📅 Greece Public Holidays 2026 & 2027
Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2026 · Thu | New Year's Day (Πρωτοχρονιά) | Public |
| 6 Jan 2026 · Tue | Epiphany (Θεοφάνεια) | Public |
| 23 Feb 2026 · Mon | Clean Monday (Καθαρά Δευτέρα) | Public |
| 25 Mar 2026 · Wed | Annunciation (Ευαγγελισμός της Θεοτόκου) | Public |
| 25 Mar 2026 · Wed | Independence Day (Εικοστή Πέμπτη Μαρτίου) | Public |
| 10 Apr 2026 · Fri | Good Friday (Μεγάλη Παρασκευή) | Public |
| 12 Apr 2026 · Sun | Easter Sunday (Κυριακή του Πάσχα) | Public |
| 13 Apr 2026 · Mon | Easter Monday (Δευτέρα του Πάσχα) | Public |
| 1 May 2026 · Fri | Labour Day (Εργατική Πρωτομαγιά) | Public |
| 31 May 2026 · Sun | Pentecost (Πεντηκοστή) | Public |
| 1 Jun 2026 · Mon | Whit Monday (Δευτέρα Πεντηκοστής) | Public |
| 15 Aug 2026 · Sat | Assumption Day (Κοίμηση της Θεοτόκου) | Public |
| 28 Oct 2026 · Wed | Ochi Day (Το Όχι) | Public |
| 25 Dec 2026 · Fri | Christmas Day (Χριστούγεννα) | Public |
| 26 Dec 2026 · Sat | St. Stephen's Day (Σύναξις Υπεραγίας Θεοτόκου Μαρίας) | Public |
Public Holidays 2027
Provisional — most countries publish the official calendar late in the year.
| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2027 · Fri | New Year's Day (Πρωτοχρονιά) | Public |
| 6 Jan 2027 · Wed | Epiphany (Θεοφάνεια) | Public |
| 15 Mar 2027 · Mon | Clean Monday (Καθαρά Δευτέρα) | Public |
| 25 Mar 2027 · Thu | Annunciation (Ευαγγελισμός της Θεοτόκου) | Public |
| 25 Mar 2027 · Thu | Independence Day (Εικοστή Πέμπτη Μαρτίου) | Public |
| 30 Apr 2027 · Fri | Good Friday (Μεγάλη Παρασκευή) | Public |
| 1 May 2027 · Sat | Labour Day (Εργατική Πρωτομαγιά) | Public |
| 2 May 2027 · Sun | Easter Sunday (Κυριακή του Πάσχα) | Public |
| 3 May 2027 · Mon | Easter Monday (Δευτέρα του Πάσχα) | Public |
| 20 Jun 2027 · Sun | Pentecost (Πεντηκοστή) | Public |
| 21 Jun 2027 · Mon | Whit Monday (Δευτέρα Πεντηκοστής) | Public |
| 15 Aug 2027 · Sun | Assumption Day (Κοίμηση της Θεοτόκου) | Public |
| 28 Oct 2027 · Thu | Ochi Day (Το Όχι) | Public |
| 25 Dec 2027 · Sat | Christmas Day (Χριστούγεννα) | Public |
| 26 Dec 2027 · Sun | St. Stephen's Day (Σύναξις Υπεραγίας Θεοτόκου Μαρίας) | Public |
ℹ️ Why these dates matter
Greek holidays are lived outdoors, around church courtyards, village squares and long family tables. Orthodox Easter is the year’s emotional centre and usually falls on a different date from Western Easter, so check the Greek calendar rather than assuming. Public offices and banks close on statutory holidays; restaurants may stay busy, but transport and attraction hours often change.
Festivals Worth Planning a Trip Around
Beyond the stat holidays — the events that define the travel year.
Orthodox Easter — Good Friday 10 April 2026 (Fri); Easter Sunday 12 April 2026 (Sun)
Greek Orthodox Easter is the celebration to build a trip around: Good Friday processions lead to a candlelit midnight Resurrection service on Saturday, followed by Sunday tables of spit-roast lamb. Corfu adds marching bands and the Saturday pot-throwing custom; reserve island ferries and rooms early, and remember its date usually differs from Western Easter.
Clean Monday — 23 February 2026 (Mon)
Kathará Deftéra opens Lent with kite flying, picnics and tables of fasting food such as lagana bread, olives and seafood. Athenians head for Filopappou Hill and families crowd beaches and open spaces, so buy picnic food the day before and expect busy roads home late afternoon.
Assumption Day — 15 August 2026 (Sat)
The Assumption on 15 August is Greece’s great summer pilgrimage and holiday, with village feasts across the islands. Tinos draws the largest pilgrimage to the Church of Panagia Evangelistria; island ferries, cabins and hotels can sell out months ahead, so lock in transport before building the rest of the itinerary.
Ochi Day — 28 October 2026 (Wed)
Ochi Day commemorates Greece’s wartime refusal with flags, school marches and military parades. Athens stages a central school parade while Thessaloniki hosts the larger military procession; arrive early for a pavement position and expect central streets and bus routes to close or divert.
💡 Quick Tips
- Reserve Easter and 15 August ferries as soon as schedules open, especially for cars and overnight cabins.
- Buy groceries before the eve of a major holiday because smaller island shops may close or shorten hours.
- Check archaeological-site hours again a few days before visiting, as holiday timetables can differ by monument.
- Allow an extra day around island connections when strong winds and holiday crowds put pressure on ferry schedules.
⚡ Pro Tips
- For the midnight Resurrection service, carry an unlit candle from a local shop and stand outside if the church is full.
- On Corfu, watch the Easter pot throwing from a side street rather than directly beneath the old-town balconies.
- Leave Athens early on the Friday before Easter and return late Tuesday to miss the largest outbound and return waves.
📋 Summary
Every Greek public holiday in 2026 and 2027, with the celebrations that can transform a trip: Orthodox Easter, Clean Monday, the Assumption and Ochi Day. Ferries, island rooms and intercity buses fill around the biggest dates, while family businesses and archaeological sites may adjust their hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Greek Orthodox Easter on the same date as Western Easter?
Usually not, because the churches calculate Easter using different calendar traditions. In 2026 Greek Easter Sunday is 12 April, and in 2027 it is 2 May; build transport and accommodation plans around the Greek dates.
Are restaurants and archaeological sites open on Greek holidays?
Tourist-area restaurants often open and may be extremely busy after services or parades. Archaeological sites and museums follow their own holiday timetables and may close or shorten hours, so check the official listing a few days before.
How early should I book Greek island travel for 15 August?
For Tinos and other popular islands, book several months ahead if dates are fixed, especially with a car or a specific ferry time. Reserve the ferry before choosing a non-refundable hotel, because the most useful crossings can disappear first.
