What Are The Public Holidays in Norway in 2026?

List of Public Holidays in Norway (2026)

Norway has a set of nationwide public holidays that combine fixed dates and Christian feast days. Use the table below to plan staffing, leave, and pay for your Norwegian team in 2026.

Do Employers Have to Provide Paid Leave on Public Holidays?

Yes, Norwegian law generally expects employers to treat public holidays as paid days off for employees who would normally work on those days, provided they are otherwise entitled to pay (for example, not on unpaid leave). The Working Environment Act and the Public Holidays Act restrict ordinary work on Sundays and public holidays, and most employees receive their regular pay even when they are off.

If your employees must work on a public holiday, you usually need to provide either premium pay or compensatory time off, as set out in the employment contract or collective agreement. Many collective agreements in Norway grant higher hourly rates for holiday work, especially for work on Sundays, nights, and major holidays such as Christmas and Easter.

Part‑time employees are typically entitled to proportional holiday pay if the public holiday falls on a day they would normally work. If the holiday falls on a non‑working day for that employee, there is usually no additional entitlement, unless a collective agreement or company policy provides a more generous benefit.

Norway’s public holidays are national, and there are no separate regional public holiday regimes, although some areas may have strong local traditions around certain days. When a public holiday falls on a Sunday, it is not automatically moved to a weekday, but Sunday work restrictions and premium pay rules still apply. Your company can always choose to offer more generous paid leave than the statutory minimum.

Legal Penalties for Not Providing Paid Holiday Leave

If your company fails to respect Norway’s rules on public holidays, you risk administrative and, in serious cases, criminal consequences. The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (Arbeidstilsynet) oversees compliance with the Working Environment Act, including limits on work on Sundays and public holidays.

Authorities can issue orders to correct non‑compliance, impose coercive fines for ongoing breaches, and in serious or repeated cases refer matters for prosecution, which can lead to higher fines. Employees can also bring claims for unpaid wages, missing premium pay, or unlawful scheduling on public holidays, and may recover back pay with interest.

Common mistakes by foreign employers include treating public holidays as ordinary workdays without premium pay, failing to apply Sunday and night‑work restrictions, and not aligning local practices with applicable collective agreements. To reduce risk, document your holiday policy clearly, ensure it matches Norwegian law and any collective agreement, and keep accurate records of hours worked and pay on public holidays.

How Do Holidays Affect Overtime Thresholds?

In Norway, overtime is generally calculated when working hours exceed the normal limits set in the Working Environment Act or in an applicable collective agreement. Public holidays do not remove the overtime rules, but they do change how you schedule and compensate work.

Work performed on Sundays and public holidays is more tightly regulated and often attracts higher pay than ordinary weekday work. Many collective agreements provide premium rates for holiday work, such as 50–100% extra pay for hours worked on public holidays, on top of any statutory overtime supplement when daily or weekly limits are exceeded. The exact rate depends on the sector and agreement, so you should always check the relevant collective agreement or written contract.

If an employee works fewer hours in a holiday week because of a public holiday, you normally cannot offset that by scheduling longer days without considering overtime rules. Likewise, if you require staff to work on a public holiday and then grant time off on another day, you should ensure that the rescheduled time off does not push working hours over the legal thresholds for overtime.

Stay 100% Compliant with Leave Regulations Using Playroll

Managing Norway'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.