Public Holidays in Luxembourg 2027: Dates and Employer Guide

August 27, 2026 • 21 min read •

By Kate Vodopian

Quick answer: Luxembourg has 11 statutory public holidays in 2027.

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

Five fall on a Saturday or Sunday:

• Labour Day — Saturday, May 1;
• Europe Day — Sunday, May 9;
• Assumption Day — Sunday, August 15;
• Christmas Day — Saturday, December 25;
• Saint Stephen’s Day — Sunday, December 26.

Luxembourg does not assign one fixed Friday or Monday substitute for these dates.

For a full-time employee who normally works Monday to Friday, each weekend holiday normally creates one day of compensatory leave.

This means a standard Monday-to-Friday employee will usually receive:

• 6 public holidays on their calendar dates;
• 5 compensatory leave days to be scheduled separately.

The final treatment depends on the employee’s normal work schedule.

Last reviewed: 27 August 2026.

Public holidays in Luxembourg are easier to manage than in countries with large regional calendars.

The same 11 statutory holidays normally apply across the country.

However, the rules become more detailed when:

• a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday;
• an employee works part-time;
• an employee works on the holiday;
• the business operates on Sundays;
• or a collective agreement provides extra holidays.

The 2027 calendar needs particular care because almost half of Luxembourg’s statutory holidays fall on a weekend.

How Public Holidays Work in Luxembourg

Employees and apprentices working for private-sector employers in Luxembourg are entitled to 11 statutory public holidays each year.

Employees do not normally work on these days.

When a public holiday falls on a day the employee would normally work, the employee usually receives paid time off on that date.

When it falls on a day the employee does not normally work, the employee normally receives compensatory leave.

The employer must apply the rules against the employee’s actual work schedule.

This is important for:

• part-time employees;
• shift workers;
• employees working weekends;
• and employees whose weekly rest day is not Saturday or Sunday.

Luxembourg Public Holidays in 2027

Verification status: Confirmed against the official 2027 statutory public holiday calendar published by Luxembourg’s Inspectorate of Labour and Mines.

Luxembourg Public Holidays 2027: Compact Calendar

This table assumes the employee normally works Monday to Friday.

Shift and part-time employees must be assessed against their contractual schedule.

Weekend Public Holidays in 2027

Five statutory public holidays fall on a weekend.

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

• Friday, April 30;
• Monday, May 3;
• Monday, May 10;
• Monday, August 16;
• Friday, December 24;
• Monday, December 27;
• Tuesday, December 28.

One of these dates may still be used as a compensatory day.

However, it is not an automatic national substitute date.

When Must Compensatory Leave Be Taken?

A compensatory leave day should normally be granted within three months, starting on the day after the public holiday.

Where business operations make this impossible, the leave should be granted:

• before the end of the same calendar year;
• or by the end of March of the following year for holidays in November and December.

This gives employers more time to schedule compensatory leave for:

• All Saints’ Day;
• Christmas Day;
• and Saint Stephen’s Day.

An employer can also set a common compensatory date for the whole team.

Where there is a staff delegation, the employer must consult it first.

There Is No Automatic Monday Substitute

Luxembourg’s system is different from countries that move every Sunday holiday to Monday.

A public holiday falling on a weekend creates an entitlement to compensatory leave.

It does not create one compulsory national closure date.

For example, Europe Day falls on Sunday, May 9, 2027.

An employer could arrange the compensatory leave:

• on Monday, May 10;
• on another agreed date;
• as part of a wider company closure;
• or individually for each employee.

The leave must still be granted within the legal time limit.

Six Fixed Weekday Public Holidays in 2027

For employees working Monday to Friday, the six calendar-date holidays are:

These dates should normally be entered directly into the employee’s work calendar as paid non-working days.

Long Weekends and Busy Leave Periods in 2027

The 2027 calendar creates several periods when employers may receive more leave requests.

May Needs Extra Planning

May contains four statutory holiday dates:

• Labour Day — May 1;
• Ascension Day — May 6;
• Europe Day — May 9;
• Whit Monday — May 17.

For Monday-to-Friday staff:

• May 6 is a fixed weekday holiday;
• May 17 is a fixed weekday holiday;
• May 1 creates compensatory leave;
• May 9 creates compensatory leave.

Depending on when those compensatory days are granted, employees may be able to create a long break using very little annual leave.

Small businesses should review minimum staffing levels before approving several overlapping requests.

Working on a Public Holiday in Luxembourg

In principle, employees do not work on statutory public holidays.

An employer should require holiday work only where the business has special operating conditions that make closure impractical.

This can apply to businesses such as:

• healthcare providers;
• hotels;
• restaurants;
• transport services;
• security businesses;
• utilities;
• emergency services;
• and continuous manufacturing operations.

The employee’s entitlement depends on:

• whether the holiday falls on a normal working day;
• whether it falls on a normal day off;
• whether it falls on Sunday;
• and whether the hours are also overtime.

Public Holiday Pay in Luxembourg

Holiday Falls on a Normal Working Day

When an employee works on a statutory public holiday that falls on a day they would normally work, they are entitled to:

1. pay for the hours they would normally have worked;
2. normal pay for the hours actually worked;
3. a 100% public holiday premium for the hours worked.

Where the employee works the same hours they were scheduled to work, this normally produces total pay equal to 300% of the normal hourly rate.

For a monthly salaried employee, the first 100% is normally already included in the monthly salary.

The employer then adds:

• pay for the hours worked;
• and the 100% holiday premium.

Public Holiday Pay Example

Assume an employee earns EUR 20 per hour and works 8 hours on a public holiday that would normally have been an 8-hour working day.

This is the minimum statutory structure before any additional contractual benefit.

Holiday Falls on a Day the Employee Normally Does Not Work

If the employee works on a public holiday that falls on a weekday or Saturday they do not normally work, they are entitled to:

• normal pay for the hours worked;
• a 100% public holiday premium;
• and one compensatory leave day.

The pay for the hours worked is therefore normally 200%, plus the compensatory leave entitlement.

Working on a Sunday Public Holiday

Three statutory public holidays fall on Sunday in 2027:

• Europe Day — May 9;
• Assumption Day — August 15;
• Saint Stephen’s Day — December 26.

If an employee works on a Sunday that is also a statutory public holiday, they are entitled to:

• normal hourly pay for the hours actually worked;
• a 100% public holiday premium for those hours;
• a 70% Sunday premium for those hours;
• and one compensatory day of leave.

The cash payment therefore equals 270% of the normal hourly rate for the hours worked, plus one compensatory day.

The official Luxembourg guidance does not add another separate 100% scheduled-holiday payment on top of these entitlements.

If the Employee Does Not Work

The employee’s normal schedule matters when the Sunday holiday is not worked.

If Sunday would normally have been a working day, the employee receives the pay for the hours they would normally have worked. No additional compensatory day is added.

If Sunday would normally have been a day off, the employee receives one compensatory day of leave.

Overtime on a Public Holiday

Where hours worked on a public holiday also qualify as overtime, the overtime entitlement is added to any public holiday and Sunday entitlements.

As a rule, overtime must be compensated with:

1.5 hours of paid compensatory time off for each overtime hour worked.

The compensatory time can be:

• taken as paid time off;
• or placed in a time savings account where one is available.

Payment is not a freely interchangeable alternative.

If compensatory time cannot be granted because of the company’s operational needs, or because the employee leaves before taking it, the overtime must instead be paid at no less than:

140% of the normal hourly wage

This consists of:

• normal pay for the overtime hour;
• plus a 40% overtime premium.

When overtime is worked on a Sunday public holiday, the applicable entitlements accumulate. Depending on the circumstances, this can include:

• normal pay for the hours worked;
• the 100% public holiday premium;
• the 70% Sunday premium;
• the required public holiday compensatory day;
• and either the normal 1.5-hour overtime rest entitlement or, where that rest cannot be provided, the 40% overtime premium.

Employers should record each payment and leave entitlement separately.

Public Holiday Pay Is Tax Exempt

Additional pay for work performed on a statutory public holiday is exempt from Luxembourg income tax.

Employers should still record:

• the hours worked;
• the holiday premium;
• any Sunday premium;
• and any overtime premium

correctly in payroll.

Employers Must Keep a Holiday Work Register

Employers must keep a special register or electronic record showing:

• hours worked on statutory public holidays;
• and the remuneration paid for those hours.

The record must be available to the Inspectorate of Labour and Mines if requested.

This is particularly important for businesses with:

• weekend opening;
• rotating shifts;
• seasonal work;
• or continuous operations.

Part-Time Employees and Public Holidays

Part-time employees are also entitled to statutory public holiday protection.

Their annual entitlement is normally calculated proportionally in hours.

A full-time employee working 40 hours per week receives:

11 holidays × 8 hours = 88 public holiday hours

For a part-time employee, the ITM uses the following proportional calculation:

88 ÷ 40 × weekly contractual hours

Employers should calculate the employee’s public holiday entitlement at the start of the year.

They should then track the hours as each holiday occurs.

Part-Time Employee With Uneven Working Days

The employee’s real schedule still matters.

For example, an employee may work:

• 8 hours on Monday;
• 4 hours on Wednesday;
• no hours on other weekdays.

When a holiday falls on a Monday, the employee normally receives pay for the 8 hours they would have worked.

When it falls on a day they do not normally work, compensatory leave is calculated using the employee’s average daily hours.

The ITM calls this the smoothing method.

Employers with irregular part-time schedules should manage public holiday entitlement in hours rather than whole days.

Employees Scheduled for Four Hours or Less

Where a public holiday falls on a day an employee would normally work for four hours or less, and the employee does not work on the holiday, they are entitled to:

• pay for the hours they would normally have worked;
• and half a day of compensatory leave.

If the employee works on the holiday, the holiday-work entitlements described above apply instead.

The part-time employee’s total proportional annual entitlement must still be considered.

This is another reason to track public holiday entitlement in hours.

Public Holidays and Annual Leave

Luxembourg employees are normally entitled to at least 26 working days of paid annual leave.

Statutory public holidays should be managed separately from annual leave.

When an employee is entitled to a paid public holiday, the date should not also be deducted as an ordinary annual leave day.

For example, an employee taking leave around Easter should not normally need annual leave for Monday, March 29.

They may need annual leave for:

• Friday, March 26;
• Tuesday, March 30;
• or another normal working day.

The employee’s actual schedule must always be checked.

Public Holidays During Sick Leave or Maternity Leave

When a statutory holiday falls during sick leave or maternity leave, the normal schedule-based rules still apply.

Compensatory leave arising during sick or maternity leave should normally be used within three months.

Seasonal Businesses Have Special Rules

Special arrangements can apply to:

• hotels;
• restaurants;
• drinking establishments;
• and businesses whose activity is subject to seasonal variations.

Where an employee in one of these businesses works on a public holiday, they may receive:

• their usual pay if they would normally have worked;
• or compensatory leave if they would normally have been off;

plus one of the following:

• two paid rest days to be taken within six months;
• two paid leave days added to annual leave;
• or half a day of additional paid rest per week if all statutory public holidays are worked.

Employers in seasonal sectors should check the full sector rules and any collective agreement before processing holiday work.

Good Friday Is Not a General Public Holiday

Good Friday falls on Friday, March 26, 2027.

It is not one of Luxembourg’s 11 general statutory public holidays.

Most private-sector employers should therefore treat it as a normal working day unless another rule applies.

An employee may still receive Good Friday off under:

• a collective agreement;
• an employment contract;
• company policy;
• or a sector-specific arrangement.

Guichet gives the banking sector as an example where Good Friday may be an additional holiday under the applicable collective agreement.

Employers should check the banking agreement in force for 2027 before adding it to the calendar.

Christmas Eve Is Not a General Public Holiday

Christmas Eve falls on Friday, December 24, 2027.

It is not one of the 11 statutory public holidays.

Some businesses may:

• close for the whole day;
• close early;
• provide a company holiday;
• or require employees to use annual leave.

The banking sector may provide the afternoon of Christmas Eve as additional time off under its collective agreement.

This does not make December 24 a universal public holiday for every employee in Luxembourg.

Common Dates That Are Not Statutory Public Holidays

A contract or collective agreement can provide more generous leave.

Does Luxembourg Have Regional Public Holidays?

Luxembourg does not have separate regional statutory calendars like Spain, Canada or the United States.

The same 11 statutory holidays apply nationally.

However, differences can still arise through:

• company holiday substitutions;
• collective agreements;
• sector-specific rules;
• local business holidays;
• and individual working schedules.

A business may therefore need several employee calendars even though the national statutory list is the same.

A Simple Way to Manage Luxembourg Public Holidays

Keep one clear record of:

• all 11 statutory public holidays;
• holidays falling on weekends;
• compensatory leave balances;
• each employee’s normal schedule;
• part-time public holiday hours;
• holidays worked;
• Sunday premiums;
• and additional company or collective-agreement holidays.

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

You can keep:

• statutory holidays;
• compensatory days;
• company holidays;
• and banking-sector dates

separate.

Managers with Team View access 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 11 statutory dates. Use the official 2027 calendar.
• Identify the five weekend holidays. They normally create compensatory leave for Monday-to-Friday staff.
• Do not invent fixed substitute dates. Luxembourg does not automatically move weekend holidays to Monday or Friday.
• Schedule compensatory leave on time. The normal deadline is three months.
• Track December separately. Operational exceptions may allow Christmas compensation to be used by March 2028.
• Calculate part-time entitlement in hours. Do not rely only on whole-day balances.
• Check each employee’s schedule. A Monday holiday affects employees differently if Monday is not one of their working days.
• Apply the correct holiday pay. Work on a normal working-day holiday can produce total pay of 300%.
• Add the Sunday premium. Europe Day, Assumption and Saint Stephen’s Day fall on Sunday.
• Record overtime separately. Holiday, Sunday and overtime premiums can all apply.
• Keep a holiday work register. Record hours and remuneration for inspection purposes.
• Check collective agreements. They may add Good Friday, Christmas Eve or other days.
• Keep statutory holidays separate from annual leave.
• Plan May early. Four holiday dates fall between May 1 and May 17.
• Review the calendar before 2027. Check for legal or collective-agreement changes.

Key Points for Employers

• Luxembourg has 11 statutory public holidays.
• Six fall on weekdays in 2027.
• Five fall on a Saturday or Sunday.
• Weekend holidays normally create compensatory leave rather than a fixed observed date.
• A standard Monday-to-Friday employee will usually receive five compensatory leave days.
• Compensatory leave should normally be used within three months.
• Christmas compensation may be carried into March 2028 where operational needs prevent earlier use.
• Work on a normal working-day public holiday normally produces total pay of 300%.
• Sunday public holiday work includes a 100% holiday premium and a 70% Sunday premium.
• Overtime compensation may also apply.
• Part-time entitlement should be calculated proportionally in hours.
• Good Friday and Christmas Eve are not general statutory public holidays.
• Collective agreements and company policies can provide additional dates.
• Employers must keep records of holiday work and pay.

FAQ

How Many Public Holidays Are There in Luxembourg in 2027?

There are 11 statutory public holidays.

They apply to employees and apprentices covered by Luxembourg private-sector employment rules.

What Are Luxembourg’s Public Holidays in 2027?

The statutory holidays are:

• New Year’s Day;
• Easter Monday;
• Labour Day;
• Europe Day;
• Ascension Day;
• Whit Monday;
• National Day;
• Assumption Day;
• All Saints’ Day;
• Christmas Day;
• Saint Stephen’s Day.

How Many Public Holidays Fall on Weekdays in 2027?

Six fall on Monday to Friday:

• January 1;
• March 29;
• May 6;
• May 17;
• June 23;
• November 1.

Which Luxembourg Holidays Fall on Weekends in 2027?

Five dates fall on a weekend:

• May 1;
• May 9;
• August 15;
• December 25;
• December 26.

Are Weekend Public Holidays Moved to Monday?

Not automatically.

Employees normally receive compensatory leave instead.

The employer can schedule the leave on Monday or another date, provided the legal rules are followed.

How Many Compensatory Days Does a Monday-to-Friday Employee Receive?

A full-time employee who normally works Monday to Friday will usually receive five compensatory leave days for the five weekend holidays.

Part-time and shift employees must be assessed against their contractual schedule.

When Must Compensatory Leave Be Taken?

It should normally be granted within three months of the day after the holiday.

Where business operations prevent this, it may be used later within the permitted deadline.

For November and December holidays, operational exceptions may allow the leave to be used by the end of March of the following year.

Is Good Friday a Public Holiday in Luxembourg?

Not as one of the 11 general statutory holidays.

Good Friday falls on March 26, 2027.

It may still be a holiday under a collective agreement, including some banking-sector arrangements.

Is Europe Day a Public Holiday in Luxembourg?

Yes.

Europe Day is one of Luxembourg’s statutory public holidays.

It falls on Sunday, May 9, 2027.

Employees who do not work that Sunday normally receive compensatory leave.

Is Christmas Eve a Public Holiday?

No.

Friday, December 24 is not one of the 11 general statutory public holidays.

A contract, collective agreement or company policy may still provide time off.

Are December 27 and 28 Public Holidays?

Not automatically.

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

They create compensatory leave entitlements, but Luxembourg does not designate December 27 and 28 as universal substitute holidays.

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

Where the holiday falls on a normal working day, the employee normally receives:

• pay for the scheduled holiday hours;
• pay for the hours actually worked;
• a 100% premium for the hours worked.

This normally produces total pay of 300% for equivalent hours.

What Happens When an Employee Works on a Sunday Public Holiday?

The employee normally receives:

• pay for the hours worked;
• a 100% public holiday premium;
• a 70% Sunday premium;
• and one compensatory leave day.

Overtime rules may also apply.

Do Part-Time Employees Receive Public Holidays?

Yes.

Their entitlement is normally calculated proportionally in hours.

A part-time employee should not lose salary simply because of the way statutory holidays fall during the year.

Do Public Holidays Reduce Annual Leave?

Statutory public holidays and annual leave should be recorded separately.

A holiday to which the employee is entitled should not normally be deducted as an ordinary annual leave day.

How Much Annual Leave Do Luxembourg Employees Receive?

The legal minimum is normally 26 working days of paid annual leave per year.

Employment contracts and collective agreements may provide more.

Can an Employer Replace a Public Holiday With Another Date?

Yes.

An employer may replace an official public holiday with a local or company holiday, provided employees still receive all 11 statutory holiday entitlements.

The replacement should be clearly documented.

Do All Employees Use the Same Calendar?

The national statutory dates are the same.

The practical calendar can still differ because of:

• part-time schedules;
• shift patterns;
• weekend work;
• collective agreements;
• and company holiday substitutions.

Further Reading

• Luxembourg Inspectorate of Labour and Mines — Statutory Public Holidays
• Guichet.lu — Working on Public Holidays
• Luxembourg Labour Code
• Guichet.lu — Annual Paid Leave
• Guichet.lu — Sunday Work
• ITM — Part-Time Employee Public Holiday Calculation