Nationwide public holiday. In 2026, Assumption Day falls on Saturday, 15 August 2026. 15 August is listed in section 7 of the Austrian Rest Period Act and applies across Austria. [1]
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- Urlaubskalender.at editorial team
- Last checked
- Source basis
- official sources and editorial review
2026
Assumption Day: fixed summer public holiday
15 August is a statutory public holiday across Austria and always falls on the same summer date.
- Date
- In 2026, Assumption Day falls on Saturday, 15 August 2026.
- Status
- Nationwide public holiday
- 15 August is listed in section 7 of the Austrian Rest Period Act and applies across Austria.
- Summer holidays
- In the middle of the holidays
- For schools, the public holiday usually lies within the summer holidays; state dates belong in the school-holiday calendar.
- Leave
- No classic bridge day
- Assumption Day falls on Saturday in 2026. For standard Monday-to-Friday jobs, that does not create an additional bridge day; for rosters in tourism, care, transport or restaurants, the current duty plan matters.
Practical
Summer public holiday in practice
Organisation depends on holiday status, location and published opening hours.
Work
Holiday restFor most employees, public-holiday rest applies. Work on 15 August is only possible in permitted sectors such as healthcare, transport, restaurants, tourism, supply services or other statutory exceptions.
Shopping
Mostly closedRegular supermarkets, shopping centres, banks, public offices and many service providers are closed. Exceptions are mainly travel-supply locations, petrol stations, emergency services, restaurants and tourism businesses.
School
Summer holidaysAssumption Day falls in the middle of the school summer break. For families, the end of holidays, childcare times, regional dates and travel days are still relevant.
Traffic
High season15 August falls in one of the busiest travel phases of the summer. Lakes, Alpine regions, Italy routes, the Brenner, Tauern axis, Karawanken and excursion destinations can be heavily loaded.
Legal position
Public-holiday rest and school break
Read legal status, school rules and workplace arrangements separately.
Nationwide public holiday
Section 7 of the Austrian Rest Period Act explicitly lists 15 August as Assumption Day. The day therefore applies nationwide not only as a church feast, but also in employment law.
Public-holiday work
Work on statutory public holidays is only allowed when an exception applies. Pay, compensatory rest, supplements and duty-roster questions also depend on the law, collective agreement and employment contract.
Weekend
If 15 August falls on a Saturday, as it does in 2026, standard Monday-to-Friday employees do not get an automatic substitute holiday. For regular weekend work, the duty roster matters.
School
For schools, the holiday rarely creates extra benefit because it falls during the summer break. More relevant are the end of the holidays, regional childcare, camps, resits and travel planning.
Austria locally
Herb blessing and regional customs
Local organisers publish the relevant dates, religious forms and regional customs.
Assumption of Mary
In Catholic tradition, 15 August celebrates the Assumption of Mary into heaven. The content differs from Ascension Day and is a distinct Marian feast.
Fixed date: 15 August
Unlike Easter, Whitsun or Corpus Christi, Assumption Day does not move. The public holiday falls on 15 August every year.
Dogma von 1950
Catholic sources refer to the dogma proclaimed by Pope Pius XII in 1950: Mary's assumption, body and soul, into heavenly glory.
Herb bundles
Herb blessingIn many parishes, herb and flower bouquets are blessed. Depending on the region, seven, nine, twelve or more plants are typical, such as St John's wort, yarrow, chamomile, mullein, wormwood or thyme.
Großer Frauentag
Folk nameIn rural regions, Assumption Day is also called Großer Frauentag. The Nativity of Mary on 8 September is regionally known as Kleiner Frauentag; the names distinguish two Marian feasts in the annual cycle.
Frauendreißiger
Late summerIn many regions, 15 August opens a Marian late-summer period. Pilgrimages, herb customs, regional church festivals and quiet outings into September fit this period.
Marian boat procession
WörtherseeIn Carinthia, the night-time Marian boat procession on Lake Wörth is an important regional reference point. It connects church service, lake, summer evening, boat trip and outing searches.
Quellen & Weiterführendes
- RIS - Austrian Rest Period Act § 7 : nationwide public-holiday list; 15 August is listed as Assumption Day.
- Labour Inspectorate - public-holiday rest : right to public-holiday rest and overview of statutory public holidays.
- oesterreich.gv.at - school-holiday calendar 2025/2026 : school holidays and school-free days by federal state.
- Katholisch.at - Assumption of Mary : religious meaning, fixed date, dogma and herb customs.
- Katholisch.at - herb blessings : herb bundles, legends, typical plants and Austrian feast practice.
- Catholic Church Carinthia - Marian boat procession on Lake Wörth : regional tradition since 1954 and event announcement for 2026.
- Annual leave planner Austria : compare bridge days and long weekends.
- School holidays in Austria : check summer holidays by federal state.