The year 2026 promises to be a real breakthrough for employees in Poland. The calendar is highly favourable, offering a full of 114 days off work, including 14 statutory holidays. But that is not all. Key changes in law and a circumstantial agenda of dates make smart vacation planning possible to get respective long weekends at the expense of just 1 day off. Moreover, for the first time in past Poles will enjoy the free Christmas Eve, and 2 another holidays on Saturday will trigger an crucial work on the part of the employer. According to the Labour Code, for each of them, he will gotta grant an additional day off for the worker to receive at another time. This creates unprecedented possibilities for extending remainder and makes 2026 an worker year.
The employer will gotta pay you off. Key provision in 2026
The most crucial information for millions of workers in Poland concerns holidays, which happen on Saturday in 2026. It will be 2 dates: 15 August (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary / Polish Army Day) and 26 December (second day of Christmas). Many people may be afraid that these days will "lost" on the weekend, but nothing more wrong. The law stands by the employee.
According to Article 130 § 2 of the Labour Code, any vacation occurring during the settlement period and falling on a day another than Sunday shall reduce the working time by 8 hours. In practice, this means that the employer has a legal work to "give" the worker a day off at another time. This explanation has been maintained by the State Labour Inspection for years. The employer must set an additional day off until the end of the settlement period. This means that in 2026 all worker employed on a contract of employment will gain two additional days off to use, which is an excellent chance to extend the weekend or plan a short trip.
Free Christmas Eve is only the beginning. December 2026 promises to be record
Another revolutionary change is the establishment of Christmas Eve, December 24, a public holiday. In 2026, this date is Thursday, which together with the remainder of the holidays creates an highly long remainder period. The layout of the calendar in December 2026 is even perfect for employees.
The standard Christmas arrangement is as follows:
- 24 December (Thursday) – Christmas Eve (free day)
- December 25 (Friday) – Christmas (day off)
- 26 December (Saturday) – The second day of Christmas (a day off for which the employer must pay another day)
- 27 December (Sunday) – Just a day off
As a result, workers gain at least a four-day Christmas weekend (from Thursday to Sunday), and additionally receive another day off to receive for the vacation on 26 December. This additional day can be used, for example, on Monday, December 28, thus creating a five-day, uninterrupted vacation without taking a single day's leave.
Days off from work in 2026. Full Christmas List and Calendar
In order to make full usage of the possible of the coming year, it is worth reading the full calendar of public holidays. Analysis of the layout of these dates will let early planning of holidays and maximizing time for rest. Many holidays are on strategical days, specified as Thursday or Tuesday, which facilitates the creation of alleged "bridges".
Here is simply a full list of public holidays in 2026:
- 1 January (Thursday) – fresh Year
- 6 January (Tuesday) – Feast of the 3 Kings
- 5 April (Sunday) – Easter
- 6 April (Monday) – Easter Monday
- May 1 (Friday) – labour Day
- May 3 (Sunday) – National Day of May 3rd
- May 24 (Sunday) – Green Christmases
- 4 June (Thursday) – God's Body
- 15 August (Saturday) – presumption of the NMP / Polish Army Day (additional day to receive)
- 1 November (Sunday) – All Saints
- 11 November (Wednesday) – National independency Day
- 24 December (Thursday) – Christmas Eve
- December 25 (Friday) – First Christmas Day
- 26 December (Saturday) – Second Christmas Day (additional day to receive)
How do I change 1 day off for 4 days off? Best dates in 2026
The layout of the calendar in 2026 creates as many as 5 excellent opportunities to importantly extend the weekend with minimal usage of holidays. Just take 1 day off to enjoy a four-day rest. It is an perfect strategy for short trips and recovery of forces throughout the year.
Here are the best dates for planning a long weekend:
- January (New Year): fresh Year (1 January) falls on Thursday. Taking a vacation in Friday, January 2nd, we gain a four-day weekend from 1 to 4 January.
- January (Three Kings): The feast of the 3 Kings (6 January) is on Tuesday. Just take the day off in Monday, January 5thto enjoy a long weekend from January 3 to 6.
- Mayday: labour Day (1 May) is Friday and Constitution Day (3 May) is Sunday. It's a three-day weekend. However, it can be easy extended.
- June (God's Body): God's Body (4 June) traditionally falls on Thursday. Leave in Friday, June 5, guarantees us a four-day remainder from June 4 to 7.
An additional chance is created by the National independency Day (11 November) which falls on Wednesday. In this case, taking 2 days' leave (Monday and Tuesday or Thursday and Friday), we can arrange as much as 5 days off, perfect for a fall trip.
SEO tags: holidays 2026, calendar 2026, vacation 2026, long weekend, Work code, extra day off, free Christmas Eve
Alternative titles:
1. Calendar for 2026 is simply a dream of Poles. The employer will give you 2 days off.
2. Planning a vacation in 2026? Check these dates to gain a maximum amount of time off.
3. fresh vacation and additional leave from the boss. The year 2026 is simply a revelation for employees.
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Recorded 114 days off in 2026. The employer will gotta pay you back!
