Calendar

Holidays and Flag Days to Know in Sweden 2021

Dates for Swedish public holidays and Swedish flag days are important to know, both to understand when holidays are happening and when businesses might be closed. Sweden has a range of national holidays, flag days, and festivals that are notable. Our full list means you’ll always be in the know!

Here are the public holidays, flag days, and important dates to know in Sweden 2021.

You can download all these dates for your Apple Calendar!

 

January Holidays in Sweden

Date

Holiday Name

Flag Day?

Holiday?

1 JanuaryNew Year’s Day: Nyårsdagen
5 JanuaryTwelfth Night: Trettondagsafton
6 JanuaryEpiphany: Trettondedag jul
29 January – 8 FebruaryGoteborg International Film Festival
28 JanuaryName day of the King: Konungens namnsdag

 


 

February Holidays in Sweden

Date

Holiday Name

Flag Day?

Holiday?

8 – 14 FebruaryStockholm Design Week
9 – 13 FebruaryStockholm Furniture & Light Fair

 
 

March Holidays in Sweden

Date

Holiday Name

Flag Day?

Holiday?

12 MarchName day of the Crown Princess: Kronprinsessans namnsdag
20 MarchSpring equinox

 


 

April Holidays in Sweden

Date

Holiday Name

Flag Day?

Holiday?

1 AprilMaundy Thursday: Skärtorsdagen
2 AprilGood Friday: Långfredagen
4 AprilEaster Sunday: Påsk
5 AprilEaster Monday: Annandag påsk
12 April – 12 MayRamadan
30 AprilWalpurgis Night: Valborgsmässoafton
30 AprilBirthday of the King: Konungens födelsedag

 
 

May Holidays in Sweden

Date

Holiday Name

Flag Day?

Holiday?

1 MayInternational Worker’s Day
13 MayAscension Day: Kristi himmelsfärds dag
14 MayThe Friday after Ascension Day: Himmelsfärdsdag fredag. (Not a holiday but day off maybe be given by some employers).
22 MayPentecost Eve: Helgdagar (Not an official public holiday. It is traditionally a non-working day, so many businesses are closed).
23 MayWhit Sunday: Pingstdagen
24 MayWhit Monday: Annandag pingst. (Previously a holiday).
29 MayVeterans Day: Veterandagen
30 MayMother’s Day: Mors dag

 


 

June Holidays in Sweden

Date

Holiday Name

Flag Day?

Holiday?

6 JuneNational Day of Sweden: Sveriges nationaldag
21 JuneSummer solstice
25 JuneMidsummer Eve: Midsommarafton. (De facto holiday).
26 JuneMidsummer’s Day: Midsommardagen
29 June – 3 JulyBergman Week

 
 

July Holidays in Sweden

Date

Holiday Name

Flag Day?

Holiday?

2 – 4 JulyLollapalooza Festival
14 JulyBirthday of the Crown Princess: Kronprinsessans födelsedag

 


 

August Holidays in Sweden

Date

Holiday Name

Flag Day?

Holiday?

2 – 8 AugustStockholm Pride
8 AugustName day of the Queen: Drottningens namnsdag
12 – 14 AugustWay Out West Festival

 
 

September Holidays in Sweden

Date

Holiday Name

Flag Day?

Holiday?

22 SeptemberAutumn equinox

 


 

October Holidays in Sweden

Date

Holiday Name

Flag Day?

Holiday?

24 OctoberUnited Nations Day: FN-dagen
31 OctoberHalloween

 
 

November Holidays in Sweden

Date

Holiday Name

Flag Day?

Holiday?

6 NovemberAll Saint’s Day: Alla helgons dag
6 NovemberGustavus Adolphus Day: Gustav Adolfsdagen
14 NovemberFather’s Day: Fars dag
28 NovemberFirst advent

 


 

December Holidays in Sweden

Date

Holiday Name

Flag Day?

Holiday?

5 DecemberSecond advent
10 DecemberAlfred Nobel Day: Nobeldagen
12 DecemberThird advent
13 DecemberSt Lucy’s Day: Luciadag
19 DecemberFourth advent
21 DecemberWinter solstice
23 DecemberBirthday of the Queen: Drottningens födelsedag
24 DecemberChristmas Eve: Julafton
25 DecemberChristmas Day: Juldagen
26 DecemberSecond Day of Christmas: Annandag jul
31 DecemberNew Year’s Eve: Nyårsafton

Add all these dates for your iCal!

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.

 
 

What are the most important holidays in Sweden?

Because Sweden adheres to the Christian calendar. Therefore Christmas and Easter are important even in a secular way; this is when many people take extended holiday from work and school. Midsummer is also incredibly important to the Swedish calendar.

 
 

How many public holidays are there in Sweden?

There are 14 public holidays in Sweden. There are also a number of observances and important dates that are not considered public holidays, as outlined above.

 
 

Find out more about Swedish holidays, including Swedish Christmas, Swedish Easter, Walpurgis Night, Midsummer, and St Lucia Day.

Last edited

Scandinavia Standard

Scandinavia standard is largest English-language website on Scandinavian lifestyle for locals, travellers, and Scandiphiles around the world. Find out more about Scandinavia Standard here.