Long weekends 2026 in Portugal

Public holidays 2026 in Portugal and what each one gives you

Here is each day off in date order, what it marks, and the quickest way to turn it into a longer break.

• Thursday, 1 January: Ano Novo. New Year's Day follows the fireworks at midnight and is a quiet day of rest across the country. Take Friday, 2 January off and you have 4 days in a row, 1 to 4 January.
• Friday, 3 April: Sexta-feira Santa. Good Friday is a quiet day of church services. With Easter Monday it creates a long Easter weekend, a popular time for a spring trip. You get 3 free days in a row, 3 to 5 April, with no leave needed.
• Sunday, 5 April: Domingo de Páscoa. Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection with church services, family meals and, in many places, egg hunts. Most shops close for the day. It falls on a Sunday, and Portugal's list has no weekday in lieu for it in 2026.
• Saturday, 25 April: Dia da Liberdade. Freedom Day on 25 April remembers the Carnation Revolution of 1974, with red carnations, marches and concerts across Portugal. It falls on a Saturday, and Portugal's list has no weekday in lieu for it in 2026.
• Friday, 1 May: Dia do Trabalhador. Labour Day on 1 May honours workers with marches and gatherings, and it is often a first spring long weekend for short trips. You get 3 free days in a row, 1 to 3 May, with no leave needed.
• Thursday, 4 June: Corpo de Deus. Corpus Christi always falls on a Thursday, with processions through flower strewn streets. Many people bridge the Friday for a four day weekend. Take Friday, 5 June off and you have 4 days in a row, 4 to 7 June.
• Wednesday, 10 June: Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas. Portugal Day on 10 June honours the poet Luís de Camões and Portuguese communities around the world. Lisbon's Santo António festivities run at the same time. Take Monday, 8 June and Tuesday, 9 June off and you have 5 days in a row, 6 to 10 June.
• Saturday, 15 August: Assunção de Nossa Senhora. Assumption Day on 15 August falls at the height of summer, when many families are on holiday and beaches are at their busiest. It falls on a Saturday, and Portugal's list has no weekday in lieu for it in 2026.
• Monday, 5 October: Implantação da República. Republic Day on 5 October marks the proclamation of the Portuguese Republic in 1910, with ceremonies in Lisbon. You get 3 free days in a row, 3 to 5 October, with no leave needed.
• Sunday, 1 November: Dia de Todos-os-Santos. All Saints' Day is a day to remember the dead, with candles and flowers on family graves. It often creates an autumn long weekend. It falls on a Sunday, and Portugal's list has no weekday in lieu for it in 2026.
• Tuesday, 1 December: Restauração da Independência. Restoration of Independence Day on 1 December marks the end of Spanish rule in 1640. It opens the Christmas season in Portugal. Take Monday, 30 November off and you have 4 days in a row, 28 November to 1 December.
• Tuesday, 8 December: Imaculada Conceição. The Immaculate Conception on 8 December honours the patron saint of Portugal and opens the Christmas markets and lights. Take Monday, 7 December off and you have 4 days in a row, 5 to 8 December.
• Friday, 25 December: Natal. Christmas Day is a day for family meals and church, with nearly everything closed. Leave in the week after it gives a long winter break. You get 3 free days in a row, 25 to 27 December, with no leave needed.

Portugal next to the other countries

South Korea has the most with 18 public holidays in 2026, Mexico the fewest with 7. Portugal sits in between with 13.

Mexico

South KoreaiPhoto: Basile Morin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Its best break, 1 to 4 January, returns 4,0 days off per day of leave. 3 countries get a better ratio this year, mostly thanks to an extra public holiday next to a weekend.