Dates for public holidays and flag days in Sweden are important to know, both to understand when holidays are happening and when businesses might be closed. Our full list means you’ll always be in the know!

What is a flag day in Sweden?

Flag days are days that have been decreed as dates on which to the national flag. On flag days in Sweden, businesses are not closed nor are there special hours.

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 flag must be raised at sunrise and lowered at sunset, and must never touch the ground while being taken to the flagpole.

The birthdays of adult royals are non-obligatory flag days. Some public holidays are also flag days, such as Easter, Christmas, and Midsummer’s Day.

 
 

What is a public holiday in Sweden?

Public holidays are national holidays when public offices, institutions, and administrative buildings are closed. Many restaurants, grocery stores, and shop are open, but exactly which ones change year-to-year 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 Sweden 2020.

Also, you can download all these dates for your Apple Calendar!

 

January in Sweden

Flag Day?	Holiday?	Date	Holiday Name
		1 January	New Year’s Day: Nyårsdagen
		5 January	Twelfth Night: Trettondagsafton
		6 January	Epiphany: Trettondedag jul
		24 January – 3 February	Goteborg International Film Festival
		28 January	Name day of the King: Konungens namnsdag

 

 

February in Sweden

Flag Day?	Holiday?	Date	Holiday Name
		3 – 9 February	Stockholm Design Week
		4 – 8 February	Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair

 
 

March in Sweden

Flag Day?	Holiday?	Date	Holiday Name
		12 March	Name day of the Crown Princess: Kronprinsessans namnsdag
		20 March	Spring equinox

 

 

April in Sweden

Flag Day?	Holiday?	Date	Holiday Name
		9 April	Maundy Thursday: Skärtorsdagen
		10 April	Good Friday: Långfredagen
		12 April	Easter Sunday: Påsk
		13 April	Easter Monday: Annandag påsk
		23 April – 23 May	Ramadan
		30 April	Walpurgis Night: Valborgsmässoafton
		30 April	Birthday of the King: Konungens födelsedag

 
 

May in Sweden

Flag Day?	Holiday?	Date	Holiday Name
		1 May	International Worker’s Day
		21 May	Ascension Day: Kristi himmelsfärds dag
		22 May	The Friday after Ascension Day: Himmelsfärdsdag fredag. (Not a holiday but maybe be given by some employers).
		29 May	Veterans Day: Veterandagen
		30 May	Stockholm Marathon
		30 May	Pentecost Eve: Helgdagar (Not an official public holiday. It is traditionally a non-working day, so many businesses are closed).
		31 May	Whit Sunday: Pingstdagen
		31 May	Mother’s Day: Mors dag

 

 

June in Sweden

Flag Day?	Holiday?	Date	Holiday Name
		1 June	Whit Monday: Annandag pingst. (Previously a holiday).
		6 June	National Day of Sweden: Sveriges nationaldag
		19 June	Midsummer Eve: Midsommarafton. (De facto holiday).
		20 June	Midsummer’s Day: Midsommardagen
		20 June	Summer solstice
		23 June – 27 July	Bergman Week
		26 – 28 June	Lollapalooza Festival

 
 

July in Sweden

Flag Day?	Holiday?	Date	Holiday Name
		27 July – 2  August	Stockholm Pride
		14 July	Birthday of the Crown Princess: Kronprinsessans födelsedag

 

 

August in Sweden

Flag Day?	Holiday?	Date	Holiday Name
		8 August	Name day of the Queen: Drottningens namnsdag
		13 – 15 August	Way Out West Festival

 
 

September in Sweden

Flag Day?	Holiday?	Date	Holiday Name
		22 September	Autumn equinox

 

 

October in Sweden

Flag Day?	Holiday?	Date	Holiday Name
		24 October	United Nations Day: FN-dagen
		31 October	Halloween

 
 

November in Sweden

Flag Day?	Holiday?	Date	Holiday Name
		1 November	All Saint’s Day: Alla helgons dag
		6 November	Gustavus Adolphus Day: Gustav Adolfsdagen
		8 November	Father’s Day: Fars dag
		29 November	First advent

 

 

December in Sweden

Flag Day?	Holiday?	Date	Holiday Name
		6 December	Second advent
		10 December	Alfred Nobel Day: Nobeldagen
		13 December	St Lucy’s Day: Luciadag
		20 December	Third advent
		21 December	Winter solstice
		23 December	Birthday of the Queen: Drottningens födelsedag
		24 December	Christmas Eve: Julafton
		25 December	Christmas Day: Juldagen
		26 December	Second Day of Christmas: Annandag jul
		31 December	New Year’s Eve: Nyårsafton

Add all these dates for your Apple Calendar!