Sweden — Time & Holidays
Sweden uses Central European Time (UTC+1) in winter and Central European Summer Time (UTC+2) in summer, in step with the rest of the EU.
National & Public Holidays
| Date | Holiday | What it marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year's Day Fixed | The start of the year. |
| 6 January | Epiphany Fixed | Twelfth day of Christmas. |
| Movable | Good Friday & Easter Monday Movable | The Easter weekend. |
| 1 May | Labour Day Fixed | International workers' day. |
| 6 June | National Day Fixed | Sweden's national day. |
| Late June | Midsummer Movable | A beloved midsummer celebration. |
| 25 December | Christmas Day Fixed | The principal winter holiday. |
| 26 December | St Stephen's Day Fixed | Second day of Christmas. |
Time and holidays in Sweden
Sweden keeps Central European Time, UTC+1 in winter and UTC+2 in summer, switching on the same dates as the rest of the European Union. Like its Nordic neighbours, Sweden experiences enormous swings in daylight between the seasons, with long, luminous summer evenings in the south around Stockholm and short, dark winter days, so the rhythm of light shapes much of national life.
Midsummer, the heart of the year
While National Day on the sixth of June is the official national holiday, marking historical milestones in Sweden's nationhood, it is Midsummer that holds the deepest place in the culture. Celebrated on a Friday in late June near the solstice, Midsummer brings flower crowns, maypole dancing, traditional food and gatherings that often last late into the bright night; for many Swedes it rivals Christmas in importance. The rest of the calendar blends the Christian year with these seasonal festivals: Epiphany in early January, the Easter holidays, Labour Day on the first of May, and the Christmas season including Saint Stephen's Day. Because Midsummer and the Easter holidays move from year to year, their exact dates are worth checking in advance. The live clock above shows the current Swedish time with the correct summer or winter offset.