Public Holidays in Albania

Public Holidays In Albania

Clear, reliable information on Albania’s official days off, how dates are set, and what to check when you need the most up-to-date calendar.

Public holidays in Albania are official non-working days recognized nationwide, covering a mix of national, cultural, and religious observances. Some holidays always fall on the same calendar date, while others change each year (for example, Easter and the two major Islamic holidays). This page focuses on the official holiday framework and the practical details people usually need: which days are fixed, which days move, and how “observed” days off work when a holiday lands on a weekend.

Official Public Holidays In Albania
Fixed-Date Official Holidays
Moveable Official Holidays
Observed Days Off and Weekend Rules
Confirmed Example Calendar For 2026
How Holidays Affect Everyday Services
Common Questions
Sources

Good To Know:
When a public holiday falls on a weekend, it is commonly observed on the next working day. For moveable holidays, the official calendar may be updated if dates shift.

Best Practice:
For planning, always cross-check the latest official calendar published for the year you care about (banks and public institutions typically follow it closely).

Official Public Holidays In Albania

Albania’s official public holidays are nationally recognized non-working days. In everyday use, these are the dates most likely to affect public offices, banks, and schools. The official list includes:

Fixed-date holidays that repeat on the same day and month every year.
Moveable holidays whose dates change (for example, based on religious calendars).
Observed days off when a holiday falls on a weekend and the day off shifts to the next workday.

A simple way to think about it:
The holiday name stays the same each year, but the day off you experience can shift if it lands on a Saturday or Sunday, and some moveable holidays can be updated if dates change.

Fixed-Date Official Holidays

The holidays below fall on the same calendar date each year. If a date lands on a weekend, the day off is typically observed on the next working day.

Date	Holiday	Local Name
January 1	New Year’s Day (Day 1)	Festat e Vitit të Ri
January 2	New Year’s Day (Day 2)	Festat e Vitit të Ri
March 14	Summer Day	Dita e Verës
March 22	Nevruz Day	Dita e Nevruzit
May 1	International Workers’ Day	Dita Ndërkombëtare e Punëtorëve
September 5	Mother Teresa Day	Dita e Shenjtërimit të Shenjt Terezës
November 22	Alphabet Day	Dita e Alfabetit
November 28	National Flag and Independence Day	Dita e Flamurit dhe e Pavarësisë
November 29	National Liberation Day	Dita e Çlirimit
December 8	National Youth Day	Dita Kombëtare e Rinisë
December 25	Christmas Day	Krishtlindjet

Moveable Official Holidays

These holidays change date from year to year. Official calendars typically publish the final dates for the year, and some dates may be updated when necessary.

Holiday	How The Date Is Set	What Usually Happens With The Day Off
Eid al-Fitr (Bajrami i Madh)	Based on the Islamic lunar calendar	A nationwide public holiday; the published date may be updated if needed
Eid al-Adha (Kurban Bajrami)	Based on the Islamic lunar calendar	A nationwide public holiday; the published date may be updated if needed
Catholic Easter (Pashkët Katolike)	Set by the Western Christian calendar	Falls on a Sunday; institutions often observe time off on the next working day
Orthodox Easter (Pashkët Ortodokse)	Set by the Eastern Christian calendar	Falls on a Sunday; institutions often observe time off on the next working day

Why calendars sometimes change:
For the two Islamic holidays, official calendars may include a note that dates can shift according to the lunar calendar. If you are booking time-sensitive services, it is smart to re-check the published calendar closer to the holiday.

Observed Days Off and Weekend Rules

A key detail for Albania is the common “observed day” approach: when a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the day off typically shifts to the next working day (and, for multi-day holidays, can extend into the next working day after that).

What This Means In Practice

If a holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday, the next working day is typically the day off.
If there are two holidays in a row over a weekend, the day off can extend into Monday and Tuesday.
Many institutions (especially banks and public offices) publish their own closure calendars that reflect these observed days.

A Concrete Example

When Summer Day falls on a weekend, the day off is typically observed on the next working day. For instance, in 2026, Summer Day is on Saturday, March 14, and institutional calendars commonly reflect the day off on Monday, March 16.

Keep it simple: For weekend holidays, look for the observed workday closure rather than the weekend date itself.

Confirmed Example Calendar For 2026

Below is an example year layout using a published official-style calendar (useful for planning because it includes the moveable dates for that year). If any moveable dates are updated, the published calendar is typically refreshed.

Date (2026)	Holiday	Notes
January 1	New Year’s Day (Day 1)	Fixed date
January 2	New Year’s Day (Day 2)	Fixed date
March 14	Summer Day	Fixed date; observed day off can shift when it lands on a weekend
March 20	Eid al-Fitr (Bajrami i Madh)	Moveable; dates can be updated according to the lunar calendar
March 22	Nevruz Day	Fixed date; observed day off can shift when it lands on a weekend
April 5	Catholic Easter	Moveable; usually Sunday with observed closures on the next workday
April 12	Orthodox Easter	Moveable; usually Sunday with observed closures on the next workday
May 1	International Workers’ Day	Fixed date
May 27	Eid al-Adha (Kurban Bajrami)	Moveable; dates can be updated according to the lunar calendar
September 5	Mother Teresa Day	Fixed date
November 22	Alphabet Day	Fixed date
November 28	National Flag and Independence Day	Fixed date
November 29	National Liberation Day	Fixed date
December 8	National Youth Day	Fixed date
December 25	Christmas Day	Fixed date

Jump To Sources

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How Holidays Affect Everyday Services

Public holidays can influence opening hours and availability of services. While patterns vary by organization, these points are commonly true and easy to confirm through official calendars and institutional notices:

Public Institutions

Public administration offices often close on official holidays and observed days off.
Schools and universities typically reflect official holidays in their academic calendars.
Service desks may reopen on the next working day, especially when holidays fall on weekends.

Banks and Financial Services

Banks commonly publish holiday closure calendars and follow observed-day rules for weekend holidays.
Interbank processing and certain counters may pause on official holidays.
If timing matters, check the institution’s published calendar for the exact dates of closure.

A practical reminder:
Even on official public holidays, some private businesses may choose to operate with adjusted hours. The most dependable approach is to check the specific business or institution you plan to use.

Common Questions

Do Public Holidays Change From Year To Year?

The official holiday names stay consistent, but the date changes for moveable holidays (Easter and the two major Islamic holidays). In addition, the observed day off can shift when a fixed-date holiday falls on a weekend.

If A Holiday Falls On Sunday, Is Monday Off?

In many calendars used by institutions, yes: when an official holiday lands on the weekend, the day off is typically observed on the next working day. This is especially noticeable for Easter, which often falls on a Sunday.

Where Can I Confirm The Most Reliable Dates?

Use published calendars from official institutions (for example, central-bank holiday calendars and official legal texts). These sources usually include notes about weekend observance and possible updates for moveable holidays.