New Year’s Day 2026 and 2027
The New Year in Poland is celebrated with widespread festivities on New Year’s Eve and a public holiday the following day, 1 January.
| Year | Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 Jan | Thu | New Year's Day |
| 2027 | 1 Jan | Fri | New Year's Day |
| Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates. | |||
In Poland, there are many interesting New Year’s traditions. You’ll still get the fireworks, staying up till midnight for a toast, and family feasts and parties – like elsewhere around the world.. But there are also a lot of old traditions unique to Poland.
On New Year’s Eve, called “Sylwester” in Poland, people will go on hayrides in the woodlands, roast sausages and other foods over a bonfire, and eat much of the same cuisine that they enjoyed earlier around Christmastime. Between New Year’s Eve and Lent, Poland enters a traditional season of partying and attending balls.
For good luck in the year ahead, it’s and old tradition for Poles to wait until midnight on New Year’s Eve and eat a pickled herring. They may also consume poppy seeds and bread rolls shaped like rabbits, cows, and various other animals. And eating donuts or any food formed into a ring shape is also considered a guarantee of a lucky year ahead.
Previous Years
| Year | Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 Jan | Wed | New Year's Day |
| 2024 | 1 Jan | Mon | New Year's Day |