Finland Public Holidays 2026: From Vappu to Juhannus

Disclaimer: Public holiday information is based on Finnish government sources. Visit official sites for updates.

Finland’s public holidays, known as pyhäpäivät (holidays), shape the country’s seasonal rhythm. These days influence shop hours, travel patterns, and the flow of community life. Understanding Finland’s public holidays in 2026 helps visitors plan around closures, enjoy major celebrations, and experience the natural beauty of each season.

Finland Public Holidays 2026

These are Finland’s statutory public holidays. Closures are common, especially on Easter, Midsummer, and Christmas.

How Public Holidays Shape Travel in Finland

Public holidays often create quiet streets, early shop closures, and slower schedules. During Easter, families gather for meals and spring traditions. On Midsummer, almost the entire country moves to lakeside cottages. Independence Day is reflective, with candles in windows and national broadcasts. For travelers, these shifts create meaningful glimpses into Finnish culture and seasonal life.

Vappu: Finland’s May Day Celebration

Vappu, on 1 May, is one of Finland’s most joyful celebrations. Students wear white caps, parks fill with picnics, and the season turns toward spring. The mood is lively and social, with balloons, music, and gatherings across cities. Though shops may open, many workplaces close early. Visitors experience Finland at its most cheerful as winter finally gives way to warmth.

Juhannus and Juhannusaatto

Midsummer, known as Juhannus, is one of the country's most important holidays. The official day, Juhannuspäivä, falls on 20 June in 2026, but the celebrations begin the evening before on Juhannusaatto. Cities are empty as people travel to summer cottages by lakes and forests. Bonfires light the shoreline, saunas warm through the night, and daylight stretches long into the early hours. For visitors, Midsummer is one of the most atmospheric times to be in Finland.

Christmas Season and Pikkujoulu

Finland’s Christmas season begins long before December. The early winter period is marked by Pikkujoulu, small festive gatherings with warm drinks, candles, and songs. Joulupäivä and Tapaninpäivä bring quiet moments with family. Markets brighten central squares, and the country’s love of light becomes especially visible as nights grow long.

Seasonal Travel Guide

Finland’s year unfolds in clear, memorable seasons. Each one offers a different rhythm, shaped by light, landscape, and long-held traditions.

Winter

Winter brings deep quiet to the forests and frozen lakes. In the north, kaamos settles over Lapland and colours the sky with soft blue tones. The northern lights appear on clear nights, creating one of the most sought-after travel moments in the Nordic region. Saunas, warm cabins, and lakeside cottages, balancing the crisp outdoor air with familiar comfort.

Spring

Spring arrives slowly but confidently. Snowmelt reveals forests waking up from winter, and daylight increases each week. Cities brighten as people return to terraces and parks. Vappu marks the shift into warmer weather, filling public spaces with picnics, balloons, and student caps. It is one of the most social moments of the Finnish calendar.

Summer

Summer is shaped by long days and quiet lakes. Evenings stretch into near daylight, and cottages across the country open for the season. Juhannus is the centerpiece when families gather by the water, light saunas, and enjoy the brightness of the night. Travellers can expect calm mornings, warm afternoons, and a relaxed pace throughout the countryside.

Autumn

Autumn brings ruska, the brief but vivid period when leaves turn red, gold, and orange across Lapland and the lakeland regions. Hiking routes fill with colour, and days grow cooler and quieter. For many visitors, this is one of the most beautiful times to explore Finland, with clear trails and refreshing temperatures.

Long Weekends in 2026

Finland’s long weekends often inspire movement toward nature, cottages, and time outdoors. These breaks help shape travel patterns throughout the year.

Easter Weekend (3 to 6 April)

Easter combines family gatherings with the first signs of spring. Shops operate on reduced hours, and many Finns travel to visit relatives or spend time in quieter regions.

Vappu Weekend (1 May)

Vappu creates one of the liveliest weekends of the year. Parks and waterfronts fill with picnics, music, and celebrations that welcome the warmer season.

Ascension Weekend (14 to 17 May)

With Ascension falling on a Thursday, many take Friday off to form a long weekend. This is a popular time for early summer travel, especially toward southern lakes and national parks.

Whit Weekend (24 to 25 May)

Whit Sunday marks another transition into summer. Days are longer, temperatures rise, and outdoor life becomes more central.

Juhannus Weekend (19 to 21 June)

Finland’s biggest summer holiday transforms the entire country. Cities are empty, roads lead to cottages and lakes, and gatherings continue late into the bright night. This is one of the busiest and most atmospheric travel periods.

Christmas Weekend (25 to 28 December)

The holiday season brings warm lights, quiet streets, and winter landscapes. It is a peaceful moment in Helsinki and an active season in Lapland, where visitors seek northern lights and deep winter experiences.

What’s Open on Public Holidays

• Supermarkets may close or reduce hours
• Public transport runs on holiday timetables
• Restaurants stay open in major cities
• Museums open with limited hours
• Lakeside regions and Lapland remain active during peak seasons

Practical Tips for Travelers

• Plan shopping ahead of major pyhäpäivät
• Expect very quiet cities during Juhannus
• Book early for Lapland winter travel
• Finland is highly cashless, with digital payments accepted everywhere
• The weather varies greatly between the south and the Arctic region

Staying Connected While Traveling in Finland

Staying connected in Finland helps make travel smooth, whether you are moving through quiet forests, crossing long-distance train routes, or finding hidden cafés in Helsinki. An Eskimo Finland eSIM makes this easy from the moment you arrive. Unused data rolls over with each top-up, and data can be shared with family or friends during the trip. Travelers trying the Eskimo for the first time can explore Finland with a free eSIM before upgrading to a full plan. Europe and Global options enable seamless travel beyond Finland, ensuring an uninterrupted journey throughout.

FAQs

Is Vappu a public holiday?

Yes. It is both a national public holiday and one of Finland’s biggest celebrations.

Do shops close on public holidays?

Many supermarkets and shops close, especially on Easter, Midsummer, and Christmas.

What is Juhannus?

Finland’s Midsummer celebration, marked by bonfires, saunas, and lakeside gatherings.

When is the best time to visit Finland?

Summer for lakes and long days, winter for northern lights, spring for festivals, and autumn for ruska.

What is Pikkujoulu?

A festive early winter tradition of small gatherings and celebrations leading up to Christmas.