Public holiday in Norway
New Year's Day in Norway
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Nationwide public holiday
New Year's Day is a nationwide public holiday in Norway on 1 January. It marks the start of the calendar year and follows the late-night celebrations of New Year's Eve.
About New Year's Day in Norway
In Norway, New Year's Day is a quiet public-holiday reset after the New Year’s Eve festivities. It is observed across the country and functions mainly as a day of rest at the start of the year, with many people spending time at home or with family and recovering from the previous night’s celebrations.
History
Norway, like many countries using the Gregorian calendar, adopted 1 January as the first day of the year in common civil use. The day became established as a public holiday as part of the modern holiday calendar and is now observed nationwide.
Traditions
A common Norwegian custom is the New Year’s Eve meal of pinnekjøtt in many homes, followed by a quieter New Year’s Day. Some people also make a point of meeting family, taking it easy indoors and enjoying a slow start to the year.
How New Year's Day is celebrated in Norway
New Year’s Day is generally low-key in Norway. Many people sleep late, stay home and use the day for rest after midnight celebrations, with little emphasis on formal public events.
Interesting facts
January 1 is one of the few holidays in Norway that sits immediately after a major evening celebration the night before, so the practical mood of the day is often shaped by New Year’s Eve rather than by New Year’s Day itself.
Dates in published calendars
| Year | Holiday date | Observed date | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 Jan 2026 | — | Nationwide |
Import sources
- Generic ICS feed
An import is not an independent verification.