What Are The Public Holidays in Montenegro in 2026?

List of Public Holidays in Montenegro (2026)

Montenegro recognises a mix of state and religious public holidays. Below is an indicative list for 2026, but you should always confirm exact dates and observance rules with up‑to‑date local sources, especially for religious holidays that follow different calendars.

Do Employers Have to Provide Paid Leave on Public Holidays?

Yes, Montenegrin labour law generally requires employers to treat public holidays as paid non‑working days for employees who would normally work on those days. In practice, this means your employees should receive their regular pay for the holiday, without being required to use annual leave.

If an employee works on a public holiday, you must provide either premium pay or compensatory time off. The Labour Law sets minimum standards for increased pay for work on holidays, and many collective agreements or employment contracts go further, so you should always check the specific terms that apply in your company.

When a public holiday falls on a weekend, it is typically observed on the next working day, so your team still receives a paid day off. However, implementation can vary by sector and collective agreement, so you should confirm the practice with your local payroll provider or legal counsel.

Part‑time employees are entitled to public holiday pay on a pro‑rated basis if the holiday falls on a day they would normally work. If the holiday falls on a non‑working day for a part‑time employee, there is usually no additional entitlement unless your internal policies or a collective agreement provide more generous treatment.

Legal Penalties for Not Providing Paid Holiday Leave

Failure to respect public holiday rights in Montenegro can expose your company to labour inspections, administrative fines and back‑pay obligations. The labour inspectorate is the main enforcement authority and can initiate proceedings if an employee complains or if irregularities are discovered during an inspection.

Sanctions can include fines per violation, orders to correct payroll and working time records, and payment of unpaid wages with interest. In more serious or repeated cases, inspectors may also impose additional measures affecting your ability to operate until compliance is restored.

Common employer mistakes include treating public holidays as ordinary working days without premium pay, not granting an observed day off when a holiday falls on a weekend, and misclassifying employees as independent contractors to avoid holiday obligations. Keeping accurate time records and clear written policies is essential to demonstrate compliance.

How Do Holidays Affect Overtime Thresholds?

Public holidays in Montenegro do not remove or replace normal weekly working time limits, but they do change how hours are classified and paid. Hours worked on a public holiday are typically treated as work under special conditions and must be paid at a higher rate than ordinary hours, often in addition to any overtime premium that would otherwise apply.

If an employee exceeds the standard weekly or daily working time because they worked on a holiday, those excess hours are usually counted as overtime and must be compensated accordingly. In practice, this can mean a combined premium for both holiday work and overtime, depending on the wording of your employment contracts and any collective agreement.

To stay compliant, you should track hours worked on holidays separately from regular hours, apply the correct premium rate for holiday work, and then assess whether the total hours trigger overtime. Where your policies allow, offering compensatory time off at an enhanced rate can be an alternative, but only if it is clearly agreed and still meets minimum legal standards.

Stay 100% Compliant with Leave Regulations Using Playroll

Managing Montenegro'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.