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 January | New Year’s Day: Nyårsdagen |  |  |
| 5 January | Twelfth Night: Trettondagsafton | ||
| 6 January | Epiphany: Trettondedag jul | | |
| 29 January – 8 February | Goteborg International Film Festival | ||
| 28 January | Name day of the King: Konungens namnsdag | |
February Holidays in Sweden
Date | Holiday Name | Flag Day? | Holiday? |
| 8 – 14 February | Stockholm Design Week | ||
| 9 – 13 February | Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair |
March Holidays in Sweden
Date | Holiday Name | Flag Day? | Holiday? |
| 12 March | Name day of the Crown Princess: Kronprinsessans namnsdag | | |
| 20 March | Spring equinox |
April Holidays in Sweden
Date | Holiday Name | Flag Day? | Holiday? |
| 1 April | Maundy Thursday: Skärtorsdagen | ||
| 2 April | Good Friday: Långfredagen | | |
| 4 April | Easter Sunday: Påsk | | |
| 5 April | Easter Monday: Annandag påsk | | |
| 12 April – 12 May | Ramadan | ||
| 30 April | Walpurgis Night: Valborgsmässoafton | ||
| 30 April | Birthday of the King: Konungens födelsedag | |
May Holidays in Sweden
Date | Holiday Name | Flag Day? | Holiday? |
| 1 May | International Worker’s Day | | |
| 13 May | Ascension Day: Kristi himmelsfärds dag | | |
| 14 May | The Friday after Ascension Day: Himmelsfärdsdag fredag. (Not a holiday but day off maybe be given by some employers). | ||
| 22 May | Pentecost Eve: Helgdagar (Not an official public holiday. It is traditionally a non-working day, so many businesses are closed). | ||
| 23 May | Whit Sunday: Pingstdagen | | |
| 24 May | Whit Monday: Annandag pingst. (Previously a holiday). | ||
| 29 May | Veterans Day: Veterandagen | | |
| 30 May | Mother’s Day: Mors dag |
June Holidays in Sweden
Date | Holiday Name | Flag Day? | Holiday? |
| 6 June | National Day of Sweden: Sveriges nationaldag | | |
| 21 June | Summer solstice | ||
| 25 June | Midsummer Eve: Midsommarafton. (De facto holiday). | | |
| 26 June | Midsummer’s Day: Midsommardagen | | |
| 29 June – 3 July | Bergman Week |
July Holidays in Sweden
Date | Holiday Name | Flag Day? | Holiday? |
| 2 – 4 July | Lollapalooza Festival | ||
| 14 July | Birthday of the Crown Princess: Kronprinsessans födelsedag | |
August Holidays in Sweden
Date | Holiday Name | Flag Day? | Holiday? |
| 2 – 8 August | Stockholm Pride | ||
| 8 August | Name day of the Queen: Drottningens namnsdag | | |
| 12 – 14 August | Way Out West Festival |
September Holidays in Sweden
Date | Holiday Name | Flag Day? | Holiday? |
| 22 September | Autumn equinox |
October Holidays in Sweden
Date | Holiday Name | Flag Day? | Holiday? |
| 24 October | United Nations Day: FN-dagen | | |
| 31 October | Halloween |
November Holidays in Sweden
Date | Holiday Name | Flag Day? | Holiday? |
| 6 November | All Saint’s Day: Alla helgons dag | | |
| 6 November | Gustavus Adolphus Day: Gustav Adolfsdagen | | |
| 14 November | Father’s Day: Fars dag | ||
| 28 November | First advent |
December Holidays in Sweden
Date | Holiday Name | Flag Day? | Holiday? |
| 5 December | Second advent | ||
| 10 December | Alfred Nobel Day: Nobeldagen | | |
| 12 December | Third advent | ||
| 13 December | St Lucy’s Day: Luciadag | ||
| 19 December | Fourth 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 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.