Holidays in Portugal in 2026: plan for the family

Holiday Camps

In this article, we explain the public holidays in Portugal in 2026, to help you maximize your vacation days, and we present solutions to keep your children occupied during school holidays!

The year 2026 is perfect for taking several days off without spending all your savings at once. With good management, it's possible to transform just... 10 days of vacation in 40 days of restSeveral national holidays fall on Fridays or Mondays, such as... Good Friday (April 3rd), Labor Day (May 1st, Friday), Establishment of the Republic (October 5th, Monday) and Christmas (December 25th, Friday)And because not everyone has weekends off, we've also included holidays that fall on Saturdays or Sundays!

Say “hello” to extended family vacations. If you need some time away from the little ones – a romantic getaway, extra time to relax or organize your personal projects – count on us to fill your children's free time in our holiday camps, which will start opening up in 2026!

Get inspired by our suggestions for ideal vacation dates in 2026 and make the most of holidays and long weekends.

Public holidays in Portugal in 2026: month by month

January: Start the year by resting.

January 1st holiday (Thursday) – New Year
Suggestion: ask January 2 (Friday)
Rest days: 1 to 4 (Thursday to Sunday): 4 days
Vacation days used: 1

February: The month of Carnival

Holiday on February 17th (Tuesday) Carnival (optional holiday)
Suggestion: ask February 16 (Monday)
Break: 14 to 17 (Saturday to Tuesday): 4 days
Vacation days used: 1
Extra Tip: If your company considers Carnival a holiday, you can also take time off. Friday, February 13th, thus gaining 5 consecutive days off.

March: Welcome, Spring

March arrives quietly, without any public holidays on the calendar. Consider taking vacation in the last week of the month to take advantage of the Good Friday holiday on the 3rd, and align your days off with your children's school break.

The Easter school holidays run from March 30th to April 10th, 2026. Recharge your batteries in a more profound way with a break from parental responsibilities while your child plays, learns from countless experiences organized by excellent teams, and creates stories to tell! Enroll your little ones in a holiday camp with accommodation during the Easter holidays. See here the available options for Easter 2026 holiday campsIn the first half of April!

Holidays in April: Easter Holidays

Holiday on April 3rd (Friday) – Good Friday
April 5th holiday (Sunday) Easter
Suggestion: ask April 6th and 7th (Monday and Tuesday)
Break: 3 to 7 (Friday to Tuesday): 5 days
Vacation days used: 2
Holiday on April 25th (Saturday) Freedom Day: it doesn't create bridges.

Holidays in May: Start with a long weekend

May 1st holiday (Thursday) – Labor Day
Suggestion: ask May 2th (Friday)
Break: 1 to 4 (Thursday to Sunday): 4 days
Vacation days used: 1

Save on your children's holidays in 2026 with early bird discounts on holiday camps, valid until May 31st!

Longer holidays in June: Longer days and popular festivals.

Public holiday on June 4th (Thursday) – Body of God
Suggestion: ask June 5 (Friday)
Break: 4 to 7 (Thursday to Sunday): 4 days
Vacation days used: 1
Public holiday on June 10th (Wednesday) Portugal Day
Suggestion: ask June 8th and 9th (Monday and Tuesday)
Break: 6 to 10 (Saturday to Wednesday) → 5 days
Vacation days used: 2
Additional municipal holidays:
- June 13th (Saturday, Lisbon) Saint Anthony's Day
- June 29 (Monday, various locations) Saint Peter's Day

July, August and September

The summer months only give us one holiday. If you work on weekends, register now. the holiday of August 15th (Saturday)Take advantage of this time to extend your personal rest, better organize family logistics, and finally take the most important step towards a vacation just for you, without the children around: enrolling your child in the summer camp they've always dreamed of! Starting in June, there are already numerous summer camps with activities for all tastes: creative, sporty, adventurous, artistic, and scientific. Check out the various options (with and without accommodation) for holiday camps in Portugal!

The 2026 summer school holidays begin this month between June 5th and July 1st, depending on the school year: students in grades 9, 11, and 12 start their break on June 5th; those in grades 5 through 10 start on June 13th; and primary school and preschool students start their holidays on July 1st.

The end of the holidays and the start of the 2026-2027 school year will take place between September 11th and 15th.

October: The month of Halloween

October 5th holiday (Monday) – Establishment of the Republic
Break: 3 to 5 (Saturday to Monday): 3 days
Vacation days used: 0

November: Roasted chestnuts and leaves on the ground.

All Saints' Day falls on a Sunday, so those who work on that day can take the opportunity to celebrate an even more fun and extended Halloween! We will soon be announcing the daily Halloween programs for your children.

Longer vacation in December: end the year with a break!

Holiday on December 1th (Tuesday) Restoration of Independence
Suggestion: ask November 30th (Monday)
Break: November 29th to December 2nd: 4 days
Vacation days used: 1
Holiday on December 8th (Tuesday) – Immaculate Conception
Suggestion: ask December 7th (Monday)
Break: 5th to 8th: 4 days
Vacation days used: 1
Holiday on December 25th (Friday) - Christmas
Break: 25th to 27th: 3 days
Vacation days used: 0
From December 28th to the 31th (Monday to Thursday)
Break: December 26th to January 4th: 10 consecutive days off.

As soon as we have news about the Christmas school holidays in 2026, we will announce the available holiday camps during that period here!

As you can see, it's possible to take just 10 days of vacation and enjoy approximately 40 days of rest thanks to holidays and long weekends!

Now that you know the best days to take a vacation in 2026… Some important tips

Take advantage of long weekends: schedule vacation days close to holidays that fall on Fridays or Mondays. This way, you get longer periods of rest and the feeling of enjoying much more free time than you actually had. You can even create extended leisure moments for the whole family.
Plan early: the sooner you book your vacation days, the greater the likelihood of approval and the better the prices on travel and accommodation.
Opt for short getaways: long weekends are perfect for exploring nearby cities, taking road trips in Portugal, or discovering new experiences without spending too many vacation days.
Combine this with longer vacations: the months of June and December are ideal for planning longer trips, within or outside the country, during holidays and strategic long weekends.
Book our holiday camps early: take advantage of the offers. early bird, generally available until May 31, and guarantee the best price and the ideal spot for the little ones.