Hungary Public Holidays 2026 and 2027: Full Dates

Hungary has 11 statutory public holidays (munkaszüneti nap) under Section 102 of the Labour Code, and this guide gives their 2026 and 2027 dates, the “bridge day” system that reshuffles the calendar around them, and what actually closes. Unlike several neighbouring countries, Hungary does not give a substitute day off when one of these 11 falls on a weekend, so a holiday landing on a Saturday or Sunday is simply lost as a day off that year.

What are the dates of Hungary’s public holidays in 2026 and 2027?

In 2026, the 15 March holiday falls on a Sunday, meaning it produces no extra day off since Sunday is already a rest day. In 2027, six of the eleven holidays land on a weekend (15 March, 1 May, 17 May would be a weekday but 23 October, 25 December and 26 December fall on Saturday or Sunday), and Hungarian law provides no substitute weekday for any of them, unlike Belgium or Malta’s rules.

What is the “bridge day” system and how does it affect 2026?

Hungary’s government publishes an annual decree, issued by the Minister for National Economy and printed in the Magyar Közlöny (Official Gazette), that designates specific Saturdays as working days so that the Friday or Monday next to a public holiday becomes an extra day off instead, creating a four-day weekend. For 2026, that decree (Rendelet 10/2025, published 30 April 2025) designates three worked Saturdays: 10 January, 8 August and 12 December 2026, each paired with a compensating Friday or Thursday off, producing four separate four-day long weekends and three three-day weekends across the year. The equivalent 2027 decree had not been published at the time of writing; it typically appears in the Magyar Közlöny in the autumn of the preceding year, so check the Nemzeti Foglalkoztatási Szolgálat (National Employment Service, nfsz.munka.hu) or the Magyar Közlöny directly closer to autumn 2026 for the confirmed 2027 swap dates rather than assuming last year’s pattern repeats.

In recent years, employers have also treated 24 December (Christmas Eve) as an unofficial extra day off, paired with a compensating worked Saturday, even though it is not one of the 11 statutory holidays; this has held in 2024, 2025 and 2026, but is a matter of ministerial decree each year rather than law, so it is not guaranteed to continue into 2027 without a published decree confirming it.

How are Hungary’s public holidays marked?

• New Year’s Day. Fireworks and family gatherings mark the day, with many Hungarians visiting friends and relatives.
• 1848 Revolution Memorial Day (15 March). Commemorates the 1848-49 Revolution and War of Independence. Ceremonies, parades and speeches take place nationwide, and the Hungarian tricolour is displayed widely.
• Good Friday. A solemn day marking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, observed with church services and, in some communities, Stations of the Cross processions.
• Easter Monday. Marked by “sprinkling” (locsolkodás), where young men playfully sprinkle water or perfume on women and recite Easter poems in exchange for painted eggs or small gifts, followed by family meals featuring ham and Easter pastries.
• Labour Day (1 May). Marked by union rallies, outdoor concerts and picnics.
• Whit Monday. The day after Pentecost, spent with family, often with a long weekend used for short trips.
• State Foundation Day / Saint Stephen’s Day (20 August). Marks the founding of the Hungarian state under King Saint Stephen. The Budapest fireworks display over the Danube draws the largest crowd of the day, alongside concerts and a flag-raising ceremony; it is also, by the same date, Hungary’s Constitution Day, since the current constitution took effect on 20 August.
• 1956 Revolution Memorial Day (23 October). Commemorates the 1956 Revolution and War of Independence, with ceremonies and exhibitions at memorials and historical sites nationwide.
• All Saints’ Day (1 November). Hungarians visit family graves, decorating them with flowers, candles and wreaths.
• Christmas Day and Second Day of Christmas. Family gatherings, midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, and traditional dishes such as fish soup and stuffed cabbage carry through both days.

Are there days locals still work in Hungary?

Several widely observed days are not public holidays, so shops, schools and offices operate normally.

• Easter Sunday and Whit Sunday (Pentecost) are religious observances the day before their respective Monday public holidays, but both are ordinary working days when they don’t fall on their usual Sunday rest day anyway.
• Mother’s Day (first Sunday of May) and Father’s Day (third Sunday of June) are widely marked but not public holidays.
• Saint Nicholas Day (6 December) brings small gifts for children but is a normal working day.
• Christmas Eve (24 December) and New Year’s Eve (31 December) are technically ordinary working days, though many employers grant a half day or close early, and, as noted above, Christmas Eve has in practice been added as an unofficial extra day off in recent years’ government decrees.

What actually closes in Hungary on public holidays?

Hungary repealed its general Sunday-closing law in 2015, so unlike Germany or Austria, most shops, shopping malls, grocery stores and restaurants can legally open on Sundays and continue to do so; this same permissive rule extends to how retailers treat the 11 statutory public holidays, so many larger stores stay open, though some, particularly smaller or family-run shops, choose to close. Banks and government offices close on all 11 statutory public holidays. Budapest’s public transport operator BKK typically runs a Sunday-level timetable on public holidays with reduced frequency compared to a weekday; check bkk.hu for the specific schedule before travelling on one of these dates.

What are the Hungarian school holidays for 2026-2027?

Hungary’s school calendar includes a roughly two-week autumn break, a two-week winter break around Christmas and New Year, a one-week spring break around Easter, and a summer break running from mid-June to the start of September. The Ministry of Culture and Innovation publishes the exact term dates for each school year separately; check the current year’s ministerial decree for the precise 2026-2027 dates rather than relying on a previous year’s calendar, since the specific week can shift by several days from one year to the next.

When is Daylight Saving Time in Hungary in 2026 and 2027?

Hungary follows the EU-wide schedule. Clocks move forward one hour on the last Sunday of March, 29 March 2026 and 28 March 2027, and back one hour on the last Sunday of October, 25 October 2026 and 31 October 2027.

Where to go in Hungary during the holidays

Hungary’s main sights stay open through most public holidays, with the busiest crowds around Saint Stephen’s Day and Christmas. Budapest draws the largest holiday crowds for the 20 August fireworks over the Danube and for its Christmas markets through Advent. For more on the country beyond its holiday calendar, see facts about Hungary, famous Hungarian people and places to visit in Hungary.

About the author. This guide is written and maintained by the Wonderful Wanderings editorial team. Wonderful Wanderings was founded in 2012 by Sofie Couwenbergh, and the team covers Hungary for independent travellers, including the practical planning details, like which Saturdays get swapped for a holiday and what stays open, that make the difference between a smooth trip and a closed-shop surprise. This page is updated whenever Hungary’s government publishes a new bridge-day decree or changes a holiday date.