Holiday Explainers
New Year’s Day: How the World Celebrates January 1
New Year’s Day — 1 January — is arguably the most universal public holiday on the planet. In 2026 it falls on a Thursday, and from…
The blog
Plain-language guides on public holidays, bank holidays and how they work around the world.
Holiday Explainers
Christmas Day: Why It’s a Public Holiday Around the World
Christmas Day is the most widely observed public holiday on Earth. In 2026 it falls on Friday, 25 December, and in well over a hundred countries…
Bank Holidays
How Bank Holiday Dates Are Decided Each Year
Ever wondered how bank holiday dates are decided? Most of us just receive the calendar, but behind every public holiday lies a decision-making process — sometimes…
Holiday Explainers
Is Today a Holiday? How to Check in Any Country
Is today a holiday? It is one of the most-searched questions on the internet every single morning — usually asked while staring at a closed bank…
Holiday Explainers
Public Holiday vs Bank Holiday vs Observance: What’s the Difference?
Public holiday vs bank holiday — are they the same thing? And where does an “observance” fit in? These terms get thrown around interchangeably, but they…
Holiday Explainers
What Is a Public Holiday? A Simple Explanation
What is a public holiday? At its simplest, it is a day designated by a government on which most public institutions close and many workers get…
Country Guides
Italy Public Holidays 2026 — Feste Nazionali
Italy celebrates thirteen feste nazionali, and the Italy public holidays in 2026 include a notable return: Saint Francis of Assisi Day on 4 October is back…
Country Guides
Spain Public Holidays 2026 — National Calendar
The Spain public holidays in 2026 at national level number nine — but that is only the beginning. Spain’s autonomous communities each add their own regional…
Country Guides
France Public Holidays 2026 (Jours Fériés)
France observes eleven jours fériés, and the France public holidays in 2026 include a particularly generous May — four holidays in a single month. Add the…
Country Guides
Germany Public Holidays 2026 — Nationwide List
The Germany public holidays in 2026 that everyone shares — all sixteen states — number just nine. Germany is famously decentralised about holidays: Bavaria, Saxony, Berlin…
Country Guides
Australia Public Holidays 2026 — National Days
Here is the complete guide to public holidays in Australia 2026, set nationally for the big occasions — New Year, Australia Day, Easter, Anzac Day, Christmas…
Country Guides
Public Holidays in Canada 2026
The public holidays in Canada for 2026 follow the federal calendar, with a handful of dates that vary by province — a quirk that catches many…