Belgium: public holidays, long weekends, and school breaks
Which 2026 holidays actually give you time off in Belgium, and where a single leave day buys you a four-day weekend.
Belgium observes eleven public holidays in 2026, of which eight fall on a working day.
- Belgium has 11 public holidays in 2026.
- 3 of them fall on a weekend, so they do not add a day off work.
- 4 already fall on a Monday or Friday, giving a three-day weekend for no leave at all.
- The strongest break is New Year's Day, running 1 January to 4 January.
- On 3 of them the holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, so one day of leave creates a four-day weekend.
Best long weekends
View allAscension Day + Day after Ascension Day
May 12, 2026 to May 16, 2026
Good Friday + Easter Sunday + Easter Monday
Apr 1, 2026 to Apr 4, 2026
Labour Day
Apr 29, 2026 to May 2, 2026
Armistice Day
Nov 6, 2026 to Nov 9, 2026
Ascension Day + Day after Ascension Day
May 8, 2026 to May 16, 2026
Christmas Day + St. Stephen's Day
Dec 18, 2026 to Dec 26, 2026
Public holiday snapshot
Full calendar| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2026 | New Year's Day(Nieuwjaar) | NATIONAL |
| Apr 3, 2026 | Good Friday(Goede Vrijdag) | BANK |
| Apr 5, 2026 | Easter Sunday(Pasen) | NATIONAL |
| Apr 6, 2026 | Easter Monday(Paasmaandag) | NATIONAL |
| May 1, 2026 | Labour Day(Dag van de arbeid) | NATIONAL |
| May 14, 2026 | Ascension Day(Onze Lieve Heer hemel) | NATIONAL |
| May 15, 2026 | Day after Ascension Day | BANK |
| May 25, 2026 | Whit Monday(Pinkstermaandag) | NATIONAL |
More ways to maximize your time off
Take 7 days off
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Public holidays in 2026
Review the official holiday calendar.
Long weekends in 2026
Check the ranked break windows for the year.
Belgium vs Netherlands
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Belgium vs France
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Travel ideas
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Quick links
Belgium holiday questions, answered
How many public holidays does Belgium have in 2026?
Belgium has 11 public holidays in 2026. 8 of them fall on a working day and 3 fall on a weekend.
Which Belgium holidays fall on a weekend in 2026?
3 of the 11 public holidays in Belgium fall on a Saturday or Sunday in 2026, so they do not create an extra day off work.
When is the best long weekend in Belgium in 2026?
The best long weekend in Belgium in 2026 is New Year's Day, from 1 January to 4 January. Booking 1 day of leave turns it into 4 consecutive days off.
How many bridge days can I use in Belgium in 2026?
Belgium has 3 bridge days in 2026 — public holidays that fall on a Tuesday or Thursday, where a single day of leave creates a four-day weekend. May is the densest month, with 3 public holidays.
Plan your time off in Belgium
Turn these dates into a real leave plan, or compare them with another country.