What Are The Public Holidays in Spain in 2025?

List of Public Holidays in Spain in 2025

Below is a list of the national public holidays observed across Spain in 2025. Each autonomous community may add its own regional holidays, and municipalities may designate two additional local holidays.

Do Employers Have to Provide Paid Leave on Public Holidays?

Yes, Spanish labor law requires employers to provide paid leave on public holidays. Under Article 37 of the Workers’ Statute, employees are entitled to a full paid day off on each recognized holiday. If employees must work on a public holiday due to business needs, such as in hospitality, healthcare, or emergency services, they must receive compensatory time off or an overtime premium as outlined in their collective bargaining agreement (convenio colectivo).

Both full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid public holidays. Part-time workers receive holiday pay proportionate to their working hours. Public holidays in Spain are not deducted from annual leave, as they are separate statutory rest days.

Legal Penalties for Not Providing Paid Holiday Leave

Employers who fail to provide the required paid leave or compensation on public holidays face penalties under Spanish labor law. Non-compliance is categorized as a serious labor infraction under the Law on Infractions and Sanctions in the Social Order (LISOS). Fines range from €751 to €7,500 depending on the severity and frequency of the violation.

Infractions often occur with temporary or part-time contracts or when businesses misunderstand regional calendars. Employees can report violations to the Labour and Social Security Inspectorate (Inspección de Trabajo y Seguridad Social), which investigates and imposes sanctions. Employers should verify regional calendars and document paid leave entitlements clearly in contracts and payroll records to ensure compliance.

How Do Holidays Affect Overtime Thresholds?

When employees work on a public holiday, those hours are automatically considered overtime unless replaced with a rest day. The overtime rate or compensatory leave is defined by collective agreements or company policy and must always provide a greater benefit than standard pay. These hours are excluded from normal working time limits to protect employee rest periods.

Stay 100% Compliant with Leave Regulations Using Playroll

Managing public holidays in Spain can be complex due to differences across national, regional, and local calendars. A company with staff in Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville could face three distinct holiday schedules within the same year.

Playroll simplifies compliance by applying the correct holiday schedule automatically and ensuring adherence to the Workers’ Statute and collective agreements. From public holidays to annual leave and special allowances, Playroll tracks every legal update and integrates it seamlessly into payroll, saving you time and reducing risk. With Playroll, your employees get the right pay and time off while your business remains fully compliant and penalty-free.