As Christmas displays remind us that 2025 is nearing its end, and if you are already contemplating 2026 or considering taking advantage of Black Friday to book a trip for next year, here is the calendar of holidays, bridges, and long weekends.
Legally, holidays can be booked until April 15, but you can maximize your rest time by planning everything in advance.
In 2026, it is again possible to enjoy 13 mandatory holidays and two optional ones (Carnival and municipal), with three coinciding with the weekend:
Holidays
JANUARY
- January 1. New Year’s Day is celebrated on Thursday.
FEBRUARY
- February 17. Carnival holiday, typically observed on a Tuesday, depends on collective labor agreements or employment contracts. In recent years, the government has granted a day off for public servants.
APRIL
- April 3. Good Friday is observed on Friday;
- April 5. Easter is celebrated, as always, on a Sunday;
- April 25. Freedom Day falls on a Saturday in 2025.
MAY
- May 1. Labor Day falls on a Friday.
Learn how to have 44 days of rest in 2026 while using only 13 vacation days. Discover how to plan next year’s holidays to make the most of public holidays and long weekends.
JUNE
- June 4. Corpus Christi is celebrated on Thursday in 2026;
- June 10. Portugal Day, dedicated to Camões and the Portuguese Communities, falls on a Wednesday;
- June 13. Saint Anthony’s Day, a municipal holiday, is celebrated on Saturday;
- June 24. Municipal holiday of Saint John, is observed on Wednesday;
- June 29. Municipal holiday of Saint Peter is celebrated in Sintra and Évora on Monday.
AUGUST
- August 15. Assumption of Our Lady is the only holiday in August, occurring on Saturday.
OCTOBER
- October 5. Republic Day is celebrated on Monday.
NOVEMBER
- November 1. All Saints’ Day is a Sunday in the 2025 calendar.
DECEMBER
- December 1. Restoration of Independence Day falls on Tuesday;
- December 8. Feast of the Immaculate Conception is on Tuesday;
- December 25. Christmas, the last holiday of the 2025 calendar, is celebrated on Friday.
Possible Bridges
“There are five possible bridges next year: The first opportunity for four consecutive days off is in January: from January 1 to 4. In February, another bridge is possible from February 14 to 17. In June, from June 4 to 7, is another chance for a brief rest. Lastly, the 2026 calendar also offers November 28 to December 1 and December 5 to 8 as additional potential periods of relaxation.
Long Weekends
The configuration of holidays allows for four long weekends: In April, from April 3 to 5, May offers another three-day break from May 1 to 3. The next long weekend occurs from October 3 to 5. Towards the end of the year, enjoy another extended weekend from December 25 to 27.
