IS - Íslenska

Public holidays 2016

Iceland has 14 statutory public holidays in 2016- the “red days” of the calendar - plus Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, which are holidays from noon. 10 of them fall on weekdays and 4 on weekends.

  1. New Year's DayFriday, 1 January 2016Major holiday
  2. Maundy ThursdayThursday, 24 March 2016
  3. Good FridayFriday, 25 March 2016Major holiday
  4. Easter SundaySunday, 27 March 2016Major holidayFalls on a weekend
  5. Easter MondayMonday, 28 March 2016
  6. First Day of SummerThursday, 21 April 2016
  7. Labour DaySunday, 1 May 2016Falls on a weekend
  8. Ascension DayThursday, 5 May 2016
  9. Whit SundaySunday, 15 May 2016Major holidayFalls on a weekend
  10. Whit MondayMonday, 16 May 2016
  11. Icelandic National DayFriday, 17 June 2016Major holiday
  12. Commerce DayMonday, 1 August 2016
  13. Christmas EveSaturday, 24 December 2016Half dayMajor holidayFalls on a weekend
  14. Christmas DaySunday, 25 December 2016Major holidayFalls on a weekend
  15. Second Day of ChristmasMonday, 26 December 2016
  16. New Year's EveSaturday, 31 December 2016Half dayMajor holidayFalls on a weekend

Questions & answers

How many public holidays are there in Iceland in 2016?
Iceland has 14 statutory public holidays in 2016, plus Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve which are holidays from noon. 10 holidays fall on weekdays and 4 on weekends.
What are "red days" in Iceland?
Rauðir dagar - red days - is the common Icelandic name for statutory public holidays, printed in red in calendars. Most employees have the day off and many shops are closed.
What are the "major holidays" (stórhátíðardagar)?
Major holidays carry the highest overtime premium under collective agreements: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Whit Sunday, Icelandic National Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve - Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve count as major holidays from noon.

See the days in context in the 2016 calendar or stretch your time off with bridge days.