Is Ascension Day a Public Holiday?
Ascension Day 2027 falls on Thursday, May 6.
Ascension Day is the thirty-ninth day after Easter Sunday in Western churches — always a Thursday. The table below lists the same dates used in Germany, France and the other countries shown. France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Norway and Sweden treat that Thursday as a public holiday; Colombia moves the day off to the following Monday; Indonesia marks Christian Ascension (Kenaikan Isa Almasih), not the separate Muslim observance Isra Mi’raj. In Germany the same Thursday is Vatertag (Father’s Day). The United Kingdom and the United States do not gazette a day off.
Also known as: Christi Himmelfahrt · Ascension Thursday · Ascension of Jesus Christ · Vatertag (Germany)
The short answer
10 countries and regions in our calendar mark it. Dates and days off below cover 2025–2028.
- 2025
- Thursday, May 29
- 2026
- Thursday, May 14
- 2027
- Thursday, May 6
- 2028
- Thursday, May 25
Dates year by year
Dates by country and year
Compare the festival date across countries and every year we publish.
| Country / region | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | May 29, 2025 | May 14, 2026 | May 6, 2027 | May 25, 2028 |
| France | May 29, 2025 | May 14, 2026 | May 6, 2027 | May 25, 2028 |
| Netherlands | May 29, 2025 | May 14, 2026 | May 6, 2027 | May 25, 2028 |
| Belgium | May 29, 2025 | May 14, 2026 | May 6, 2027Provisional | May 25, 2028Provisional |
| Austria | May 29, 2025 | May 14, 2026 | May 6, 2027 | May 25, 2028 |
| Denmark | May 29, 2025 | May 14, 2026 | May 6, 2027 | May 25, 2028 |
| Norway | May 29, 2025 | May 14, 2026 | May 6, 2027 | May 25, 2028 |
| Sweden | May 29, 2025 | May 14, 2026 | May 6, 2027 | May 25, 2028 |
| Indonesia | May 29, 2025 | May 14, 2026 | May 6, 2027 | May 25, 2028Provisional |
| Colombia | June 2, 2025 | May 18, 2026 | May 10, 2027 | May 29, 2028 |
| United Kingdom | May 29, 2025Not a public holiday | May 14, 2026Not a public holiday | May 6, 2027Not a public holiday | May 25, 2028Not a public holiday |
| United States | May 29, 2025Not a public holiday | May 14, 2026Not a public holiday | May 6, 2027Not a public holiday | May 25, 2028Not a public holiday |
Who gets the day off
Every row is derived from that country’s official calendar on this site, so the day counts include substitute days and government bridge days exactly as gazetted.
Ascension Day 2025
| Country / region | Called | Date | Days off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt / Vatertag)Always a Thursday public holiday nationwide; the same date is Father’s Day (Vatertag). Many workers take the following Friday off for a four-day Brückentag break. | May 29, 2025 | 1days |
| France | Ascension Day (Ascension)A Thursday public holiday; taking Friday off (“faire le pont”) is common though not automatic. | May 29, 2025 | 1days |
| Netherlands | Ascension Day (Hemelvaartsdag)Always Thursday; many people take the Friday as a brugdag for a four-day break. | May 29, 2025 | 1days |
| Belgium | Ascension Day (Ascension / Hemelvaart) | May 29, 2025 | 1days |
| Austria | Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt) | May 29, 2025 | 1days |
| Denmark | Ascension Day (Kristi Himmelfartsdag) | May 29, 2025 | 1days |
| Norway | Ascension Day (Kristi himmelfartsdag) | May 29, 2025 | 1days |
| Sweden | Ascension Day (Kristi himmelsfärdsdag) | May 29, 2025 | 1days |
| Indonesia | Ascension of Jesus Christ (Kenaikan Isa Almasih)Distinct from Isra Mi’raj on the national calendar. In 2025 and 2026 the government also declared an official cuti bersama bridge day on the Friday after Ascension Thursday. | May 29, 2025 | 1days |
| Colombia | Ascension Day (Ascensión del Señor, moved to Monday)Under the Emiliani law the public holiday is the Monday after Ascension Thursday, not the Thursday itself. | June 2, 2025 | 1days |
| United Kingdom | Ordinary workday (not a bank holiday) | May 29, 2025 | Working day |
| United States | Ordinary workday (not a federal holiday) | May 29, 2025 | Working day |
Ascension Day 2026
| Country / region | Called | Date | Days off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt / Vatertag)Always a Thursday public holiday nationwide; the same date is Father’s Day (Vatertag). Many workers take the following Friday off for a four-day Brückentag break. | May 14, 2026 | 1days |
| France | Ascension Day (Ascension)A Thursday public holiday; taking Friday off (“faire le pont”) is common though not automatic. | May 14, 2026 | 1days |
| Netherlands | Ascension Day (Hemelvaartsdag)Always Thursday; many people take the Friday as a brugdag for a four-day break. | May 14, 2026 | 1days |
| Belgium | Ascension Day (Ascension / Hemelvaart) | May 14, 2026 | 1days |
| Austria | Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt) | May 14, 2026 | 1days |
| Denmark | Ascension Day (Kristi Himmelfartsdag) | May 14, 2026 | 1days |
| Norway | Ascension Day (Kristi himmelfartsdag) | May 14, 2026 | 1days |
| Sweden | Ascension Day (Kristi himmelsfärdsdag) | May 14, 2026 | 1days |
| Indonesia | Ascension of Jesus Christ (Kenaikan Isa Almasih)Distinct from Isra Mi’raj on the national calendar. In 2025 and 2026 the government also declared an official cuti bersama bridge day on the Friday after Ascension Thursday. | May 14, 2026 | 1days |
| Colombia | Ascension Day (Ascensión del Señor, moved to Monday)Under the Emiliani law the public holiday is the Monday after Ascension Thursday, not the Thursday itself. | May 18, 2026 | 1days |
| United Kingdom | Ordinary workday (not a bank holiday) | May 14, 2026 | Working day |
| United States | Ordinary workday (not a federal holiday) | May 14, 2026 | Working day |
Ascension Day 2027
| Country / region | Called | Date | Days off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt / Vatertag)Always a Thursday public holiday nationwide; the same date is Father’s Day (Vatertag). Many workers take the following Friday off for a four-day Brückentag break. | May 6, 2027 | 1days |
| France | Ascension Day (Ascension)A Thursday public holiday; taking Friday off (“faire le pont”) is common though not automatic. | May 6, 2027 | 1days |
| Netherlands | Ascension Day (Hemelvaartsdag)Always Thursday; many people take the Friday as a brugdag for a four-day break. | May 6, 2027 | 1days |
| Belgium Provisional | Ascension Day (Ascension / Hemelvaart) | May 6, 2027 | 1days |
| Austria | Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt) | May 6, 2027 | 1days |
| Denmark | Ascension Day (Kristi Himmelfartsdag) | May 6, 2027 | 1days |
| Norway | Ascension Day (Kristi himmelfartsdag) | May 6, 2027 | 1days |
| Sweden | Ascension Day (Kristi himmelsfärdsdag) | May 6, 2027 | 1days |
| Indonesia | Ascension of Jesus Christ (Kenaikan Isa Almasih)Distinct from Isra Mi’raj on the national calendar. In 2025 and 2026 the government also declared an official cuti bersama bridge day on the Friday after Ascension Thursday. | May 6, 2027 | 1days |
| Colombia | Ascension Day (Ascensión del Señor, moved to Monday)Under the Emiliani law the public holiday is the Monday after Ascension Thursday, not the Thursday itself. | May 10, 2027 | 1days |
| United Kingdom | Ordinary workday (not a bank holiday) | May 6, 2027 | Working day |
| United States | Ordinary workday (not a federal holiday) | May 6, 2027 | Working day |
Rows marked provisional show only the dates already fixed. Where a government sets the length of the break by annual decree — mainland China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia — the full arrangement has not been published for that year yet, so treat those day counts as a floor and any blank as "not announced", not as a working day.
Ascension Day 2028
| Country / region | Called | Date | Days off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt / Vatertag)Always a Thursday public holiday nationwide; the same date is Father’s Day (Vatertag). Many workers take the following Friday off for a four-day Brückentag break. | May 25, 2028 | 1days |
| France | Ascension Day (Ascension)A Thursday public holiday; taking Friday off (“faire le pont”) is common though not automatic. | May 25, 2028 | 1days |
| Netherlands | Ascension Day (Hemelvaartsdag)Always Thursday; many people take the Friday as a brugdag for a four-day break. | May 25, 2028 | 1days |
| Belgium Provisional | Ascension Day (Ascension / Hemelvaart) | May 25, 2028 | 1days |
| Austria | Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt) | May 25, 2028 | 1days |
| Denmark | Ascension Day (Kristi Himmelfartsdag) | May 25, 2028 | 1days |
| Norway | Ascension Day (Kristi himmelfartsdag) | May 25, 2028 | 1days |
| Sweden | Ascension Day (Kristi himmelsfärdsdag) | May 25, 2028 | 1days |
| Indonesia Provisional | Ascension of Jesus Christ (Kenaikan Isa Almasih)Distinct from Isra Mi’raj on the national calendar. In 2025 and 2026 the government also declared an official cuti bersama bridge day on the Friday after Ascension Thursday. | May 25, 2028 | 1days |
| Colombia | Ascension Day (Ascensión del Señor, moved to Monday)Under the Emiliani law the public holiday is the Monday after Ascension Thursday, not the Thursday itself. | May 29, 2028 | 1days |
| United Kingdom | Ordinary workday (not a bank holiday) | May 25, 2028 | Working day |
| United States | Ordinary workday (not a federal holiday) | May 25, 2028 | Working day |
Rows marked provisional show only the dates already fixed. Where a government sets the length of the break by annual decree — mainland China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia — the full arrangement has not been published for that year yet, so treat those day counts as a floor and any blank as "not announced", not as a working day.
Always a Thursday
Ascension Day falls on 29 May 2025, 14 May 2026, 6 May 2027 and 25 May 2028 — each a Thursday. Colombia’s Emiliani Monday is 2 June 2025, 18 May 2026, 10 May 2027 and 29 May 2028.
Brückentag, pont and cuti bersama
Germany, France and the Netherlands do not automatically grant the Friday, but many workers take one day of leave so the Thursday brackets the weekend. In 2025 and 2026 Indonesia also declared an official cuti bersama bridge day on the Friday after Ascension Thursday, separate from the Ascension holiday itself.
Go deeper
Frequently asked questions
Is Ascension Day always on a Thursday?
In Western church calendars, yes — Easter Sunday plus 39 days. Colombia’s public holiday is the following Monday instead.
When is Ascension Day in 2027 and 2028?
Thursday 6 May 2027 and Thursday 25 May 2028 — the same dates appear in the table below for Germany, France and the other Thursday observers.
Is Ascension Day Father’s Day in Germany?
Yes. The same Thursday is both the nationwide public holiday Christi Himmelfahrt and Vatertag — see our Father’s Day festival page for how other countries differ.
Does Indonesia list Ascension of the Prophet on this page?
No. The table below lists only Christian Ascension (Ascension of Jesus Christ). Isra Mi’raj is a separate Muslim holiday with its own dates.
Why is Colombia’s Ascension on a Monday?
The Emiliani law moves the day off to the Monday after the feast. The Thursday date still exists liturgically, but workers get the following Monday.
How many days after Easter is Ascension Day?
Thirty-nine days after Easter Sunday (the fortieth day of the Easter season), which is why it always falls on a Thursday in Western calendars.
Is Ascension Day a public holiday in the UK or US?
No. Both appear below as ordinary working days so “no day off” is explicit.