Public holidays in Austria 2026: the 13 statutory days off

Public holidays in Austria are set by federal law and apply nationwide to all employees. This guide lists the 13 statutory public holidays, explains what employees are entitled to and clarifies which dates are often mistakenly treated as days off.

Key points

• Austria has 13 statutory public holidays (gesetzliche Feiertage), listed in the Feiertagsruhegesetz 1957.
• They apply to all employees, regardless of religious affiliation.
• On a public holiday, employees are entitled to at least 24 hours of uninterrupted rest, beginning between midnight and 6 a.m.
• If you work on a public holiday, you must receive the holiday payment as well as payment for the hours worked.
• December 24 and December 31 are not public holidays; they are regular working days.

Statutory public holidays in Austria

The law lists 13 public holidays. Eight fall on the same date every year, while five depend on the date of Easter and therefore move from year to year.

• New Year's Day — Neujahr — January 1
• Epiphany — Heilige Drei Könige — January 6
• Easter Monday — Ostermontag — movable holiday
• State Holiday — Staatsfeiertag — May 1
• Ascension Day — Christi Himmelfahrt — movable holiday
• Whit Monday — Pfingstmontag — movable holiday
• Corpus Christi — Fronleichnam — movable holiday
• Assumption of Mary — Mariä Himmelfahrt — August 15
• National Holiday — Nationalfeiertag — October 26
• All Saints' Day — Allerheiligen — November 1
• Immaculate Conception — Mariä Empfängnis — December 8
• Christmas Day — Weihnachten — December 25
• St. Stephen's Day — Stephanstag — December 26

Easter Sunday and Whit Sunday are not listed separately in the law. They already fall on a Sunday, and the number of statutory public holidays is 13, not more. The list previously contained 15 days; the list above is the current one.

The exact dates of the movable holidays in 2026 and the school holidays in the individual federal states are available in the related overview: Public holidays in Austria in 2026.

Who is entitled to public holidays?

Statutory public holidays apply to all employees working in Austria, regardless of their religion or whether they belong to a religious organisation.

For public employees covered by federal law and people undergoing training in federal service, the law specifically applies certain provisions of the Working Rest Act (Arbeitsruhegesetz, ARG).

What is public-holiday rest?

Public-holiday rest (Feiertagsruhe) means that employees are entitled to at least 24 hours of uninterrupted rest on a public holiday. This rest period must begin no earlier than midnight and no later than 6 a.m., at the same time for all employees of the establishment.

There is an exception for publishers of daily newspapers and the printing companies that print them: the rest period there is 18 hours.

The Working Rest Act determines in which sectors employees may work on public holidays. Even where work is permitted, only the staff absolutely necessary may be employed on a public holiday.

Exceptional work on public holidays

In the event of a temporary, special need for work, a works agreement (Betriebsvereinbarung) may require work on no more than 4 weekends or public holidays per year per employee, but not on four consecutive weekends. This exception does not apply to sales activities covered by the Opening Hours Act (Öffnungszeitengesetz).

At companies without a works council (Betriebsrat), this is possible through a written individual agreement. In this situation, the employee may refuse the work without giving a reason and may not suffer any disadvantage as a result. If the employee is dismissed for this reason, the dismissal can be challenged in court within 2 weeks.

How much pay is due on a public holiday?

You are entitled to your regular pay for the public holiday as if you had worked. This is known as the loss-of-earnings principle (Ausfallsprinzip), and the payment is called holiday pay (Feiertagsentgelt).

• Public holiday, no work: the regular pay due for the work that would have been performed.
• Public holiday, work performed: holiday pay plus pay for the hours worked.
• Variable pay, such as piecework pay, overtime or allowances: calculated using the average of the last 13 fully worked weeks.
• Expense reimbursements, such as daily allowances or mileage payments: not included.

These pay rules do not apply when the public holiday falls on a Sunday. If a collective agreement (Kollektivvertrag) or works rules provide more favourable conditions, those conditions remain valid.

Are December 24 and December 31 days off?

No. Christmas Eve (Heiliger Abend) and New Year's Eve are regular working days in Austria. However, many collective agreements provide for an earlier end to working hours on these dates.

For hairdressers, work ends at 12 p.m. on Christmas Eve and at 5 p.m. on New Year's Eve. Dental assistants have both days off under their collective agreement. Pay must still be paid in full in these situations.

What is a personal holiday?

A personal holiday (persönlicher Feiertag) is not an additional day off. It means that every employee may unilaterally choose the date of one day of leave per leave year.

In addition, anyone who works during the statutory weekend or public-holiday rest period may request the time off needed to fulfil religious obligations if this cannot be arranged outside working hours. The request must be made in good time and must be compatible with the operation of the business.

Frequently asked questions

How many public holidays are there in Austria in 2026?

The law provides for 13 public holidays, and this list also applies in 2026. They apply nationwide to all employees.

Is Good Friday a public holiday in Austria?

No. Good Friday (Karfreitag) is not included among the public holidays listed in the Feiertagsruhegesetz 1957.

Is there a substitute day when a public holiday falls on a weekend?

The law does not provide for a substitute day. If the public holiday falls on a Sunday, the special rules on public-holiday rest and pay do not apply.

What is special about October 26?

October 26 (Nationalfeiertag) is the only explicitly state-related national holiday on the list.

Practical steps

1. Check the 13 statutory public holidays against your work schedule for 2026.
2. Review your collective agreement (Kollektivvertrag) for special rules concerning December 24, December 31 and holiday work.
3. If you work on a public holiday, check that both holiday pay and payment for the hours worked appear correctly on your payslip.
4. If your employer asks you to work under the exceptional rules, check whether there is a Betriebsvereinbarung or a written individual agreement.
5. If you are dismissed after refusing such work, remember that a court challenge must be filed within 2 weeks.

This article is based on sources available online and does not constitute advice. Use it at your own risk. For professional advice, contact a lawyer, legal professional, healthcare professional, employment-law or labour-market specialist, or another relevant professional.

Source: ris.bka.gv.at, wien.arbeiterkammer.at