Public Holiday: Large Shops to Remain Closed on Wednesday, 28 October
Shops with a sales area of more than 200 square metres must remain closed on the anniversary of the founding of independent Czechoslovakia
Photo: Freepik
On the anniversary of the founding of the independent Czechoslovak state, many supermarkets and large retail shops in the Czech Republic will remain closed. Shops with a sales area of more than 200 square metres are prohibited from trading due to the public holiday.
Next Wednesday, 28 October 2026, large shops across the Czech Republic will remain closed. The reason is the public holiday commemorating the founding of independent Czechoslovakia (Den vzniku samostatného československého státu). On this day, the Czech Republic marks the declaration of the independent Czechoslovak state on 28 October 1918.
Under Czech legislation governing shop opening hours, shops with a sales area of more than 200 square metres must remain closed on this day. This affects large supermarkets and numerous shops in shopping centres. Smaller shops, however, are permitted to remain open.
The law came into force in 2016 and requires larger retail shops to close on certain public holidays. In addition to 28 October, the regulation also applies on 1 January, Easter Monday, 8 May and 28 September. On Christmas Eve, affected shops may only open until 12 noon, while they must remain closed on 25 and 26 December.
Compliance with the regulations is monitored by the Czech Trade Inspection Authority. Violations can result in fines of up to CZK 1 million.
Shop Opening Hours on Public Holidays
January 1 – New Year’s Day – Closed
Good Friday – Open
Easter Monday – Closed
May 1 – Labour Day – Open
May 8 – Victory Day – Closed
July 5 – Day of the Slavic Apostles Cyril and Methodius – Open
July 6 – Day of the Burning of Jan Hus – Open
September 28 – Day of Czech Statehood – Closed
October 28 – Day of the Founding of Independent Czechoslovakia – Closed
November 17 – Day of the Struggle for Freedom and Democracy – Closed
December 24 – Christmas Eve – Open until 12:00 noon
December 25 – Christmas Day – Closed
December 26 – Second Christmas Day – Closed
