Mandatory public holidayFixed date: 1 May every year
Labour Day (May Day)
About the holiday
May Day combines the workers' holiday with the ancient spring festival: Greeks make flower wreaths and head to the countryside. It is a mandatory public holiday. When 1 May falls on a Sunday, in Holy Week or on Easter Monday, the Minister of Labour may move the holiday to another working day by decision.
Who is off?
What the holiday means for each sector.
- Private sector
- Day off (mandatory)
- Public sector
- Closed
- Schools
- Closed
- Banks
- Closed
Every business must close; employees are paid without working (Law 4808/2021, art. 60).
Upcoming dates
The next years at a glance.
Impact on working days
2026
In 2026 the holiday falls on a Friday, so the working week has 4 working days instead of 5.
Labour Day creates a long weekend from 1 May to 3 May 2026: 3 days off with 0 days of leave.
2027
In 2027 the holiday falls on a Tuesday, so the working week has 3 working days instead of 5.
Labour Day creates a long weekend from 30 April to 4 May 2027: 5 days off with 0 days of leave.
2028
In 2028 the holiday falls on a Monday, so the working week has 4 working days instead of 5.
Labour Day creates a long weekend from 29 April to 1 May 2028: 3 days off with 0 days of leave.
Sources
Dates and legal status were checked against:
- Law 4808/2021, article 60 — days of mandatory public holiday (Government Gazette A' 101/19.06.2021)Hellenic Republic — Government Gazette (via e-nomothesia.gr)
- Law 4468/2017, article 14 — 1 May as a mandatory public holidayHellenic Republic — Government Gazette (via taxheaven.gr)
- GSEE – KEPEA: Holidays and exempt days (mandatory, optional, local holidays, 1 May transfer)ΚΕΠΕΑ / ΓΣΕΕ
- GSEE – KEPEA: Which days are mandatory public holidaysΚΕΠΕΑ / ΓΣΕΕ (Information Centre for Employees and the Unemployed of the Greek General Confederation of Labour)
Last verified: 7 October 2026
Plan your leave
Taking leave around Labour Day?
Pick your days on the calendar: weekends, public holidays and school breaks are already marked, so you see at once how many leave days you need and how long the break becomes.