Holidays and Flag Days to Know in Iceland 2020

What are the public holidays and flags days of Iceland? Find out, plus more important dates such as cultural festivals, with our full calendar. Don’t miss out on the best of Iceland, whether you’re a local or traveler!

What is a flag day in Iceland?

Flag days have been decreed as dates on which to the Icelandic national flag. On flag days in Iceland, businesses are not closed nor are there special hours, unless the date is also a public holiday. All national institutions must fly the flag on these dates, while private institutions and people are not obligated to do so (though many do).

The birthdays of adult royals are flag days, as are dates that commemorate war or soldiers. Some public holidays are also flag days, such as Easter and Christmas.

What is a public holiday in Iceland?

Public holidays are national holidays when public offices, institutions, and administrative buildings are closed. Some private institutions are closed, but many that stay open including a fair number of restaurants, shops, and grocery stores. This changes annually so check individual websites for holiday opening hours if you’re not sure.

Here are the public holidays, flag days, and important dates to know in Iceland 2020.

Also, you can download all these dates for your iCal!

January in Iceland

Flag Day?	Holiday?	Date	Holiday Name
		1 January	New Year’s Day: Nýársdagur
		6 January	Epiphany: Þrettándinn
		25 January	Husband’s Day: Bóndadagur
		24 – 26 January	Reykjavik International Games
		25 January – 1 February	Dark Days Music Festival

February in Iceland

March in Iceland

April in Iceland

Flag Day?	Holiday?	Date	Holiday Name
		5 April	Palm Sunday: Pálmasunnudagur
		9 April	Maundy Thursday: Skírdagur
		10 April	Good Friday: Föstudagurinn langi
		12 April	Easter Sunday: Páskadagur
		13 April	Easter Monday: Annar í páskum
		23 April – 23 June	Ramadan
		25 April	First Day of Summer: Sumardagurinn fyrsti

May in Iceland

Flag Day?	Holiday?	Date	Holiday Name
		1 May	International Worker’s Day: Verkalýðsdagurinn
		10 May	Mother’s Day: Mæðradagurinn
		21 May	Ascension Day: Uppstigningardagur
		31 May	Whit Sunday: Hvítasunnudagur

June in Iceland

Flag Day?	Holiday?	Date	Holiday Name
		1 June	Whit Monday: Annar í hvítasunnu
		7 June	Sailor’s Day/Fisherman’s Day: Sjómannadagurinn
		17 June	Icelandic National Day: Þjóðhátíðardagurinn
		19 June	Women’s Rights Day: Kvenréttindadagurinn
		26 – 28 June	Secret Solstice Festival

July in Iceland

August in Iceland

Flag Day?	Holiday?	Date	Holiday Name
		5 August	Commerce Day: Frídagur verslunarmanna
		29 August – 5 September	Reykjavik Jazz Festival

September in Iceland

October in Iceland

November in Iceland

Flag Day?	Holiday?	Date	Holiday Name
		4 – 7 November	Iceland Airwaves
		16 November	Icelandic Language Day: Dagur íslenskrar tungu
		29 November	First advent

December in Iceland

Flag Day?	Holiday?	Date	Holiday Name
		1 December	Self-governance Day: Fullveldisdagurinn
		6 December	Second advent
		13 December	Fourth advent
		20 December	Third advent
		24 December	Christmas Eve: Aðfangadagur. (Public holiday from 1:00 pm).
		25 December	Christmas Day: Jóladagur
		26 December	Second Day of Christmas: Annar í jólum
		31 December	New Year’s Eve: Gamlársdagur. (Public holiday from 1:00 pm).

Add all these dates for your iCal!