Nationwide public holiday. In 2026, Saint Stephen's Day falls on Saturday, 26 December 2026. 26 December is listed in section 7 of the Working Rest Act as Stephanstag and applies throughout Austria. [1]
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- Urlaubskalender.at editorial team
- Last checked
- Source basis
- official sources and editorial review
2026
Saint Stephen's Day: second Christmas public holiday
26 December is a statutory public holiday across Austria and follows Christmas Day immediately.
- Date
- In 2026, Saint Stephen's Day falls on Saturday, 26 December 2026.
- Status
- Nationwide public holiday
- 26 December is listed in section 7 of the Working Rest Act as Stephanstag and applies throughout Austria.
- Everyday life
- Shops mostly closed
- Regular retail, banks, public offices and many services remain closed; exceptions mainly cover supplies, travel and tourism.
- Leave
- 3 free days without extra leave
- Saint Stephen's Day falls on Saturday in 2026. Christmas Day on Friday gives classic Monday-to-Friday jobs a long weekend; Saturday itself does not create a general substitute public holiday.
Practical
Saint Stephen's Day in practice
Organisation depends on holiday status, location and published opening hours.
Work
Holiday restFor most employees, holiday rest applies on 26 December. Work is possible only in permitted areas such as healthcare, care, transport, safety, restaurants, hotels, tourism or essential supply.
Shopping
Mostly closedRegular supermarkets, shopping centres, banks, public offices and many services remain closed. Typical exceptions are petrol stations, travel supplies, emergency services, some railway-station locations and tourism businesses.
Transport
Visits and skiingSaint Stephen's Day is shaped by family visits, return trips, hotel arrivals and the start of ski holidays. Public transport usually follows Sunday or public-holiday schedules; roads can become busy regionally.
Schools
Christmas holidaysAccording to the education ministry, in school year 2026/27 the Christmas holidays run from 24 December 2026 to 6 January 2027. Saint Stephen's Day is therefore in the middle of the school-holiday block.
Legal position
Public-holiday rest and days to New Year
Read legal status, school rules and workplace arrangements separately.
Statutory public holiday
Section 7 of the Working Rest Act explicitly names 26 December as Stephanstag. Saint Stephen's Day is therefore protected under labour law nationwide.
Public-holiday work
Anyone working on 26 December usually falls into a permitted exception area. Pay, substitute rest, supplements and roster questions depend on the law, collective agreement, employment contract and sector.
No automatic substitute Monday
If 26 December falls on a Saturday, as in 2026, classic Monday-to-Friday jobs do not get a general substitute public holiday. For weekend and public-holiday duty, the roster matters.
Explain 25 and 26 together
Christmas Day and Saint Stephen's Day are both listed in the Working Rest Act. 24 December is different; 25 and 26 December are the two clear statutory Christmas public holidays.
Austria locally
Saint Stephen, rides and visits
Local organisers publish the relevant dates, religious forms and regional customs.
Saint Stephen
In the church calendar, 26 December commemorates Saint Stephen. Liturgical calendars describe him as the first martyr; the official legal text calls the day Stephanstag.
First martyr
Stephen is regarded as one of the first Christian martyrs. The day therefore deliberately stands directly after Christmas and connects the nativity scene, church and remembrance of martyrdom.
Second Christmas public holiday
In Germany the day is often called the second Christmas holiday. In Austria, Saint Stephen's Day is the familiar cultural name for the same 26 December.
Between the years
After Saint Stephen's Day, the practical period between Christmas and New Year's Day begins: leave, visits, winter travel, leftovers, skiing, thermal spas and year-end planning.
Stefaniritt and horse blessing
RegionalIn some regions, Stefaniritt rides, horse blessings or Stefani horse races are part of the customs. Anyone planning to go should check the date, place, route and programme directly with the municipality or organiser.
Visiting day
FamilyMany families use 26 December for visits to relatives, godparents, friends or grandparents. That creates travel, restaurant and transport questions.
Leftovers and inns
PlanAfter Christmas Day, the focus is often leftovers, a second festive meal, coffee, cake or an inn. Open restaurants and hotel restaurants should be reserved early.
Winter start
Ski and spaFor hotels, ski areas and thermal spas, 26 December is an important arrival and stay period. Family rooms, half board and flexible arrival are important decision points.
Quellen & Weiterführendes
- RIS - Working Rest Act section 7 : public-holiday rest and nationwide public-holiday list with 25 December and 26 December.
- BMB - school holidays 2026/2027 : Christmas school holidays from 24 December 2026 to 6 January 2027.
- Austrian National Bank - bank holidays : statutory public holidays and bank holidays, including Christmas and Saint Stephen's Day.
- Archdiocese of Vienna - directory : liturgical entry for Saint Stephen as the first martyr on 26 December.
- Upper Austria Tourism - Saint Stephen service : regional context for Saint Stephen's Day, Saint Stephen and a festive church service.
- Styria Tourism - horse blessing on Saint Stephen's Day : example of regional Saint Stephen's Day customs.
- Christmas Day : first statutory Christmas public holiday on 25 December.
- Austria annual-leave planner : compare Christmas leave and bridge days through New Year's Day.