Friday |
| 6 April | Easter Monday |
| 23 April | First Day of Summer |
| 1 May | Labor Day |
| 14 May | Ascension Day |
| 25 May | Whit Monday |
| 17 June | Independence Day |
| 3 August | Commerce Day |
| 24 December | Christmas Eve |
| 25 December | Christmas Day |
| 26 December | Boxing Day |
| 31 December | New Year’s Eve |
The Central Bank of Iceland lists 24, 25 and 26 December 2026 as consecutive closed dates. Public holidays in Iceland - Central Bank of Iceland (source checked 2026-11-06) The Central Bank’s page covers 2026 and 2025, and no 2027 list was found when checked (November 6, 2026).
Is Christmas Eve a public holiday in Iceland?
Christmas Eve is a day off in Iceland only from 13:00 under Act no. 88/1971, article 6, and the same applies to New Year’s Eve. Lagasafn: Act no. 88/1971, article 6 - Alþingi (source checked 2026-11-06) The Central Bank of Iceland nevertheless lists 24 December and 31 December 2026 as closed. Public holidays in Iceland - Central Bank of Iceland (source checked 2026-11-06) The City of Reykjavík says Christmas is rung in at 6pm on Christmas Eve. Holidays and celebrations - City of Reykjavík (source checked 2026-11-06)
The same article lists the national church’s holy days, the First Day of Summer, 1 May and 17 June as days off. Lagasafn: Act no. 88/1971, article 6 - Alþingi (source checked 2026-11-06)
According to the City of Reykjavík, most people spend Christmas Eve with family and open gifts after Christmas dinner. Holidays and celebrations - City of Reykjavík (source checked 2026-11-06)
What is Þorláksmessa on 23 December?
Þorláksmessa, the Mass of St. Thorlac, falls on 23 December according to the City of Reykjavík, which describes it as part of Christmas preparations when many people eat fermented skate. Holidays and celebrations - City of Reykjavík (source checked 2026-11-06) The Central Bank of Iceland’s 2026 list of closed dates does not include 23 December. Public holidays in Iceland - Central Bank of Iceland (source checked 2026-11-06) The City presents Christmas itself as celebrated on 24 December. Holidays and celebrations - City of Reykjavík (source checked 2026-11-06)
The City of Reykjavík says the day is named after St. Thorlac Thorlacsson, bishop of Skálholt, who died on this day. Holidays and celebrations - City of Reykjavík (source checked 2026-11-06)
What is Independence Day on 17 June?
Iceland’s national holiday is celebrated ceremonially on 17 June each year, and the City of Reykjavík calls it a public holiday. Holidays and celebrations - City of Reykjavík (source checked 2026-11-06) The City says the day’s celebration programme commemorates the founding of the Republic of Iceland on 17 June 1944. Holidays and celebrations - City of Reykjavík (source checked 2026-11-06) The Central Bank of Iceland lists 17 June 2026 as closed. Public holidays in Iceland - Central Bank of Iceland (source checked 2026-11-06)
Act no. 88/1971, article 6, also names 17 June among the days off. Lagasafn: Act no. 88/1971, article 6 - Alþingi (source checked 2026-11-06)
What are Commerce Day and Commerce Weekend (verslunarmannahelgi)?
Commerce Day is the first Monday in August, and it creates a three-day weekend called Commerce Weekend (verslunarmannahelgi), according to the City of Reykjavík. The City says the Monday is now a legal holiday and the weekend is one of the year’s biggest travel weekends, with diverse outdoor festivals held throughout the country. Holidays and celebrations - City of Reykjavík (source checked 2026-11-06) The Central Bank of Iceland lists 3 August 2026 as closed. Public holidays in Iceland - Central Bank of Iceland (source checked 2026-11-06)
Which festive days and holiday traditions does Iceland celebrate?
Iceland has 16 official holidays per year plus various festive days, according to the City of Reykjavík, and the traditions below cover both. Holidays and celebrations - City of Reykjavík (source checked 2026-11-06) Þorrablót is one: Icelanders celebrate it to honor the month of Þorri, the fourth month of winter in the old Icelandic calendar, which spanned from 19–25 January to 18–24 February. Holidays and celebrations - City of Reykjavík (source checked 2026-11-06)
- Þorrablót: the City of Reykjavík says celebrations feature singing, dancing and foods such as slátur (blood pudding and liver sausage), svið (singed sheep’s heads), fermented shark, sour ram’s testicles and smoked lamb. Holidays and celebrations - City of Reykjavík (source checked 2026-11-06)
- Bun Day: it is customary to eat choux pastry or yeast buns filled with creams and jams, and to craft Bun Day wands from colorful paper strips glued to a stick. Holidays and celebrations - City of Reykjavík (source checked 2026-11-06)
- Bursting Day: most Icelandic households traditionally cook saltkjöt og baunir (salted meat and split pea soup). Holidays and celebrations - City of Reykjavík (source checked 2026-11-06)
- First Day of Summer: it always falls on a Thursday between 19 and 25 April, and the Central Bank of Iceland lists 23 April 2026 as closed. Holidays and celebrations - City of Reykjavík (source checked 2026-11-06) Public holidays in Iceland - Central Bank of Iceland (source checked 2026-11-06)
- Fishermen’s Day: it falls on the first Sunday in June each year, and most municipalities celebrate with entertainment programs at their harbor. Holidays and celebrations - City of Reykjavík (source checked 2026-11-06)
- New Year’s Eve, 31 December: many people celebrate with parties and fireworks, and New Year’s bonfires are common throughout the country. Holidays and celebrations - City of Reykjavík (source checked 2026-11-06)
Who are the Yule Lads and when do they arrive?
The Yule Lads (jólasveinar) come to town one at a time, according to Vísindavefurinn, the University of Iceland’s Web of Science. Stekkjastaur, the first, arrives in the night leading into 12 December, and his brothers follow one by one until Kertasníkir, the last, arrives in the night leading into Christmas Eve, 24 December. Vísindavefurinn: Yule Lads (svar 12802) (source checked 2026-11-06)
- First: Stekkjastaur, in the night leading into 12 December. Vísindavefurinn: Yule Lads (svar 12802) (source checked 2026-11-06)
- Last: Kertasníkir, in the night leading into Christmas Eve, 24 December. Vísindavefurinn: Yule Lads (svar 12802) (source checked 2026-11-06)
Planning help
Iceland Holidays FAQs
Quick answers with safety notes where it matters.
Who are the Yule Lads and when do they arrive?
The Yule Lads (jólasveinar) come to town one at a time. According to Vísindavefurinn, the University of Iceland's Web of Science, Stekkjastaur, the first, arrives in the night leading into 12 December and Kertasníkir, the last, arrives in the night leading into Christmas Eve, 24 December (checked November 6, 2026).
What is Þorrablót?
Þorrablót is celebrated to honor the month of Þorri, the fourth month of winter in the old Icelandic calendar, which spanned from Jan. 19-25 to Feb. 18-24, according to the City of Reykjavík. Icelanders gather for singing, dancing and foods such as slátur (blood pudding and liver sausage), svið (singed sheep's heads), fermented shark, sour ram's testicles and smoked lamb (checked November 6, 2026).
How does Iceland celebrate Independence Day?
Iceland's national holiday is celebrated ceremonially on 17 June each year, and the City of Reykjavík says the day's diverse celebration programme commemorates the founding of the Republic of Iceland on 17 June 1944 (checked November 6, 2026).
What is Bolludagur (Bun Day)?
Bun Day is a custom of eating buns, either choux pastry or yeast buns filled with various creams and jams, according to the City of Reykjavík. People craft Bun Day wands from colorful paper strips glued to a stick, and children would spank their parents with the wand.
Is Christmas Eve a public holiday in Iceland?
Under Act no. 88/1971, article 6, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve are days off from 13:00, so they are not full statutory days off. The Central Bank of Iceland lists 24 December 2026 and 31 December 2026 as closed (checked November 6, 2026).
Do businesses close on Icelandic holidays?
The Central Bank of Iceland's calendar lists the dates on which it is closed in 2026, but it does not say whether a restaurant, museum or tour operates. For Christmas and New Year travel, confirm meal, activity and transport arrangements for the actual dates (checked November 6, 2026).
For more context on Iceland’s people and rural life, explore our Iceland statistics.