Compare Public Holidays Between Countries

What does Holiday Overlap do?

Holiday Overlap compares public, bank, and federal holidays between any two countries for a selected year and highlights the dates that fall on the same day in both places. It helps you identify overlapping days off for travel planning, global work scheduling, or simple curiosity about other countries' calendars.

What is the difference between a public holiday and a bank holiday?

A public holiday is a nationally recognized day when most businesses and schools close. A bank holiday originally referred to days when financial institutions were legally required to close, but in countries like the UK it now effectively means the same as a public holiday. We include both in our comparisons.

Which countries and years are supported?

We support over 100 countries across all regions. You can view data for one year in the past and up to five years into the future. The tool is updated annually to keep results accurate.

Why do some countries have more public holidays than others?

The number of public holidays varies based on a country's history, religion, political culture, and labor laws. Countries with strong Catholic traditions often observe more religious feast days. Countries with federal systems, like the US, have fewer national holidays because many observances are decided at the state level.

Are public holidays the same across every region of a country?

Not always. Countries like Australia, Germany, Canada, Spain, and the United States have additional holidays that vary by state or province. Our tool focuses on national holidays that apply across the whole country, and notes regional variations where they exist.

What happens when a public holiday falls on a weekend?

Many countries observe a holiday on the nearest weekday when the official date falls on a Saturday or Sunday. For example, the US typically observes a Friday holiday when July 4 falls on a Saturday. We display the official date as declared, and note weekend dates in the table.

Can I show only overlapping dates?

Yes. Use the Only overlapping holidays checkbox in the comparison tool, or visit any of our pre-built country-pair pages where overlapping dates are automatically highlighted in green.

How do I find long weekends using this tool?

Look for public holidays that fall on a Monday or Friday - these create three-day weekends. When both countries have a holiday on the same Monday or Friday, it is ideal for international travel since businesses on both sides will be closed.

Which country pairs have the most overlapping public holidays?

Neighboring countries with similar cultural or religious histories tend to overlap most. European nations with Catholic traditions like France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, and Portugal often overlap on Assumption Day, All Saints Day, and Easter. Commonwealth nations like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the UK often overlap on holidays rooted in British tradition.

Can I use this tool for HR and payroll planning?

Yes. Many HR managers and payroll teams use Holiday Overlap to build multi-country holiday calendars for international teams. Knowing which days all team members are off versus which days only some are is essential for setting accurate sprint plans, pay periods, and project timelines.

How accurate is the data?

Holiday data is primarily sourced from the Nager.Date open-source holiday database and supplemented with official government calendar references where available. Always verify critical dates with official sources before making business, legal, payroll, or travel decisions.

How far ahead can I plan?

You can plan up to five years into the future and also check the previous year. This is particularly useful for long-range project planning, annual leave policies, or booking international travel far in advance.