Public Holidays in Austria 2027: Dates and Employer Guide

August 27, 2026 • 22 min read •

By Kate Vodopian

Public Holidays in Austria 2027: Dates and Employer Guide

Country code: AT — Republic of Austria — Republik Österreich

Quick answer: Austria has 13 statutory public holidays in 2027.

Nine fall on a normal Monday-to-Friday working day.

Four fall on a Saturday or Sunday:

• State Holiday / Labour Day — Saturday, May 1;
• Assumption Day — Sunday, August 15;
• Christmas Day — Saturday, December 25;
• St Stephen’s Day — Sunday, December 26.

Austria does not automatically move these weekend holidays to Friday or Monday.

For an employee who normally works Monday to Friday, a weekend holiday does not normally create another paid day off.

The employee’s actual work schedule and collective agreement must still be checked.

Last reviewed: 27 August 2026.

Public holidays in Austria are easier to manage than in countries with separate regional statutory calendars.

The same main holiday list applies across the country.

However, employers still need to understand:

• what happens when a holiday falls on a weekend;
• how employees are paid if they work;
• how public holidays affect part-time staff;
• whether bridge days are days off;
• why Good Friday is not a general public holiday;
• and which additional dates come from collective agreements.

These details matter in 2027 because four statutory holidays fall on a weekend.

How Public Holidays Work in Austria

Austria’s statutory public holidays are listed in Section 7 of the Arbeitsruhegesetz.

Employees are generally entitled to at least 24 hours of uninterrupted rest on a statutory holiday.

The holiday rest period normally begins between midnight and 6 a.m.

Work during public holiday rest is generally restricted.

It is permitted only where an exception applies under:

• the Labour Rest Act;
• another regulation;
• a collective agreement;
• or a sector-specific rule.

Common examples include:

• healthcare;
• hospitality;
• transport;
• utilities;
• emergency services;
• continuous production;
• security;
• and some retail activity.

The same statutory holiday dates generally apply across Austria.

Austria Public Holidays in 2027

Verification status: The statutory list is confirmed by the Austrian Labour Rest Act. The 2027 dates have been checked against Austria’s official calendar.

Austria Public Holidays 2027: Compact Calendar

This table assumes the employee normally works Monday to Friday.

Part-time employees, Saturday workers and shift employees must be assessed against their normal schedule.

Weekend Public Holidays in Austria in 2027

Four statutory holidays fall on a weekend.

Employers should not automatically mark any of the following as statutory observed holidays:

• Friday, April 30;
• Monday, May 3;
• Monday, August 16;
• Friday, December 24;
• Monday, December 27;
• Tuesday, December 28.

A company or collective agreement may still provide one of these dates as a day off.

That additional date should be recorded as:

• a company holiday;
• a collective-agreement holiday;
• annual leave;
• or agreed time off.

It should not be presented as a nationwide statutory substitute day.

What Happens When a Holiday Falls on Saturday?

Austria does not automatically move a Saturday holiday to another weekday.

This affects two dates in 2027:

• Saturday, May 1;
• Saturday, December 25.

For an employee who normally works Monday to Friday, these dates usually do not create:

• an extra Friday off;
• an extra Monday off;
• an extra day of annual leave;
• or separate holiday compensation.

The monthly salary remains unchanged.

There is simply no additional weekday absence because the employee was not scheduled to work on Saturday.

Employees Who Normally Work Saturdays

The answer is different where Saturday is a normal working day.

If the employee would normally have worked on Saturday, May 1 or Saturday, December 25, the holiday normally replaces the scheduled work.

The employee retains the pay they would have received if they had worked.

If the employee is lawfully required to work, public holiday work-pay rules apply.

What Happens When a Holiday Falls on Sunday?

Under the general Austrian Labour Rest Act, a statutory holiday that falls on Sunday is treated under the rules for Sunday rest rather than as a separate weekday holiday.

This affects:

• Assumption Day on Sunday, August 15;
• St Stephen’s Day on Sunday, December 26.

There is no automatic Monday substitute.

There is also an important payroll difference.

Under the general rules, work on a holiday that falls on Sunday does not automatically create statutory Feiertagsarbeitsentgelt, or public holiday work pay.

The employee may still be entitled to:

• a Sunday premium;
• replacement weekly rest;
• or another benefit

under the applicable collective agreement.

Some collective agreements expressly provide more generous treatment when a fixed-date holiday falls on Sunday.

Employers should therefore check the correct collective agreement before processing Sunday holiday work.

Nine Weekday Public Holidays in 2027

For employees who work Monday to Friday, nine public holidays fall on weekdays.

These dates should normally be loaded directly into a standard Monday-to-Friday employee calendar.

Good Friday Is Not a General Public Holiday

Good Friday falls on Friday, March 26, 2027.

It is not one of Austria’s 13 general statutory public holidays.

Since 2019, it has not been a separate statutory holiday for Protestant, Methodist or Old Catholic employees either.

An employee can still choose Good Friday as their personal holiday.

However, the personal holiday:

• comes from the employee’s existing annual leave balance;
• is not an additional holiday;
• and must be announced correctly in advance.

A collective agreement, contract or company policy can still provide Good Friday as an additional paid day off.

The Personal Holiday

Every employee can normally choose the date of one annual leave day per holiday year without needing the employer’s agreement.

This is known as the persönlicher Feiertag, or personal holiday.

The employee must:

• choose a normal working day;
• notify the employer in writing;
• and give at least three months’ notice.

The day is deducted from the employee’s normal annual leave allowance.

The employee does not need to give a religious reason.

Can the Employer Refuse the Personal Holiday?

The employer cannot simply reject a correctly notified personal holiday.

The employer can ask the employee to work.

The employee can still insist on taking the leave.

If the employee agrees to work instead:

• the day is not deducted from annual leave;
• the employee receives the normal leave pay;
• the employee also receives pay for the work performed;
• but the personal-holiday right is treated as used for that holiday year.

Public Holiday Pay in Austria

When a statutory holiday falls on a day the employee would normally work, the employee keeps the pay they would have received.

This is known as Feiertagsentgelt, or public holiday pay.

The principle is simple:

The employee should receive the pay they would have earned if the holiday had not prevented the work.

This can include regular:

• basic pay;
• allowances;
• premiums;
• and other recurring earnings.

Variable or performance-related pay may be calculated using an average, subject to the relevant legal and collective-agreement rules.

What If the Employee Works on a Public Holiday?

Where public holiday work is legally permitted, the employee normally receives:

1. the pay they would have received because the holiday replaced a normal working day; and
2. additional pay for the hours actually worked.

For the same number of hours, the total is commonly equal to approximately 200% of the normal rate.

A collective agreement may provide:

• a higher premium;
• an overtime rate;
• additional time off;
• or another form of compensation.

Public Holiday Pay Example

Assume an employee normally earns EUR 20 per hour and would usually work eight hours.

The employee is required to work eight hours on Ascension Day.

For a monthly salaried employee, the public holiday pay is normally already included in the monthly salary.

The employer then pays the additional hours worked.

If the employee works more than the normal hours for that weekday, overtime rules may also apply.

Is a Replacement Day Required After Holiday Work?

Not automatically.

The general law does not provide a separate replacement day simply because the employee worked on a statutory holiday.

The employee normally receives the additional holiday-work payment.

However, the employer and employee can agree to compensatory time instead of paying the additional remuneration for normal holiday hours.

Where this arrangement is used, the time off must meet the statutory requirements.

It must normally cover at least:

• one complete calendar day;
• or 36 hours.

Collective agreements can provide more generous rules.

When Is Public Holiday Work Allowed?

Public holiday work is generally prohibited unless a legal exception applies.

Exceptions can cover work needed for:

• healthcare and care services;
• hotels and restaurants;
• passenger and goods transport;
• urgent maintenance;
• security;
• utilities;
• emergency response;
• continuous production;
• tourism;
• cultural events;
• markets and exhibitions;
• and essential public services.

Even where holiday work is allowed, employers should use only the staff genuinely needed.

Employers should check:

• the Labour Rest Act;
• the Arbeitsruhegesetz-Verordnung;
• the relevant state regulation;
• and the employee’s collective agreement.

December 8: Special Retail Rules

Immaculate Conception falls on Wednesday, December 8, 2027.

It remains a statutory public holiday.

However, Austria has a special exception for retail stores when December 8 falls on a weekday.

Under the current rules, many retail stores can open between:

10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Regional opening rules should still be checked.

Retail employees have the right to refuse work on December 8 without giving a reason.

They must not be disadvantaged because they refuse.

Employees who work remain entitled to the holiday compensation required by law and the applicable retail collective agreement.

The 2027 retail collective agreement should be checked for:

• notice requirements;
• additional free time;
• premiums;
• and overtime treatment.

Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve Are Not Public Holidays

Two dates often cause confusion:

Many collective agreements provide:

• an earlier finish;
• reduced working hours;
• or a full day off.

This does not make either date a nationwide statutory holiday.

Employers should check the relevant collective agreement before requiring employees to use annual leave.

For example, some construction-sector rules treat December 24 and 31 as special winter holidays.

Other sectors provide only an early finish.

Other Dates That Are Not General Statutory Holidays

A collective agreement, contract or company policy can provide additional leave.

Do Public Holidays Vary by Federal State?

Austria does not have nine different full private-sector holiday calendars.

The 13 main statutory holidays apply nationally.

However, individual federal states recognise regional patron saint days and other observances.

These dates can appear in:

• school calendars;
• public-service calendars;
• regional government calendars;
• and collective agreements.

They do not automatically create an extra paid day off for every private-sector employee.

Employers should not add a regional patron saint day to the whole workforce without checking why the date appears on the source calendar.

The employee may be covered by:

• state public-service rules;
• a school calendar;
• a sector collective agreement;
• or a company policy.

Public Holidays for Part-Time Employees

Part-time employees have the same statutory holiday protections.

The practical entitlement depends on the normal work schedule.

Holiday Falls on a Normal Working Day

Assume an employee works Monday to Thursday.

If Easter Monday is a holiday, the employee:

• does not work;
• keeps their normal pay;
• and does not have to make up the hours later.

Holiday Falls on a Normal Day Off

Assume another employee works Tuesday to Friday.

Easter Monday is already a normal day off.

The employee does not receive an extra Tuesday off or separate holiday payment.

Their monthly salary remains unchanged.

Employers Must Not Move Workdays to Avoid Holiday Pay

An agreed working pattern cannot simply be changed at the last moment to avoid the effect of a public holiday.

The normal distribution of working time should be documented clearly.

Employers should record:

• normal working days;
• normal daily hours;
• any agreed schedule changes;
• and the reason for those changes.

Shift Workers and Public Holidays

A public holiday does not always mean a seven-day business must close.

Shift employees may still work in sectors such as:

• hospitals;
• care homes;
• hotels;
• restaurants;
• airports;
• transport;
• security;
• manufacturing;
• and energy supply.

Employers should record:

• the original public holiday date;
• the employee’s scheduled shift;
• the hours worked;
• whether the date falls on Sunday;
• whether overtime applies;
• and the collective-agreement premium.

Sunday holidays need special attention in 2027.

Assumption Day and St Stephen’s Day fall on Sunday.

Under the general rules, they are treated as Sundays rather than separate public holiday workdays.

A collective agreement can provide a different result.

Public Holidays and Annual Leave

Public holidays and annual leave should be tracked separately.

A statutory public holiday that falls during an agreed holiday period is not normally deducted as an annual leave day.

This includes a statutory holiday that falls on an otherwise non-working weekday within the leave period.

The employee should not lose a holiday entitlement merely because it falls inside a longer annual leave booking.

Annual Leave Entitlement in Austria

Employees generally receive at least five weeks of paid annual leave.

This usually equals:

After qualifying service, the entitlement can increase to six weeks.

Collective agreements and employment contracts can provide more.

Bridge Days Are Not Public Holidays

Austria uses the term Fenstertag for a working day between a public holiday and a weekend.

Two obvious bridge days appear in May 2027:

Friday, May 7 and Friday, May 28 are normal working days.

Employees need:

• approved annual leave;
• agreed time off;
• a company closure;
• or an agreed working-time arrangement.

They do not receive these dates automatically.

Working Ahead for a Bridge Day

A business can sometimes agree to redistribute working time so employees can take a bridge day without using annual leave.

This is known as Einarbeiten.

The arrangement must follow Austrian working-time rules.

It should be documented clearly and should not be used to create unpaid leave without agreement.

Long Weekends and Leave Opportunities in 2027

The 2027 calendar creates several popular leave periods.

These examples assume a Monday-to-Friday working week with Saturday and Sunday off.

The Christmas calendar is less generous for Monday-to-Friday staff in 2027 because Christmas Day and St Stephen’s Day fall on the weekend.

School Holidays Are Separate

Austria’s official school calendar includes:

• semester holidays;
• Easter holidays;
• Pentecost holidays;
• summer holidays;
• autumn holidays;
• Christmas holidays;
• and some state patron saint days.

These are school closures.

They do not automatically give parents or other private-sector employees paid leave.

For example, schools may be closed during a longer Easter period even though only Easter Monday is one of the general statutory work holidays.

Employers should keep:

• employee public holidays;
• school holidays;
• annual leave;
• and company closure dates

as separate calendar categories.

A Simple Way to Manage Austrian Public Holidays

Keep one clear record of:

• all 13 statutory public holidays;
• each employee’s normal work schedule;
• Saturday and Sunday holidays;
• holidays worked;
• personal holidays;
• bridge-day arrangements;
• regional or sector dates;
• and company holidays.

TimeOff.Management lets businesses create different public holiday calendars and assign them to the right employees.

You can keep:

• Austrian statutory holidays;
• collective-agreement holidays;
• company closure days;
• school dates;
• and individual personal holidays

separate.

Managers can then see public holidays alongside annual leave, sickness and other absences in one shared calendar.

Start a 30-day free trial — no card needed.

Practical Checklist for Employers

• Add all 13 statutory dates. Use the correct 2027 calendar.
• Identify the four weekend holidays. They do not automatically create weekday substitutes.
• Use the employee’s real schedule. A Saturday holiday may still affect an employee who normally works Saturdays.
• Check Sunday collective-agreement rules. Assumption Day and St Stephen’s Day fall on Sunday.
• Do not add Good Friday automatically. It is not a general statutory holiday.
• Record personal holidays correctly. They use annual leave and require three months’ written notice.
• Keep December 24 and 31 separate. They are normal working days unless another rule applies.
• Check the December 8 retail exception. Employees can refuse retail work on that date.
• Apply holiday pay correctly. Holiday work normally means public holiday pay plus pay for the hours worked.
• Check overtime separately. Extra hours may create additional entitlement.
• Do not promise an automatic replacement day.
• Manage part-time staff by schedule. Do not use one blanket rule.
• Separate public holidays from annual leave.
• Plan May bridge days early. May 7 and May 28 are likely leave-request dates.
• Check collective agreements. They may provide higher pay or additional days.
• Keep school calendars separate from employee calendars.

Key Points for Employers

• Austria has 13 statutory public holidays.
• Nine fall on weekdays in 2027.
• Four fall on Saturday or Sunday.
• Weekend holidays do not automatically move to another weekday.
• A Saturday holiday affects employees who normally work Saturdays.
• Under general rules, a Sunday holiday is treated as Sunday rather than as a separate holiday workday.
• Employees keep their normal pay when a holiday replaces scheduled work.
• Employees working on a holiday normally receive additional pay for the hours worked.
• Collective agreements may provide higher premiums.
• Good Friday is not a general statutory holiday.
• Employees can choose one personal holiday from their annual leave each holiday year.
• December 24 and 31 are not statutory holidays.
• Immaculate Conception is a holiday, but special retail-opening rules apply.
• Public holidays should not be deducted as ordinary annual leave days.
• Regional school or patron saint days are not automatically private-sector holidays.

FAQ

How Many Public Holidays Are There in Austria in 2027?

Austria has 13 statutory public holidays.

Nine fall on Monday to Friday.

Four fall on a Saturday or Sunday.

What Are Austria’s Public Holidays in 2027?

The statutory dates are:

• January 1;
• January 6;
• March 29;
• May 1;
• May 6;
• May 17;
• May 27;
• August 15;
• October 26;
• November 1;
• December 8;
• December 25;
• December 26.

Which Austrian Public Holidays Fall on Weekends in 2027?

The weekend holidays are:

• May 1 — Saturday;
• August 15 — Sunday;
• December 25 — Saturday;
• December 26 — Sunday.

Are Weekend Holidays Moved to Monday?

No.

Austria does not have a general rule moving a Saturday or Sunday holiday to Monday.

A collective agreement or company policy may provide another day.

Is Friday, April 30 a Substitute for May 1?

No.

State Holiday falls on Saturday, May 1.

Friday, April 30 remains a normal working day unless the employer provides leave or a company holiday.

Is Monday, August 16 a Public Holiday?

No.

Assumption Day falls on Sunday, August 15.

There is no automatic Monday substitute.

Are December 27 and 28 Public Holidays?

No.

Christmas Day and St Stephen’s Day fall on Saturday and Sunday.

Austria does not automatically move them to Monday and Tuesday.

An employer may still close or provide company leave.

Is Good Friday a Public Holiday in Austria?

No.

Good Friday falls on Friday, March 26, 2027.

It is not one of the 13 general statutory public holidays.

An employee can use annual leave or choose it as their personal holiday.

What Is a Personal Holiday?

It is one annual leave day whose date the employee can normally choose unilaterally.

The employee must give written notice at least three months in advance.

It is not an additional day of leave.

Is Easter Monday a Public Holiday?

Yes.

Easter Monday falls on Monday, March 29, 2027.

It is one of Austria’s statutory public holidays.

Is December 8 a Public Holiday?

Yes.

Immaculate Conception falls on Wednesday, December 8, 2027.

Special rules allow many retail stores to open.

Retail employees can refuse to work without giving a reason.

Is Christmas Eve a Public Holiday?

No.

Friday, December 24 is a normal working day under the general law.

A collective agreement or company policy may provide an early finish or a full day off.

Is New Year’s Eve a Public Holiday?

No.

Friday, December 31 is also a normal working day under the general law.

Sector rules may provide shorter hours.

How Much Is an Employee Paid for Working on a Public Holiday?

The employee normally receives:

• the pay they would have received because the holiday replaced scheduled work;
• plus pay for the hours actually worked.

For equivalent hours, this commonly results in total pay of around 200% of the normal rate.

Collective agreements may provide more.

Does an Employee Receive Another Day Off After Holiday Work?

Not automatically.

The normal entitlement is additional pay.

Compensatory time can be agreed instead, subject to the legal and collective-agreement rules.

What Happens When a Holiday Falls on the Employee’s Normal Day Off?

There is normally no additional payment or substitute day.

The answer depends on the employee’s agreed work schedule.

Do Part-Time Employees Receive Public Holiday Pay?

Yes, where the holiday falls on a day and during hours they would normally have worked.

A holiday falling on a normal free day does not usually create extra entitlement.

Are Public Holidays Deducted From Annual Leave?

No.

A statutory holiday falling within an annual leave period is not normally counted as an annual leave day.

How Much Annual Leave Do Austrian Employees Receive?

The normal minimum is five weeks.

This usually equals:

• 25 working days for a five-day week;
• 30 working days for a six-day week.

Qualifying long service can increase the entitlement to six weeks.

Are State Patron Saint Days Public Holidays?

Not automatically for all private-sector employees.

They may apply to:

• schools;
• public-sector employees;
• particular regions;
• or employees covered by a collective agreement.

The source and legal basis should be checked before adding one to an employee calendar.

Further Reading

• Austrian Labour Rest Act — Section 7: statutory holidays
• Austrian Labour Rest Act — Section 9: holiday pay
• Austrian Labour Rest Act — Section 7a: personal holiday
• Austria Government — 2026/2027 official school and public holiday calendar
• WKO — Working on public holidays
• Arbeiterkammer — Public holiday rest
• Arbeiterkammer — Personal holiday
• USP — Annual leave in Austria
• WKO — December 8 retail opening rules