Swedish holidays and traditions: calendar 2026–2027
Coming up
From Saturday, 31 October 2026- Höstlov (oftast vecka 44) School holidays: sports break and autumn break26 October – 1 November 2026 · Now
- Alla helgons dag All Saints' Day30–31 October 2026 · Now
- Gustav Adolfsdagen Gustavus Adolphus DayFriday, 6 November 2026 · In 6 days
- Advent AdventSunday, 29 November 2026 · In 29 days
- Lucia St Lucy's DaySunday, 13 December 2026 · In 43 days
- Julafton Christmas Eve24–26 December 2026 · In 54 days
- Mellandagarna The days between Christmas and New Year27–30 December 2026 · In 57 days
- Nyår New Year31 December 2026 – 1 January 2027 · In 61 days
Holidays and traditions
From the semla in February to the crayfish in August and the candles of December, these are the days that shape the Swedish year. Each page has the dates, what people actually do, the food, 15 to 25 words and the phrases you will hear.
- NyårThu 1 JanNew Year
Nyårsafton is a party night with friends, a long dinner and fireworks at midnight; nyårsdagen is a quiet public holiday.
- Trettondedag julTue 6 JanEpiphany
6 January, the thirteenth day of Christmas, is a public holiday; for many Swedes it marks the end of the Christmas break.
- FettisdagenTue 17 FebShrove Tuesday (semla day)
Fettisdagen, 47 days before Easter, is the day Swedes eat semlor: cardamom buns filled with almond paste and whipped cream.
- PåskFri 3 AprEaster
Swedish Easter means children dressed as Easter witches, feathered birch twigs, painted eggs and a herring-and-egg buffet on påskafton.
- ValborgFri 1 MayWalpurgis Night
On 30 April Swedes welcome spring with bonfires and choirs singing spring songs; students in Uppsala and Lund celebrate all day.
- NationaldagenSat 6 JunNational Day
6 June is Sweden's National Day, a public holiday since 2005, celebrated with flags, ceremonies for new citizens and the royal family at Skansen.
- MidsommarFri 19 JunMidsummer
Midsummer Eve, the Friday between 19 and 25 June, is Sweden's great summer party: maypoles, frog dances, herring, new potatoes and strawberries.
- KräftskivaSat 1 Aug – Mon 31 AugCrayfish party
In August Swedes hold kräftskivor: crayfish boiled with dill, eaten with paper hats, bibs, moon lanterns and songs.
- SurströmmingspremiärenThu 20 AugFermented herring premiere
On the third Thursday in August the new season's surströmming, fermented Baltic herring, goes on sale, and fans open their first tins outdoors.
- Kanelbullens dagSun 4 OctCinnamon Bun Day
4 October is Cinnamon Bun Day, a theme day started in 1999 by the Swedish Home Baking Council, celebrated with a fika and a kanelbulle.
- Alla helgons dagSat 31 OctAll Saints' Day
On All Saints' Day, the Saturday between 31 October and 6 November, Swedes light candles on graves, and cemeteries glow in the dark.
- Gustav AdolfsdagenFri 6 NovGustavus Adolphus Day
On 6 November Swedes, especially in Gothenburg, eat a Gustav Adolf pastry in memory of the king who died at Lützen in 1632.
- AdventSun 29 NovAdvent
Advent starts on the Sunday between 27 November and 3 December: four candles, a star in every window, saffron buns and ginger biscuits.
- LuciaSun 13 DecSt Lucy's Day
On 13 December a procession led by Lucia, with candles in her hair, sings in the winter dark, with saffron buns and ginger biscuits.
- JulaftonThu 24 DecChristmas Eve
Swedes celebrate Christmas on 24 December: a julbord buffet, Donald Duck on TV at three, and a visit from tomten with the presents.
- MellandagarnaSun 27 Dec – Wed 30 DecThe days between Christmas and New Year
Mellandagarna, 27 to 30 December, are quiet working days known for the big sales (mellandagsrea), leftovers and long walks.
Words for the Swedish calendar
Four words that explain how Swedish time off works:
- KlämdagSqueeze day (a bridge day)
A klämdag is a working day stuck between a red day and the weekend, like the Friday after Ascension Day, and many Swedes take it off.
- Röd dagRed day (public holiday)
A röd dag is a Swedish public holiday, printed in red in the calendar. Here are all of them, with the eves that are days off in practice.
- SemesterAnnual leave and the July holiday
Semester is Swedish annual leave: 25 days by law, with four weeks in a row in summer, which is why Sweden slows down in July.
- Sportlov och höstlovSchool holidays: sports break and autumn break
Sportlov is a week off school in February or March (weeks 7–10, by region); höstlov is a week in late autumn, usually week 44.
Red days in 2026 and 2027
These are Sweden's public holidays (allmänna helgdagar) under lag (1989:253) om allmänna helgdagar. Every Sunday is a red day too. Read more about what a röd dag means in practice.
| Holiday | English | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nyårsdagen | New Year's Day | Thu 1 Jan | Fri 1 Jan |
| Trettondedag jul | Epiphany | Tue 6 Jan | Wed 6 Jan |
| Långfredagen | Good Friday | Fri 3 Apr | Fri 26 Mar |
| Påskdagen | Easter Sunday | Sun 5 Apr | Sun 28 Mar |
| Annandag påsk | Easter Monday | Mon 6 Apr | Mon 29 Mar |
| Första maj | May Day | Fri 1 May | Sat 1 May |
| Kristi himmelsfärdsdag | Ascension Day | Thu 14 May | Thu 6 May |
| Pingstdagen | Whit Sunday (Pentecost) | Sun 24 May | Sun 16 May |
| Sveriges nationaldag | National Day | Sat 6 Jun | Sun 6 Jun |
| Midsommardagen | Midsummer Day | Sat 20 Jun | Sat 26 Jun |
| Alla helgons dag | All Saints' Day | Sat 31 Oct | Sat 6 Nov |
| Juldagen | Christmas Day | Fri 25 Dec | Sat 25 Dec |
| Annandag jul | Boxing Day | Sat 26 Dec | Sun 26 Dec |
Not red, but days off in practice
The three big eves are not public holidays by law, but almost all offices and schools are closed and many shops close early or all day.
| Day | English | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midsommarafton | Midsummer Eve | Fri 19 Jun | Fri 25 Jun |
| Julafton | Christmas Eve | Thu 24 Dec | Fri 24 Dec |
| Nyårsafton | New Year's Eve | Thu 31 Dec | Fri 31 Dec |
Klämdagar
Working days squeezed between a holiday and a weekend. In 2026: Friday, 2 January 2026, Monday, 5 January 2026, Friday, 15 May 2026. In 2027: Friday, 7 May 2027. More about klämdagar.
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does Sweden have?
Thirteen named public holidays (röda dagar) a year under lag (1989:253), plus every Sunday. Two of them, påskdagen and pingstdagen, are always Sundays, and midsommardagen and alla helgons dag are always Saturdays, so the number of weekdays off varies from year to year.
Is Midsummer Eve a public holiday in Sweden?
Not by law. The law makes midsommardagen, the Saturday, the holiday. But midsommarafton, the Friday, is the real celebration, and almost every workplace is closed. The same goes for julafton and nyårsafton.
Do you get a day off if a Swedish holiday falls on a weekend?
No, not by law: Sweden does not move holidays to a weekday. Some collective agreements give compensation, for example when the National Day falls on a weekend, so check yours.
What is a klämdag?
A working day squeezed between a public holiday and a weekend, like the Friday after Ascension Day. Many people take it off to get a long weekend, and some employers close.
Keep learning
Learn the names of the days and months with our guide to Swedish days and months, say any date out loud with the Swedish numbers tool, and add a word a day with the Swedish word of the day. New in Sweden? Read moving to Sweden: the language.
Sources
Public holidays: Lag (1989:253) om allmänna helgdagar, Riksdagen. Easter-based dates use the Gregorian Easter calculation; Midsummer and All Saints' Day follow the law's Saturday rules. Last checked 7 October 2026. Lingolib is a Swedish course and not an official source; for work and school days, check your employer, collective agreement or municipality.