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Public Holiday
Nationwide
Christmas Eve
Thursday, December 24, 2026
December 2026
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Holiday selected
🏪 What's open
- Banks Closed
- Government offices Closed
- Schools Closed
- Shops Mostly closed
- Restaurants Reduced
- Public transit Reduced
- Stock market Closed
- Post office Closed
🛋️ Long weekend potential
4-Day Block
THU
24
Holiday
FRI
25
Bridge Day
SAT
26
Weekend
SUN
27
Weekend
4-day weekend with a bridge day on December 25
📣 Traveler notes
Iceland offers varied activities such as hiking, ice climbing, kayaking, and soaking in geothermal hot springs. The country is known for its dramatic landscapes, including volcanoes, glaciers, rivers, and waterfalls, and caters to different fitness levels.
- Major businesses, public transport, and restaurants are typically closed on December 24, December 25, December 31, and January 1.
- Specific holiday celebrations may include Epiphany (Þrettándinn) with fireworks, and events related to the Yule Lads.
- Major holiday closures also occur around Good Friday, Easter, and Pentecost, following the Western church calendar.
About this holiday
Christmas Eve folklore involves the Yule cat (Jólakötturinn), a mythical creature traditionally believed to eat anyone without new clothing. This folklore is related to other figures, including the Yule Lads and the ogress Grýla.