National holidays grant Hungarian citizens the opportunity to remember significant historical events, and take part in important religious and cultural traditions. As an employer, you must understand your responsibilities on public holidays in Hungary.
In this article, we will provide a useful overview of Hungarian public holiday dates, your obligations as an employer, and payment requirements for holiday pay in Hungary.
When are Hungary’s Public Holidays?
Below is a list of public holidays in Hungary in 2026:
- 1 January – New Year’s Day
- 2 January – Rest Day
- 15 March – Anniversary of the 1848 Hungarian Revolution’s outbreak
- 3 April – Good Friday
- 5 April – Easter
- 6 April – Easter Monday
- 1 May – Labour Day
- 24 May – Pentecost
- 25 May – Pentecost Monday
- 20 August – State Foundation Day
- 21 August – Rest Day
- 23 October – National Day in memory of the 1956 revolution (Republic Day)
- 1 November – All Saints’ Day
- 24 December – Christmas Eve
- 25 and 26 December – Christmas days
If a non-working public holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, the day in between the holiday and the weekend is also a free day in Hungary. This allows workers to enjoy an extended weekend. When this happens, the Saturday before or after usually becomes a business day.
In 2026, this rule applies to the following holidays:
- New Year’s Day falls on Thursday 1 January, so Friday 2 January is a day off. The working day is moved to 10 January.
- State Doundation Day falls on Thursday 20 August, so Friday 21 August is a day off. The working day is moved to 8 August.
- Christmas Day falls on Saturday and Sunday on 25 & 26 December, so Thursday 24 December will be a day off. The working day is moved to 12 December.
What do Employers Need to Know About Free Days in Hungary?
Businesses must abide by certain rules surrounding free days in Hungary.
The most important points are the following:
- Employees can sometimes be required to work normal hours on public holidays in Hungary. This is allowed when operating on national holidays is necessary due to the nature of the business. For example, employees working in accordance with a non-stop work order, or those undertaking seasonal duties may be required to work.
- Employees who work on a public holiday in Hungary are entitled to at least double their basic rate of pay.
Can Overtime be Required on Public Holidays in Hungary?
Overtime work can only be required from employees who can work on the public holiday during normal working hours. It may also be required to prevent an accident, or deal with an accident to prevent serious damage or threat to life.
Holiday Pay in Hungary
Basic paid annual leave allowance in Hungary starts at 20 days, and increases with age, not seniority.
Additional working days are added to minimum annual leave as follows:
- Age 25: 1 additional day
- Age 28: 2 additional days
- Age 31: 3 additional days
- Age 33: 4 additional days
- Age 35: 5 additional days
- Age 37: 6 additional days
- Age 39: 7 additional days
- Age 41: 8 additional days
- Age 43: 9 additional days
- Age 45: 10 additional days
Payment Requirements for Holiday Pay in Hungary
In Hungary, at least 14 consecutive days of annual leave are usually allocated by the employer, and at least seven days should be allocated at the employee’s request. Holiday pay in Hungary is calculated by taking into account both basic salary and any other allowances the employee would typically receive during that time period.
Manage Public Holidays in Hungary With Leinonen
Leinonen has been working alongside foreign-owned businesses in Hungary for over a decade, offering valuable local knowledge on labour practices, tax, payroll, and more. Trust our experts to set your business up for success and ongoing compliance in Hungary – arrange a consultation today.
