There are still a few days left, but the 2026 calendar already allows you to calculate time off, bridges and long weekends.
For those who like to plan ahead and maximize rest days with minimal vacation time, next year brings interesting opportunities, even though it is less generous than 2025 when it comes to bridges.
According to the distribution of dates, there are approximately 10 weekday holidays in 2026, counting on Carnival, which, despite not being a holiday by law, is often granted by many companies, points out . In total, the year offers five long weekends and four bridge chances. There is, however, an important brake.
Three relevant holidays fall on the weekendwhich eliminates “extra” rest days. This is the case of the 25th of April and the 15th of August, which will be Saturdays, and the 1st of November, which falls on a Sunday. In Lisbon, the municipal holiday of Santo António (June 13) also coincides with a Saturday.
The start of the year, Januaryno longer brings holidays other than New Year. But as January 1st is a Thursday, and there was a day off on December 31st, many Portuguese managed to extend the transition to 2026 with a few days off work.
Em Februarythe calendar opens a window again for a mini-rest period. If the company grants Carnival Tuesday, it is possible to bridge it on Monday, February 16th, and fit in a four-day break.
March appears without holidays, but April It partially compensates with a long weekend: Good Friday is celebrated on April 3rd. The 25th of April, however, does not help to extend days off as it falls on Saturday.
Em MayLabor Day (May 1st) allows you to add three consecutive days of rest, a formula that is repeated at the beginning of Junebut with greater room for maneuver. The Corpus Christi holiday, June 4th, is on a Thursday and creates a clear opportunity to bridge the gap. The month also includes June 10th (Portugal Day), which in 2026 will be on a Wednesday. For those who want to “make money” on vacation, the first two weeks of June can be strategic.
Nos Popular Saintsthe calendar favors the North above all. In Porto — and in 33 other municipalities, such as Braga — the municipal holiday on June 24th can generate a long weekend from June 24th to 26th. Lisbon does not gain the same benefit, as Santo António falls on a Saturday.
After the summer without long breaks, October once again offers an easier rest: October 5th (Implementation of the Republic) will be on a Monday — hello, new long weekend.
The great stage of opportunities is once again December. December 1st (Restoration of Independence) and December 8th (Immaculate Conception) allow two bridges in consecutive weeks. Furthermore, Christmas and New Year’s Eve fall on a Friday, guaranteeing two more long weekends to close 2026 and open 2027 with well-spent rest time.
