Public holiday in Poland
Constitution Day in Poland
Sunday, May 3, 2026
Local name: Święto Narodowe Trzeciego Maja
Nationwide public holiday
Constitution Day in Poland is a nationwide public holiday on 3 May. It marks the anniversary of the May 3, 1791 Constitution, one of the most significant political milestones in Polish history.
About Constitution Day in Poland
In Poland, Constitution Day is the annual civic holiday associated with the 1791 constitution, a landmark in the country’s constitutional and parliamentary tradition. It is observed across the country and is closely associated with national symbols, public ceremony and remembrance of Polish statehood. The date also sits in a spring holiday period, following Labour Day on 1 May and often creating a short cluster of public observances.
History
The holiday commemorates the Constitution of 3 May 1791, adopted by the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and widely regarded as the first modern constitution in Europe and the second in the world after the United States. The day was established as a public holiday in independent Poland in 1919. It was later banned under German occupation during World War II and not officially celebrated in communist Poland for much of the postwar period. Public observance returned in 1990 after the political changes of 1989.
Traditions
The most recognisable symbol linked to the day is the wearing or displaying of national colours, especially the white and red flag. Official wreath-laying, patriotic songs and ceremonies around monuments and state buildings are common formal traditions.
How Constitution Day is celebrated in Poland
In contemporary Poland, the day is marked by state ceremonies, local commemorations and public gatherings in many towns and cities. President, parliament and municipal authorities typically take part in official events, and some places hold concerts, marches or museum programmes focused on national history. Many people use the holiday for family time or travel during the long May weekend.
Interesting facts
Constitution Day is one of Poland’s three national holidays in May, alongside Labour Day on 1 May and National Flag Day on 2 May. The holiday is legally called Święto Konstytucji 3 Maja in Polish.
Dates in published calendars
Sources and verification
- 2027: Polish Public Holidays Act (consolidated text) · checked 20 Oct 2026
Import sources
- Generic ICS feed
An import is not an independent verification.