Madeira, Portugal 2026 Public Holidays

New Year's Day

1 January. In many countries the day off moves to the following Monday when it falls on a weekend.

The first day of the Gregorian calendar year, and the most widely observed public holiday in the world — a day off in almost every country that uses the Gregorian calendar, regardless of religion. Several countries extend the break to 2 January, and some in East Asia keep both the Gregorian and a separate lunar new year.

Carnival / Shrove Tuesday / Pancake Day

The Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.

The last day before Lent — Mardi Gras in France and Louisiana, Pancake Day in Britain and Ireland, the closing day of Carnival almost everywhere it is celebrated.

Good Friday

The Friday before Easter Sunday.

Commemorates the crucifixion, and is the most widely observed Christian public holiday after Christmas. Together with Easter Monday it produces a four-day weekend in much of Europe, the Commonwealth and Latin America. In several countries it also carries trading or entertainment restrictions beyond the day off itself.

Easter Sunday

The first Sunday after the first full moon on or after 21 March, so the date moves between 22 March and 25 April.

The central feast of the Christian year, commemorating the resurrection. Because it always falls on a Sunday, the day off it generates is usually Good Friday or Easter Monday rather than the day itself. Its movable date sets the timing of Carnival, Ascension and Pentecost.

Labor Day

1 May in most countries; the first Monday of September in the United States and Canada.

The workers' holiday. Almost everywhere it falls on 1 May; in the United States and Canada it was deliberately placed in September to avoid the associations of May Day.

Corpus Christi

The Thursday 60 days after Easter Sunday.

A Catholic feast honouring the Eucharist, marked by processions. A public holiday in Brazil, Poland, Portugal, Austria, much of Latin America and several German and Swiss regions — one of the clearest cases where a holiday is regional rather than national.

Assumption of Mary

15 August.

A Catholic and Orthodox feast marking the assumption of the Virgin Mary. A public holiday across southern and Central Europe, Latin America and francophone Africa, and the peak of the summer holiday season in France and Italy.

Republic Day

The anniversary of the founding of the republic — varies by country.

Marks the adoption of a republican constitution or the end of a monarchy. Observed in India, Italy, Turkey, Portugal and a number of other states.

All Saints' Day

1 November.

Honours all saints, and in much of Catholic Europe and Latin America is the day families visit and tend graves. A public holiday in France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Portugal, the Philippines and many francophone African countries.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

8 December.

A Catholic feast honouring the conception of the Virgin Mary. A public holiday in Spain, Italy, Austria, Portugal, much of Latin America and the Philippines.

Christmas Day

25 December. The day off moves to the following weekday when it falls on a weekend.

The most widely observed public holiday after New Year's Day, a day off in the great majority of countries including many with no Christian majority, where it functions as a secular end-of-year holiday. Orthodox churches following the Julian calendar keep it on 7 January instead.