What Are The Public Holidays in Albania in 2026?

List of Public Holidays in Albania (2026)

Albania sets public holidays at national level, so the same dates apply across the country. Below is an overview of the main public holidays in 2026 that you should factor into your workforce planning.

Do Employers Have to Provide Paid Leave on Public Holidays?

Yes, Albanian labor law generally treats official public holidays as paid non‑working days for employees, unless the nature of the work requires operations to continue. Employees who normally work on the day of the week on which the holiday falls are entitled to be off with pay, calculated based on their regular daily wage. Where a public holiday falls on a weekend, the government often declares a substitute weekday as an observed holiday, and in practice employers usually follow these decisions to stay compliant and aligned with public administration, although the exact rules can vary year to year by government decree.

Part‑time employees are usually entitled to paid public holidays on a pro‑rata basis, depending on whether the holiday falls on a day they would ordinarily work. If your company requires staff to work on a public holiday, they are typically entitled to both their normal pay for the day and an additional premium or compensatory time off, as set out in the Labor Code or in the applicable collective agreement or employment contract. Because specific entitlements can be adjusted by collective bargaining or internal policy, you should document your holiday‑work rules clearly and ensure they meet or exceed the statutory minimums.

Legal Penalties for Not Providing Paid Holiday Leave

Failure to respect public holiday rights in Albania can expose your company to administrative fines and back‑pay obligations. The State Labor Inspectorate is the main enforcement authority and can investigate complaints, review payroll and time‑tracking records, and order corrective measures if it finds that employees were not granted paid holidays or appropriate compensation for holiday work.

Typical risks include having to pay unpaid holiday wages retroactively, paying premiums for holiday work that were not correctly applied, and potential penalties for breaches of working time and rest rules. Common employer mistakes include treating public holidays as unpaid leave, failing to apply substitute days when the government declares them, and not aligning shift schedules or part‑time contracts with holiday entitlements. To reduce risk, keep clear written policies, maintain accurate attendance and payroll records, and monitor official government announcements on observed holidays each year.

How Do Holidays Affect Overtime Thresholds?

Public holidays in Albania interact with overtime rules in two main ways. First, if an employee works on a public holiday that would otherwise be a rest day, those hours are usually treated as work performed under special conditions and should attract a higher rate of pay or compensatory rest, in addition to the normal daily wage. Second, hours worked on a public holiday still count toward weekly working time limits, so if they push an employee over the standard weekly threshold, overtime rules and premiums apply on top of any holiday premium.

The exact premium rate for holiday work and overtime is set in the Labor Code and may be improved by collective agreements or company policy. Many employers choose to pay at least 25–50% above the normal hourly rate for overtime, and a higher uplift for work on public holidays, to stay clearly above the legal minimum and remain competitive in the labor market. Because practice can vary, you should confirm the current statutory percentages with local counsel or your payroll provider and reflect them explicitly in contracts and internal regulations.

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Managing Albania's public holidays and leave rules doesn’t have to be complex. Playroll keeps you 100% compliant by automatically tracking local holidays, observed days, and pay requirements –  so your team is paid correctly and on time, every time.

Whether you’re hiring your first employee or scaling a growing team, Playroll lets you employ talent without setting up a local entity. We handle compliant contracts, benefits, and payroll in one platform, so you can reduce compliance risk and focus on growing your business while we take care of the heavy-lifting in the background. Book a chat with our team to get started.