InPortugal, apublic holiday (Portuguese:feriado) is acalendar date, legally recognised and defined in theLabour Code[1][2][3][4][5] as well as theConcordat of 2004, on which most businesses and non-essential services are closed. On some of these dates, public commemorative festivities are traditionally held.
Public holidays in Portugal are a mixture of select religious (Roman Catholic) observances and days that have national historical or cultural significance. These dates have changed over time: currently, there are 13 mandatory holidays and one optional (Carnival) that has to be specifically designated as a day off work (Portuguese:tolerância de ponto) each year by government decree (for public servants) or companies (for private sector). Specific dates may alternatively be observed only atregion ormunicipal level. Collective bargaining can specify that optional holidays are observed always and are also free for agreeing other dates that the specific company or sector agrees to observe as a holiday (e.g. bank holidays).
| Date | English name | Portuguese name | Notes | Continental Portugal | Autonomous Regions of Portugal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  | ||||
| moveable | Municipal holiday | Feriado Municipal | Public holiday established by each municipality, limited to its own territory, in general to celebrate the patron saint of the municipality, or the date of the establishment of the municipal autonomy |  Y | Y | Y |
| 1 January | New Year's Day | Ano Novo | Y | Y | Y | |
| moveable | Carnival | Carnaval | Carnival in Portugal is an annualfestival that ends onShrove Tuesday (called Fat Tuesday in Madeira - Terça-feira Gorda inPortuguese) the day beforeAsh Wednesday (first day of Lent). This is an optional holiday, although it is usually observed. 47 days before Easter Sunday. | Y | Y | Y |
| moveable | Good Friday | Sexta-feira Santa | Friday beforeEaster Sunday. Last observed 3 April 2026 | Y | Y | Y |
| moveable | Easter Sunday | Domingo de Páscoa[6] | Last observed 5 April 2026 | Y | Y | Y |
| 2 April | Madeira's Autonomy Day | Dia da Autonomia | The date marks the approval of the 1976 Constitution, which recognized the political and administrative autonomy of the archipelagos of Madeira and the Azores.[7][8][9] |  | Y | |
| 25 April | Freedom Day | Dia da Liberdade | Celebrates the1974 coup d'état that ended theEstado Novo government and established thePortuguese Third Republic. | Y | Y | Y |
| 1 May | Labour Day | Dia do Trabalhador | Y | Y | Y | |
| moveable | Corpus Christi | Corpo de Deus | 60 days afterEaster Sunday, a Thursday. Last observed 4 June 2026 | Y | Y | Y |
| moveable | Autonomous Region of Azores Day (Whit Monday) | Dia da Região Autónoma dos Açores Dia da PombinhaDia do Bodo | Only celebrated inAzores.[5] | | | Y |
| 10 June | Portugal Day | Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas | National Day. Commemorates the death of national poetLuís de Camões in 1580. | Y | Y | Y |
| 1 July | Autonomous Region of Madeira and Madeiran Communities Day | Dia da Região Autónoma da Madeira e das Comunidades Madeirenses | Only celebrated inMadeira.[2][3][4] | | Y | |
| 15 August | Assumption Day | Assunção de Nossa Senhora | Y | Y | Y | |
| 5 October | Republic Day | Implantação da República | Celebrates theend of Monarchy and the beginning of thePortuguese Republic. | Y | Y | Y |
| 1 November | All Saints Day | Dia de Todos-os-Santos | Y | Y | Y | |
| 1 December | Restoration of Independence | Restauração da Independência | Celebrates the end of thePhilippine Dynasty (1580–1640). | Y | Y | Y |
| 8 December | Immaculate Conception | Imaculada Conceição | Y | Y | Y | |
| 25 December | Christmas Day | Natal | Y | Y | Y | |
| 26 December | 1st Octave | Primeira Oitava | Only celebrated inMadeira. –Primeira Oitava is part of Madeira's centuries old Christmas celebrations which has been recognized as public holiday[10] by theRegional Government of Madeira, celebrating the second day of the week leading up to New Year's Day. | | Y | |
| Total holidays | 15 | 18 | 16 | |||
In 2012, theXIX Constitutional Government of Portugal controversially revoked four holidays – two civilian holidays (Republic Day and Restoration of Independence) and two religious ones (Corpus Christi and All Saints Day). The move was effective from 2013 onwards and was presented as a measure to increase productivity, in the context of the2011–2014 Troika bailout to Portugal (even though that measure was never requested by the Memorandum of Understanding). Public debate and re-evaluation were scheduled in 2018 for the religious holidays.
The four holidays were eventually restored by theXXI Constitutional Government of Portugal, in January 2016.
According to a Decree of 12 October 1910,municipalities were given the possibility of choosing a day that would represent their traditional festivals.[11]
| Date | English name | Portuguese name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 January | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated inSanta Cruz. |
| 20 January | Municipal Holiday | Dia do S. Sebastião | Celebrated in Santa Maria da Feira, Aveiro. |
| 22 January | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated inSão Vicente. |
| 18 February | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated inValença. |
| 19 March | Saint Joseph's Day | Dia de São José | Celebrated inSantarém. |
| 11 April | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated inLagoa; the locality was made a town by Royal Charter of 11 April 1522. |
| 23 April | Saint George's Day | Dia de São Jorge. | Velas has celebrated Saint George's Day since 1460.[12] |
| moveable | Easter Monday | Segunda-feira de Páscoa | Celebrated inAvis,Borba,Caminha,Campo Maior,Cuba,Freixo de Espada à Cinta,Ílhavo,Mação,Mora,Penamacor,Ponte de Sor,Portel,Redondo,Castelo de Vide,Constância,Crato,Nisa andSousel.6 April in 2026. |
| moveable | Ascension of Jesus | Quinta-feira da Ascensão | Celebrated inAlcanena,Alenquer,Almeirim,Alter do Chão,Alvito,Anadia,Ansião,Arraiolos,Arruda dos Vinhos,Azambuja,Beja,Benavente,Cartaxo,Chamusca,Estremoz,Golegã,Loulé,Mafra,Marinha Grande,Mealhada,Melgaço,Monchique,Mortágua,Oliveira do Bairro, Quarteira,Salvaterra de Magos,Santa Comba Dão,Sobral de Monte Agraço,Torres Novas,Vidigueira andVila Franca de Xira. |
| Fifth Sunday after Easter (moveable) | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated inPonta Delgada.[12] |
| 8 May | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated inMurça, the anniversary of the municipal autonomy issued by the foral on 8 May 1224. |
| 12 May | Municipal Holiday | Dia de Santa Joana Princesa | Celebrated inAveiro. |
| 25 May | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated inSantana, the anniversary of the date of elevation of the village and county seat in 1835. |
| 13 June | St. Anthony's Day | Dia de Santo António | Celebrated inLisbon. On theAvenida da Liberdade there areMarchas, parades of folklore and costumes from the city's different traditional quarters, with hundreds of singers and dancers and a vast audience applauding their favorite participants. AsSt Anthony is the matchmaker saint, it is traditional in Lisbon for 200–300 marriages to take place on this day. |
| 16 June | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated inOlhão, the date of the start of Olhão's revolt againstNapoleon. |
| 20 June | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated inCorvo, the anniversary of the town.[12] |
| 24 June | St. John's Day | Dia de São João | Celebrated inPorto,Braga,Figueira da Foz,Almada,Calheta,Porto Santo,Angra do Heroísmo,Horta,Santa Cruz da Graciosa,Santa Cruz das Flores,Vila do Porto andVila Franca do Campo (as a Municipal Holiday).[13] Porto andBraga celebrate with a big festival and fireworks over the RiverDouro (in Porto) and down Avenida da Liberdade (in Braga). Across the region a traditional midsummer bonfire is also built, and following an ancient pagan tradition revelers try to jump over the bonfire for protection during the rest of the year. |
| 29 June | St. Peter's Day | Dia de São Pedro | Celebrated inAlfândega da Fé,Bombarral,Castro Daire,Castro Verde,Évora,Felgueiras,Macedo de Cavaleiros,Montijo,Penedono,Porto de Mós,Póvoa de Varzim,Ribeira Brava,Ribeira Grande,São Pedro do Sul,Seixal andSintra. Like St. Anthony's Day and St. John's Day, St. Peter's Day is celebrated with a traditional midsummer bonfire, which people jump over, and perform a tradition known as "Queimar a Alcachofra" (Burn theArtichoke) which symbolizes the "Good Which Fulfill". |
| 4 July | St.Elizabeth's Day | Dia de Santa Isabel | Celebrated inCoimbra |
| Third Monday of July (moveable) | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated inLajes das Flores. |
| 18 July | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated inNordeste, the date the locality was made a town by Royal Charter of 18 July 1514. |
| 22 July | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated inPorto Moniz andMadalena. |
| 26 July | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated inLoures, which was made a municipal seat on 26 July 1886, replacingOlivais. |
| 11 August | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated inPraia da Vitória, the anniversary of the 1829 battle that prevented the royalists from reaching land in thePortuguese Civil War. |
| 16 August | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated inSão Roque do Pico.[12] |
| 20 August | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated inViana do Castelo. |
| 21 August | Funchal City Day | Dia da Cidade do Funchal | Celebrated inFunchal, the date on which, in 1508 the town of Funchal was elevated to the category of city byRoyal Charter,.[13][14][15] |
| 8 September | Nativity of Mary | Natividade de Nossa Senhora | Celebrated inLagoa,Alcoutim,Ponta do Sol,Lamego,Mangualde,Marco de Canaveses,Marvão,Montemor-o-Velho,Murtosa,Nazaré,Odemira,Ourique,Peniche andSabrosa. |
| 21 September | St. Matthew's Day | Dia de São Mateus | Celebrated inViseu, andElvas |
| Monday after the first the Sunday of September (moveable) | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated inPovoação.[12] |
| 4 October | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated inCâmara de Lobos, the date of the first election and taking power of the municipal chamber, in 1835.[16] |
| 9 October | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated inMachico, the anniversary of the date in 1803 of the worst natural calamity that occurred on the island of Madeira since its settlement, a flood that killed hundreds of people. A pilgrimage to theLord of Miracles is held.[13] |
| 19 November | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated inOdivelas andTrofa; both localities were made municipal seats on 19 November 1998, becoming autonomous from the municipalities ofLoures andSanto Tirso, respectively. |
| 25 November | Saint Catherine's Day | Dia de Santa Catarina | Celebrated inCalheta, since time immemorial. Declared an official holiday in August 1960.[12] |