Not a statutory public holiday. In 2026, New Year's Eve falls on Thursday, 31 December 2026. 31 December is not listed in the public-holiday list of the Working Rest Act. [1]
- Author
- Urlaubskalender.at editorial team
- Last checked
- Source basis
- official sources and editorial review
2026
New Year's Eve: working day before New Year's Day
31 December is not a statutory public holiday. Work, opening hours and travel home depend on the venue; New Year's Day follows on 1 January.
- Date
- In 2026, New Year's Eve falls on Thursday, 31 December 2026.
- Status
- Not a statutory public holiday
- 31 December is not listed in the public-holiday list of the Working Rest Act.
- Work
- Check collective agreement
- Many collective agreements or workplace rules provide for an earlier finish, but not all do.
- New Year's Day
- 1 January 2027
- New Year's Day falls on Friday, 1 January 2027 and is the statutory public holiday after New Year's Eve.
Practical
New Year's Eve in practice
Organisation depends on holiday status, location and published opening hours.
Work
Working dayNew Year's Eve is not a statutory public holiday. Whether and from when you are off depends on collective agreement, workplace agreement, roster, annual leave, time off in lieu or a voluntary employer rule.
Shopping
ShortenedMany shops close earlier than on normal working days. Retail has special rules; groceries, flowers, confectionery and fireworks sales may remain relevant for longer. Branch hours should be checked directly.
Fireworks
Watch built-up areasCategory F2 fireworks are generally prohibited in built-up areas all year round. Municipalities can allow exceptions; sensitive places and larger crowds remain specially protected.
Events and transport
New Year transitionCity centres, public transport, taxis, car parks, trains, hotel check-ins and event zones are often busy. In Vienna, closures and special timetables around the New Year's Eve Trail, Stephansplatz and the inner city matter every year.
Legal position
Work, opening hours and fireworks
Read legal status, school rules and workplace arrangements separately.
Not a Working Rest Act holiday
Section 7 of the Working Rest Act lists the statutory public holidays. New Year's Eve on 31 December is not named there; New Year's Day on 1 January is.
Collective agreement decides
The Chamber of Labour points out that 24 and 31 December are normal working days. Many collective agreements, however, define an earlier finish or special rules.
Retail
For retail employees, the Chamber of Labour names a special rule: on 31 December, normal working time ends at 17:00; exceptions include food and fireworks.
Fireworks
oesterreich.gv.at explains age limits, categories and bans. Especially important: F2 fireworks are generally prohibited in built-up areas, including New Year's Eve, unless a local exception applies.
Austria locally
The year change in Austria
Local organisers publish the relevant dates, religious forms and regional customs.
Last day of the year
New Year's Eve is 31 December, the last day of the civil calendar year. The statutory public holiday only follows on 1 January with New Year's Day.
Pope Sylvester I
The German name Silvester goes back to Pope Sylvester I. Katholisch.at refers to his death on 31 December 335; this memorial day gave the year change its German name.
New Year's Eve
In English, the day is New Year's Eve. For Austrian pages, the legal distinction matters most: New Year's Eve is the evening of celebration; New Year's Day is the public holiday.
Pummerin bell and Blue Danube waltz
In Vienna, the Pummerin bell and the Blue Danube waltz belong to the year change. Vienna Tourism describes the waltz, Pummerin and New Year's Eve Trail as central Viennese rituals.
Pummerin bell and Blue Danube waltz
MidnightAt midnight the Pummerin rings, then Austria often dances into the new year to the Blue Danube waltz. For Vienna, this is a clear cultural anchor.
Lucky charms
Gift ideaChimney sweeps, clover, pigs, horseshoes, lucky fish and marzipan figures are typical small gifts around the year change.
New Year's Eve Trail and events
Current programmesFor the Vienna New Year's Eve Trail, galas, concerts, clubs, hotel parties and open-air zones, current programmes plus safety and transport notices matter every year.
Dinner and brunch
ReservationGala dinners, hotel packages, restaurant menus and New Year's brunch fit directly into the year change. Reservation, cancellation, dress code, the way home and opening hours are decisive.
Quellen & Weiterführendes
- RIS - Working Rest Act § 7 : Statutory public holidays; New Year's Eve is not named, New Year's Day is.
- Chamber of Labour - public holiday rest : 24 and 31 December are normal working days; details depend on collective agreements.
- Chamber of Labour - retail work during Christmas period : Special rules for retail employees on 31 December.
- oesterreich.gv.at - fireworks : Categories, age limits and usage bans in built-up areas.
- wien.info - New Year's Eve in Vienna : New Year's Eve Trail, Blue Danube waltz and practical year-change information.
- City of Vienna - New Year's Eve Trail : Official event and safety information.
- Katholisch.at - New Year's Eve and New Year's Day : Name, history and link to New Year's Day.
- New Year's Day : Statutory public holiday directly after New Year's Eve.