Public Holidays in Belgium [2026]

Living in Belgium or going on holiday there? Here’s a list of all the public holidays in Belgium you need to know in 2026, plus the dates already available for 2027 and 2028.

Whether you live in Belgium or are just visiting, it helps to note public holidays in advance. On some of these days, businesses and offices will be closed or work reduced hours. In Belgium, workers in the private sector may not normally be employed on the country’s statutory public holidays, and those days are paid by the employer.

How many public holidays are there in Belgium?

Belgium has 10 statutory public holidays per year, not 11. The official federal sources list these as: 1 January, Easter Monday, 1 May, Ascension, Whit Monday, 21 July, 15 August, 1 November, 11 November, and 25 December.

It is also worth knowing that if a public holiday falls on a Sunday or on a normal non-working day in a company, usually Saturday, it must be replaced by another working day before or after it. In that case, the substitute day becomes the actual public holiday for that workplace.

The most important public holidays in Belgium

The best-known public holidays in Belgium are New Year’s Day, Easter Monday, Labour Day, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, Belgian National Day, Assumption Day, All Saints’ Day, Armistice Day, and Christmas Day. These are the 10 legal public holidays listed by the Belgian federal authorities.

Public Holidays in Belgium in 2026

These are Belgium’s statutory holidays for 2026. The fixed-date holidays come from the federal holiday list, and the movable dates for Easter Monday, Ascension Day, and Whit Monday match the published 2026 Belgium holiday calendar.

What are the public holidays in Belgium?

New Year’s Day

New Year’s Day on 1 January is one of Belgium’s 10 statutory public holidays.

Easter Monday

Belgium’s federal holiday list includes Easter Monday, not Easter Sunday, as the statutory holiday. In 2026, Easter Monday falls on 6 April.

Labour Day

Labour Day is observed on 1 May and is one of the country’s legal public holidays.

Ascension Day

Ascension Day is a statutory public holiday in Belgium. In 2026, it falls on 14 May.

Whit Monday

Whit Monday is also one of Belgium’s legal public holidays. In 2026, it falls on 25 May.

Belgian National Day

Belgian National Day is celebrated on 21 July each year.

Assumption Day

Assumption Day is observed on 15 August. In 2026 it falls on a Saturday, so many workplaces will use a substitute day instead.

All Saints’ Day

All Saints’ Day is observed on 1 November. In 2026 it falls on a Sunday, which means a substitute day should be set in workplaces covered by the rule.

Armistice Day

Armistice Day is a statutory holiday in Belgium and falls on 11 November.

Christmas Day

Christmas Day on 25 December is one of Belgium’s 10 legal public holidays.

Public Holidays in Belgium in 2027

These 2027 dates follow Belgium’s official legal holiday list, with the movable dates matching published Belgium holiday calendars for 2027.

Public Holidays in Belgium in 2028

These 2028 dates also follow Belgium’s official legal holiday list, with the movable feast dates matching published Belgium holiday calendars for 2028.

Conclusion

Belgium’s public holiday calendar is straightforward once you know that there are 10 statutory public holidays and that holidays falling on a Sunday or another normal non-working day are usually replaced by a substitute day. For everyday planning, that replacement rule matters just as much as the holiday dates themselves.

Last Updated on 04/04/2026