Working Days – Spain
In Spain, official public holidays are divided into three levels: national, regional (autonomous communities), and local, which results in a different work calendar depending on the autonomous community and municipality. For payroll and HR management purposes, it is essential to distinguish between national public holidays, which are common throughout the territory, and regional or local holidays, which vary annually by decree. The ordinary working day is 40 hours per week from Monday to Friday.
Annual summary
| Other year | Working days | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 253 | |
| 2026 | 253 | |
| 2027 | 253 | |
| 2028 | 250 |
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Frequently asked questions
How many national public holidays does Spain have and who establishes them?
Spain has 8 national public holidays of a paid and non-recoverable nature, set by the central Government through Royal Decree each year. To these are added up to 2 public holidays per autonomous community and the local holidays determined by each municipality. The maximum number of public holidays per year is 14, including national, regional, and local holidays.
What happens when a national public holiday falls on a Sunday?
When a national public holiday falls on a Sunday, the annual Royal Decree on the work calendar establishes a 'substitute holiday', which is normally moved to the following Monday. This transfer applies at the national level and must be correctly reflected in the payroll system to avoid discrepancies in the calculation of working days. Autonomous communities can also establish transfers for their own regional public holidays.
Is Easter Monday a national public holiday in Spain?
No, Easter Monday is not a public holiday of national scope in Spain, unlike in other European countries. However, several autonomous communities, such as Catalonia, Valencia, or the Balearic Islands, include it among their regional public holidays. It is important to verify the calendar of each territory before finalizing the calculation of working days for employees in different regions.
What is a 'puente' (bridge) and does it have any effect on the calculation of working days?
A puente is the common practice of taking as non-working the day that falls between a public holiday and the weekend, in order to create a longer rest period. It is not a statutory right recognized in the Workers' Statute, but rather depends on the applicable collective agreement or an agreement between the company and the employee. For purposes of the official count of working days, the bridge day remains a working day unless there is an agreement to the contrary.
How does the system of public holidays by autonomous community affect payroll management in companies with employees in several regions?
Each autonomous community sets up to 2 of its own public holidays per year, which means that employees of the same company may have different work calendars depending on their place of work. For correct payroll calculation, it is essential to apply the work calendar corresponding to the place where services are provided, not to the company's registered office. HR management systems must be configured with the specific calendars of each province or autonomous community to avoid errors in the calculation of remuneration.