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Public Holidays in Poland 2026/2027:
A Guide for Businesses

Planning ahead is essential for smooth business operations—especially when it comes to managing staff leave. Poland observes both nationwide public holidays and religious observances that can impact scheduling.

This guide lists all public holidays in Poland for 2026 and 2027 and explains key rules employers must follow to stay compliant and keep their teams happy.

Nationwide Public Holidays – Poland 2026

  • January 1 (Thursday): New Year’s Day (Nowy Rok)
  • January 6 (Tuesday): Epiphany (Trzech Króli)
  • April 5 (Sunday): Easter Sunday (Wielkanoc)
  • April 6 (Monday): Easter Monday (Poniedziałek Wielkanocny)
  • May 1 (Friday): Labour Day (Święto Pracy)
  • May 3 (Sunday): Constitution Day (Święto Konstytucji 3 Maja)
  • May 24 (Sunday): Pentecost (Zielone Świątki)
  • June 4 (Thursday): Corpus Christi (Boże Ciało)
  • August 15 (Saturday): Assumption of Mary & Polish Armed Forces Day (Wniebowzięcie Najświętszej Maryi Panny & Święto Wojska Polskiego)
  • November 1 (Sunday): All Saints’ Day (Wszystkich Świętych)
  • November 11 (Wednesday): Independence Day (Narodowe Święto Niepodległości)
  • December 25 (Friday): Christmas Day (Boże Narodzenie)
  • December 26 (Saturday): Second Day of Christmas (Drugi dzień Bożego Narodzenia)

Nationwide Public Holidays – Poland 2027

  • January 1 (Friday): New Year’s Day (Nowy Rok)
  • January 6 (Wednesday): Epiphany (Trzech Króli)
  • March 28 (Sunday): Easter Sunday (Wielkanoc)
  • March 29(Monday): Easter Monday (Poniedziałek Wielkanocny)
  • May 1 (Saturday): Labour Day (Święto Pracy)
  • May 3 (Monday): Constitution Day (Święto Konstytucji 3 Maja)
  • May 16 (Sunday): Pentecost (Zielone Świątki)
  • May 27 (Thursday): Corpus Christi (Boże Ciało)
  • August 15 (Sunday): Assumption of Mary & Polish Armed Forces Day (Wniebowzięcie Najświętszej Maryi Panny & Święto Wojska Polskiego)
  • November 1 (Monday): All Saints’ Day (Wszystkich Świętych)
  • November 11 (Thursday): Independence Day (Narodowe Święto Niepodległości)
  • December 25 (Saturday): Christmas Day (Boże Narodzenie)
  • December 26 (Sunday): Second Day of Christmas (Drugi dzień Bożego Narodzenia)

Employee Rights on Public Holidays in Poland

  • Most employees have the right to the day off.
  • If required to work, employees must receive a day off in lieu or overtime pay.
  • Essential service workers (e.g., healthcare, transport) may be required to work but must be compensated.
  • Bank holidays do not usually count towards an employee’s paid leave unless they fall on a Saturday, in which case no additional day off is provided.

Working on Bank Holidays in Poland – Rules and Employer Duties

Whether staff are required to work on bank holidays depends on the nature of the business and employment agreements. In most cases, employees are not expected to work on these days, but there are exceptions.

General rule: Under Article 151(10) of the Polish Labour Code, work on bank holidays is generally prohibited. However, it is allowed in certain sectors such as healthcare, transport, or retail, where continuous service or customer demand makes it necessary.

Mandatory holidays: Some dates—like Labour Day (May 1) and Constitution Day (May 3)—are of special significance, and businesses must observe them unless essential services require operations.

Company agreements: Employers can make arrangements with employees or through collective bargaining on bank holiday work. These agreements must outline pay rates or compensatory time off.

Employer Legal Obligations

  • Respect national labour laws and employee rights during bank holidays.
  • Clearly communicate schedules, pay rates, or compensatory leave arrangements well in advance.
  • Keep policies in line with the Polish Labour Code to avoid compliance issues.

Bank Holidays and Annual Leave Entitlement

  • Bank holidays are separate from annual leave entitlements.
  • They do not normally count against paid leave, unless they fall on a Saturday—where no extra day off is given.
  • For part-time staff, entitlement depends on their schedule:
    • If the holiday falls on a normal workday → they receive the day off with pay.
    • If it falls on a non-working day → no entitlement applies.

Best Practices for Small Businesses

  • Plan early to avoid staffing gaps.
  • Use leave management software like TimeOff.Management for easier scheduling and tracking.
  • Offer flexibility with shift swaps or extra leave days.
  • Communicate clearly about holiday schedules and expectations.

Kate Vodopian