When is Republic Day?
In 2026, Republic Day falls on Monday, October 5, 2026. It is classified here as a Portuguese public holiday.
History of Republic Day
Republic Day on October 5 commemorates the proclamation of the Portuguese Republic in Lisbon in 1910. Republican military and civilian forces rose on October 4, and José Relvas announced the new regime from Lisbon City Hall the following morning. King Manuel II left Portugal, a provisional government took office, and the republic subsequently adopted new national symbols, including the green-and-red flag and A Portuguesa as the anthem.
The holiday marks a change of constitutional regime rather than the later restoration of democracy in 1974, which belongs to Freedom Day. Official observance can include flag raising, speeches, wreath laying and municipal events, especially in Lisbon. Schools, museums and civic institutions may use exhibitions or lectures to discuss the First Republic and republican symbols. The date was removed from the mandatory calendar during the 2012 austerity changes and restored in 2016.
Articles 234–236 of Portugal’s Labour Code distinguish mandatory holidays from the optional municipal holiday and Carnival Tuesday. A fixed national holiday remains on its calendar date when it falls at a weekend; Portuguese law does not supply a general substitute Monday. Businesses that are legally permitted or required to operate can schedule work under holiday-work and compensatory-rest rules. Autonomous-region and municipal calendars may add local dates without changing this nationwide status.
How Republic Day is observed
A mandatory national public holiday on October 5 commemorating the 1910 proclamation of the Republic and Portugal’s republican national symbols.
Traditions of Republic Day
Flag ceremonies
Public bodies and municipalities raise the green-and-red national flag and may perform A Portuguesa during formal commemorative events.
Lisbon remembrance
Ceremonies in the capital recall the proclamation from City Hall and the military and civilian movement of October 1910.
Civic education
Museums, schools and cultural institutions present talks or exhibitions about republicanism, the First Republic and Portugal’s national symbols.
Dates and observance rules are checked against the official Portugal public-administration holiday guidance. Municipal holidays, autonomous-region decisions and private-employer schedules may differ.
History sources: Portugal DGAEP: mandatory and optional public holidays, Diário da República: Portuguese Labour Code, Articles 234–236, Museum of the Presidency: proclamation of the Republic, United Nations: Member States.
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