Question 1

How many public holidays does Estonia have in 2026?

Accepted Answer

Estonia has 11 public holidays and 1 national holiday (Independence Day, 24 February). 12 days off in total per year. In 2026, 9 of them fall on workdays and 3 on weekends, meaning employees get 9 additional days off.

Question 2

Does an employer have to pay more for working on a public holiday?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Under § 45(2) of the Employment Contracts Act, the employer must pay double wages for work performed on a public holiday. The employer and employee may also agree to compensate the work with additional time off. This applies to all public holidays, not only those falling on workdays.

Question 3

Which are the shortened workdays in 2026?

Accepted Answer

There are four shortened workdays in 2026: 23 February (Monday, before Independence Day), 22 June (Monday, before Victory Day), 23 December (Wednesday, before Christmas Eve) and 31 December (Thursday, before New Year's Day). Under § 53 of the Employment Contracts Act, these days are three hours shorter.

Question 4

Are public holidays also flag days?

Accepted Answer

Not all of them. Of the 12 holidays, 3 are mandatory flag days: Independence Day (24 February), Victory Day (23 June) and the Day of Restoration of Independence (20 August). On these days the national flag must be raised on all public buildings. Many Estonians also raise the flag on their homes.

Question 5

How do public holidays affect public transport?

Accepted Answer

On public and national holidays, public transport generally runs on a Sunday schedule. This means fewer departures. It is worth checking your city's transport information before a holiday, as some routes may not run at all.

Question 6

Who sets Estonian school breaks?

Accepted Answer

School breaks are set by the Minister of Education and Research by regulation. The current regulation sets breaks for three academic years in advance. The school's operator (the local government for public schools, the owner for private ones) may, on the principal's proposal and with the board of trustees' consent, set different dates, but must meet the minimum requirements of the law.

Question 7

Are school breaks the same in all Estonian schools?

Accepted Answer

Generally yes — most schools follow the breaks set by the Minister. However, a school operator may change them if the board of trustees consents and the legal minimums are met: at least 4 breaks per year totalling 12 weeks, including a summer break of at least 8 weeks. Some private and international schools follow their own schedules.

Question 8

How long is the summer break in 2026?

Accepted Answer

The summer break of the 2025/2026 academic year runs 10 June – 31 August 2026, a total of 83 days (nearly 12 weeks). For graduating classes, the summer break may start later due to exams. The 2026/2027 summer break runs 9 June – 31 August 2027.

Question 9

How many school breaks are there per year?

Accepted Answer

Estonia has 5 school breaks per academic year: autumn break (late October, 1 week), Christmas break (late December – early January, 2 weeks), winter break (late February, 1 week), spring break (mid-April, 1 week) and summer break (June – August, 8–12 weeks).

Question 10

Do breaks for 12th grade differ?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Spring and summer breaks do not apply to 12th grade (graduating classes). This is tied to the schedule of final and state exams, which take place in late May and early June. Graduating classes finish school before the summer break begins.

Question 11

Where can I find the official dates of school breaks?

Accepted Answer

Official dates are set by a regulation of the Minister of Education and Research and published in Riigi Teataja. This page shows the same official dates in a convenient visual format. We recommend adding the breaks to your calendar so you always stay in the loop.

Question 12

How many days of annual leave does Estonia have?

Accepted Answer

Under the Employment Contracts Act, a full-time employee has 28 calendar days of basic annual leave per year. Employees under 18 have 35 calendar days. Certain professions (e.g. teachers, researchers) have extended leave of up to 56 days. Public holidays come on top of annual leave — they do not reduce vacation days.

Question 13

What is the best long weekend of 2026?

Accepted Answer

The best opportunity is the week of Victory Day and Midsummer in June. Because Victory Day falls on a Tuesday and Midsummer on a Wednesday, taking three vacation days (Thursday, Friday and Monday) yields 9 consecutive days off. It's the best ratio in Estonia in 2026 — a 3-day investment returns 9 days off.

Question 14

Does a shortened workday reduce vacation days?

Accepted Answer

No. A shortened workday is a regular workday that ends three hours early under § 53 of the ECA. It is not a day off and does not affect vacation rights. The employer must pay full salary for the shortened day — the pay cannot be reduced by the three hours.

Question 15

Does a public holiday during my vacation extend my leave?

Accepted Answer

Yes! If a public holiday falls within your vacation period, it does not count as a vacation day. That means your vacation is extended by one day. This is why strategic vacation planning around public holidays is so beneficial — you get more free time without spending extra days.

Question 16

How should I plan my vacation in 2026?

Accepted Answer

The most effective 2026 strategy: use 6 vacation days to get 33 days off in total. Focus on four periods: Spring Day weekend in May (free), Victory Day–Midsummer week in June (3 days = 9 off), Day of Restoration in August (1 day = 4 off) and Christmas in December (2 days = 10 off).

Question 17

Do shortened workdays add value to vacation planning?

Accepted Answer

Not directly — a shortened workday is still a workday. But indirectly they are valuable: for example, the Monday before Victory Day (22 June) is 3 hours shorter, meaning your 9-day Midsummer mega-week effectively starts already on Monday afternoon. Plan accordingly!

Spring Break

School breaks in Estonia 2026–2027

Frequently asked questions

References