IS - Íslenska

Public holidays 2023

Iceland has 14 statutory public holidays in 2023- 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 DaySunday, 1 January 2023Major holidayFalls on a weekend
  2. Maundy ThursdayThursday, 6 April 2023
  3. Good FridayFriday, 7 April 2023Major holiday
  4. Easter SundaySunday, 9 April 2023Major holidayFalls on a weekend
  5. Easter MondayMonday, 10 April 2023
  6. First Day of SummerThursday, 20 April 2023
  7. Labour DayMonday, 1 May 2023
  8. Ascension DayThursday, 18 May 2023
  9. Whit SundaySunday, 28 May 2023Major holidayFalls on a weekend
  10. Whit MondayMonday, 29 May 2023
  11. Icelandic National DaySaturday, 17 June 2023Major holidayFalls on a weekend
  12. Commerce DayMonday, 7 August 2023
  13. Christmas EveSunday, 24 December 2023Half dayMajor holidayFalls on a weekend
  14. Christmas DayMonday, 25 December 2023Major holiday
  15. Second Day of ChristmasTuesday, 26 December 2023
  16. New Year's EveSunday, 31 December 2023Half dayMajor holidayFalls on a weekend

Questions & answers

How many public holidays are there in Iceland in 2023?
Iceland has 14 statutory public holidays in 2023, 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 2023 calendar or stretch your time off with bridge days.