Public holidays in Poland


Holidays in Poland are regulated by the Non-working Days Act of 18 January 1951. The Act, as amended in 2010, currently defines fourteen public holidays.

Public holidays

Note: The table below lists only public holidays, i.e. holidays which are legally considered to be non-working days.
DateEnglish nameOfficial Local Name Remarks
1 JanuaryNew Year's DayNowy Rok-
6 JanuaryEpiphanyObjawienie Pańskie In effect since 2011.
Movable Sunday in SpringEaster Sundaypierwszy dzień Wielkiej Nocy -
Monday following Easter SundayEaster Mondaydrugi dzień Wielkiej Nocy -
1 MayMay DayŚwięto Państwowe This holiday is officially called the State Holiday. However, it is unofficially called Labour Day, and coincides with International Workers' Day. It is also EU Accession Day marking the 2004 accession of Poland as a member of the European Union.
3 MayConstitution DayŚwięto Narodowe Trzeciego Maja Celebrated on the anniversary of the adoption of the first constitution in Europe - the Constitution of 3 May 1791. Coincides with the Day of Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Poland.
Seventh Sunday after EasterPentecost SundayZesłanie Ducha Świętego As this holiday always falls on a Sunday, it is not widely known that it is considered a non-working day, as all Sundays are already non-working days and holidays falling on Sunday do not give the right to another free day.
Ninth Thursday after EasterCorpus ChristiUroczystość Najświętszego Ciała i Krwi Chrystusa Catholic holiday.
15 AugustAssumption DayWniebowzięcie Najświętszej Maryi Panny This is also Armed Forces Day, celebrating Polish victory in the Battle of Warsaw.
1 NovemberAll Saints' DayUroczystość Wszystkich Świętych This day is traditionally celebrated by visiting the graves of deceased family members because All Souls' Day, which falls the day after, is not a public holiday.
11 NovemberIndependence DayNarodowe Święto Niepodległości Celebrated on the anniversary of regaining independence on 11 November 1918.
24 DecemberChristmas EveWigilia Bożego NarodzeniaIn effect from 2025.
25 DecemberChristmas Daypierwszy dzień Bożego Narodzenia-
26 DecemberSecond Day of Christmasdrugi dzień Bożego NarodzeniaThis holiday coincides with Saint Stephen's Day.

May holidays

Under communist rule, 1 May was celebrated as Labour Day with government-endorsed parades, concerts and similar events. The holiday carried over to present day Poland as State Holiday, albeit without any formal connection to International Workers' Day. In addition, 3 May was reinstated as 3 May Constitution Day. The May holidays are called "majówka" in Polish.

National and state holidays

The following are national and state holidays in Poland, although they are normally working days unless declared a public holiday.
  • 19 February - Polish Science Day, established in 2020
  • 1 March - National Cursed Soldiers Remembrance Day, established in 2011
  • 24 March - National Day for the Remembrance of Poles Rescuing Jews under German Occupation, established in 2018
  • 14 April - Baptism of Poland Day, established in 2019
  • 1 May - State Holiday, public holiday, established in 1950
  • 3 May - 3 May Constitution Day, public holiday; first observed in 1919, disestablished in 1946, then reinstated in 1990
  • 8 May - National Victory Day, established in 2015 to replace the old National Victory and Freedom Day
  • 12 July- Day of Struggle and Martyrdom of the Polish Villages, established in 2017
  • 1 August - National Warsaw Uprising Remembrance Day, established in 2009
  • 31 August - Day of Solidarity and Freedom set on the anniversary of August Agreement from 1980, established in 2005
  • 19 October - National Day of Remembrance for Steadfast Clergy, established in 2018
  • 11 November - National Independence Day, public holiday; first observed in 1937, disestablished in 1945, then reinstated in 1989
  • 27 December - Greater Poland Uprising Remebrence Day established in 2021

    Former national and state holidays

In the past, there were public holidays newly established by the communist authorities after the Second World War. These were intended to replace discontinued original national holidays such as the National Independence Day and the 3 May Constitution Day and to serve propaganda purposes. All were canceled after the fall of communism in Poland.
  • 9 May - National Victory and Freedom Day, established in 1945, disestablished in 1951 although still celebrated annually by communist authorities
  • 22 July - National Day of the Rebirth of Poland, set on the anniversary of the PKWN Manifesto's signing, established in 1945, abolished in 1990
  • 7 November - Great October Socialist Revolution Day, although it was not an official non-working state holiday it was celebrated by communist authorities

    Other holidays

Holidays declared by statute

The following are holidays declared by statute in Poland. These holidays are declared in statute and as such they form a part of law in Poland. However, these holidays are not granted the distinction of national or state holidays. These are normally working days, unless coinciding with a public holiday.
  • 27 January – Public Employment Services Worker's Day, Dzień Pracownika Publicznych Służb Zatrudnienia, established in 2010
  • 8 February – Prison Service Day, Święto Służby Więziennej, established in 2010
  • 22 February – Crime Victims Day, Dzień Ofiar Przestępstw, coinciding with European Victims Day, established in 2003
  • 2 May – Flag Day, Dzień Flagi Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, established in 2004
  • 2 May – Polish Diaspora Day, Dzień Polonii i Polaków za Granicą, established in 2002
  • 4 May – Firefighters Day, Dzień Strażaka, coinciding with International Firefighters' Day, established in 2002
  • 16 May – Border Guard's Day, Święto Straży Granicznej, established in 1991
  • 29 May – Veterans of Overseas Military Activities Day, Dzień Weterana Działań poza Granicami Państwa, coinciding with International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, established in 2011
  • 12 June – State Protection Service's Day, Święto SOP, established in 2018
  • 13 June – Military Gendarmerie Day, Święto Żandarmerii Wojskowej, established in 2001
  • 24 July – Police Day, Święto Policji, established in 1995
  • 31 July – Treasury Day, Dzień Skarbowości, celebrated since 2008, established in 2010
  • 15 August – Armed Forces Day, Święto Wojska Polskiego, this holiday coincides with a public holiday, established in 1992
  • 29 August – Municipal Police Day, Dzień Straży Gminnej, established in 1997
  • 1 September – Veterans Day, Dzień Weterana, established in 1997
  • 21 September – Customs Service Day, Dzień Służby Celnej, established in 1999
  • 13 October – Paramedics' Day, Dzień Ratownictwa Medycznego, established in 2006
  • 14 October – Teachers' Day, Dzień Edukacji Narodowej, established in 1972
  • 16 October – Saint Pope John Paul II Day, Dzień Papieża Jana Pawła II, established in 2005
  • 21 November – Social Workers' Day, Dzień Pracownika Socjalnego, established in 1990

    Holidays declared by parliamentary resolution

The following are holidays declared by parliamentary resolution in Poland. These holidays are declared by a resolution of Sejm. These holidays do not form a part of law in Poland, and consequently are not granted the distinction of national or state holidays. These are normally working days.
  • 3 March – Polish-Romanian Solidarity Day, Dzień Solidarności Polsko-Rumuńskiej, established in 2023
  • 23 March – Polish-Hungarian Friendship Day, Dzień Przyjaźni Polsko-Węgierskiej, established in 2007
  • 24 March – National Life Day, Narodowy Dzień Życia, established in 2004
  • 13 April – Katyn Memorial Day, Dzień Pamięci Ofiar Zbrodni Katyńskiej, set on the anniversary of the discovery of mass graves in Katyn, established in 2007
  • 18 April – Coma Patients' Day, Dzień Pacjenta w Śpiączce, established in 2012
  • 28 April – Day for Safety and Health at Work, Dzień Bezpieczeństwa i Ochrony Zdrowia w Pracy, coincides with Workers' Memorial Day, established in 2003
  • 27 May – Local Government's Day, Dzień Samorządu Terytorialnego, set on the anniversary of the first local government elections in Poland, established in 2000
  • 30 May – Foster Care Day, Dzień Rodzicielstwa Zastępczego, established in 2006
  • 1 June – Day Without Alcohol, Dzień bez Alkoholu, established in 2006
  • 4 June – Day of Freedom and Citizens' Rights, Dzień Wolności i Praw Obywatelskich, set on the anniversary of 4th of June 1989 Polish elections, established in 2013
  • 14 June – National Day of Remembrance of Nazi Concentration Camps Victims, Narodowy Dzień Pamięci Ofiar Nazistowskich Obozów Koncentracyjnych, set on the anniversary of the arrival of the first mass transport of political prisoners to Auschwitz concentration camp, established in 2006
  • 28 June – National Day of Remembrance of Poznań 1956 protests, Narodowy Dzień Pamięci Poznańskiego Czerwca 1956, set on the anniversary of the outbreak of Poznań 1956 protests, established in 2006
  • 11 July - National Day of Remembrance of the victims of the Genocide of the Citizens of the Polish Republic committed by Ukrainian Nationalists, Narodowy Dzień Pamięci Ofiar Ludobójstwa dokonanego przez ukraińskich nacjonalistów na obywatelach II Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, set on the anniversary of the "bloody sunday" in Volhynia, the culmination of the massacres of Poles in Volhynia, established in 2016
  • 2 August – Genocide Remembrance Day of the Roma and Sinti, Dzień Pamięci o Zagładzie Romów i Sinti, set on the anniversary of the Roma and Sinti extermination at Auschwitz concentration camp, established in 2011
  • 17 September – Sybirak's Day, Dzień Sybiraka, set on the anniversary of Soviet invasion of Poland, established in 1998
  • 27 September – Polish Underground State's Day, Dzień Podziemnego Państwa Polskiego, set on the anniversary of the formation of Service for Poland's Victory, established in 2013
  • 4 October – Animals' Day, Dzień Zwierząt, coincides with World Animal Day, established in 2006
  • 13 December – Martial Law Victims Remembrance Day, Dzień Pamięci Ofiar Stanu Wojennego, set on the anniversary of declaration of Martial law in Poland, established in 2002