Can shops open on Sundays and holidays?
Yes: shops can open on Sundays and holidays — hours are liberalised. In 2026 there are 13 obligatory national holidays: 1 Jan; Good Friday (3 Apr); Easter (5 Apr); 25 Apr; 1 May; Corpus Christi (4 Jun); 10 Jun; 15 Aug; 5 Oct; 1 Nov; 1 Dec; 8 Dec; 25 Dec. Carnival (17 Feb 2026) is optional, not guaranteed. Opening hours are liberalised (DL 48/96): generally 06:00 to 24:00 every day, including Sundays and holidays, though municipalities may restrict locally. Those who work a holiday (in firms not required to close) are entitled to 50% compensatory rest of the hours or a 50% pay supplement. In short: yes, they can open — and the worker is compensated.
📋 The rules
- Shops may open on Sundays and holidays
- 13 obligatory national holidays in 2026
- Carnival (17 Feb): optional, not guaranteed
- Liberalised hours: generally 06:00–24:00
- Working a holiday: rest or +50%
🔓 Exceptions
- Municipalities may restrict hours locally
- Municipal holidays: Lisbon 13 Jun, Porto 24 Jun
- Movable dates (Carnival, Easter, Corpus Christi) change yearly
⚠️ Penalties & fines
There's no "fine" for opening — opening on Sundays and holidays is allowed. What exists are worker rights: those who work a holiday, in a firm not required to close, are entitled to 50% compensatory rest of the hours worked or a 50% pay supplement (art. 269 of the Labour Code). Beware myths: "shops must close on Sundays/holidays" is false; there's a proposal to force Sunday closure or cap hours at 22:00, but it's just a draft, not in force. The movable dates (Carnival, Good Friday, Easter, Corpus Christi) change every year. To stay compliant: as a trader, you can open respecting local hours; as a worker, secure the rest or the supplement for working a holiday.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
Can shops open on Sundays?
Yes. Opening hours are liberalised, so shops can, as a rule, open on Sundays and holidays, generally from 06:00 to 24:00. Municipalities may, however, restrict hours locally. It's a myth that shops must close on Sundays and holidays.
How many national holidays are there in 2026?
In 2026 there are 13 obligatory national holidays: 1 January, Good Friday on 3 April, Easter on 5 April, 25 April, 1 May, Corpus Christi on 4 June, 10 June, 15 August, 5 October, 1 November, 1 December, 8 December and 25 December.
Is Carnival a holiday?
Carnival, on 17 February in 2026, is an optional holiday, not an obligatory national one. Whether it's granted depends on a decision by the Government and employers. So not all workers are guaranteed the day of Carnival off.
How much do I get for working a holiday?
In firms not required to close on the holiday, the worker is entitled to compensatory rest equal to 50% of the hours worked or, alternatively, a 50% supplement on the pay for those hours, under art. 269 of the Labour Code.
Are the holiday dates always the same?
Not all. Fixed holidays, such as 25 April or Christmas, always fall on the same date. But movable holidays, such as Carnival, Good Friday, Easter and Corpus Christi, change date every year, as they depend on the Easter calendar. They should be checked annually.
🔎 Common searches
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