Annual leave and public holidays in Iceland 2026
How many paid days off you get in Iceland depends on the legal minimum, your contract and the public holidays that fall on working days. The calculator above counts them for your own case. Below you will find the legal minimum, the 2026 public holidays and the family leave rules.
Your annual leave
The legal minimum in Iceland is 20 working days a year on a five-day week. In 2026, 13 public holidays fall on working days (national, on working days). In the example (24 days of leave in the contract) that makes 37 paid days off in all.
By law 24 working days counting Saturdays (4 weeks) with 10.17% holiday pay; collective agreements usually give 24 days on a 5-day week, rising to 30 with age and service. Holidays falling on a weekend are not moved.
Public holidays 2026 in Iceland
| Date | Holiday | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Thu 1 Jan | New Year’s Day | Take Friday off → 4 days in a row |
| Thu 2 Apr | Maundy Thursday | Take Friday off → 4 days in a row |
| Fri 3 Apr | Good Friday | |
| Sun 5 Apr | Easter Sunday | weekend |
| Mon 6 Apr | Easter Monday | |
| Thu 23 Apr | First Day of Summer | Take Friday off → 4 days in a row |
| Fri 1 May | Labour Day | |
| Thu 14 May | Ascension Day | Take Friday off → 4 days in a row |
| Sun 24 May | Whit Sunday | weekend |
| Mon 25 May | Whit Monday | |
| Wed 17 Jun | National Day | |
| Mon 3 Aug | Commerce Day | |
| Thu 24 Dec | Christmas Eve (from 13:00) | Take Friday off → 4 days in a row |
| Fri 25 Dec | Christmas Day | |
| Sat 26 Dec | Boxing Day | weekend |
| Thu 31 Dec | New Year’s Eve (from 13:00) | Take Friday off → 4 days in a row |
Family leave
- Parental leave: 12 months in total: 6 months for each parent, 6 weeks of which can be transferred, until the child is 24 months old · Pay: 80% of average pay up to a monthly ceiling (Maternity/Paternity Leave Fund)
- Child benefit: Paid by the tax authority four times a year · Pay: Income-tested, not included here
- Sick pay: Paid by the employer: 2 days per month of service, more under the collective agreements; then the union sickness fund · Pay: 100% of pay while the employer pays
Frequently asked questions
How many days of annual leave do I get in Iceland?
At least 20 working days a year on a five-day week. Many contracts and collective agreements give more.
How many public holidays are there in Iceland in 2026?
16 national public holidays, of which 13 fall on working days. Regional holidays can add more.
What leave do parents get?
For example, Parental leave: 12 months in total: 6 months for each parent, 6 weeks of which can be transferred, until the child is 24 months old (80% of average pay up to a monthly ceiling (Maternity/Paternity Leave Fund)). The table above lists the main family leave types.
Are these figures exact?
They follow the national rules for 2026. Your contract, a collective agreement or regional holidays can give more days off.
Rules and official sources: see “Rules applied (2026)” above. Last checked: October 2026. The amounts are estimates for information, not financial or legal advice.