Mirë se erdhëtHolidays · 28 November
Flag Day, 28 November 2026: holidays and a trip checklist for Albania and Kosovo
28 November is Flag Day for Albanians everywhere, but the day off works differently on each side of the border. Here's what the official calendars say for 2026, and a short checklist if you're flying home for it.
Updated
Short answer
In Albania, 28 November (Flag and Independence Day) and 29 November (Liberation Day) are official holidays. In 2026 they fall on a Saturday and Sunday, so the days off move to Monday 30 November and Tuesday 1 December (Bank of Albania 2026 holiday calendar). In Kosovo, 28 November is a memorial day under the law on official holidays, not a paid holiday.
Verified · checked on 24 Oct 2026
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Flag Day (28 Nëntori)
Saturday 28 November 2026
Date source: Bank of Albania
Albania: the November and December holidays
Verified · checked on 24 Oct 2026
The Bank of Albania's 2026 calendar (updated 29 October 2025) lists these official holidays. When a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the day off moves to the next working day(s), Monday and Tuesday.
| Holiday | Date (2026) | Day off |
|---|---|---|
| Alphabet Day | Sun 22 Nov | Mon 23 Nov |
| Flag and Independence Day | Sat 28 Nov | Mon 30 Nov |
| Liberation Day | Sun 29 Nov | Tue 1 Dec |
| National Youth Day | Tue 8 Dec | Tue 8 Dec |
| Christmas | Fri 25 Dec | Fri 25 Dec |
The Bank of Albania says it is closed on 23 November, 30 November and 1 December 2026. Our reading: in Albania that makes Saturday 28 November to Tuesday 1 December four days off in a row.
Kosovo: a memorial day, not a day off
Verified · checked on 24 Oct 2026
Kosovo's Law No. 03/L-064 on Official Holidays lists '28 Nëntori, dita e shqiptarëve' (28 November, Albanians' Day) among memorial days (Article 5.5), not among the official paid holidays in Article 2. The Ministry of Internal Affairs' 2026 calendar of official holidays has no November date.
Unknown: whether Kosovo's government will give a day off on 28 November 2026. We found no 2026 decision on 24 October. Kosovo's next official holidays are 25 December, 1–2 January and 7 January.
What may be closed, and how busy it gets
Estimate · checked on 24 Oct 2026
Our reading, not an official list: in Albania, expect public offices and banks that follow the official calendar to be closed on 30 November and 1 December, as the Bank of Albania is. We have no official source for shops, restaurants or museums, so check each one.
No official source forecasts crowds. With US Thanksgiving on 26 November and a four-day weekend in Albania right after it, flights and roads around those dates may be busier than usual. Treat that as an estimate.
Trip checklist
1. Book flights early: see the countdown and the fares we saw on 23 October.
2. Connecting through Schengen? EES registration takes extra time on your first crossing.
3. Need a bank or a public office? In Albania, do it by Friday 27 November or from Wednesday 2 December.
4. Driving between Kosovo and Albania? Read our winter driving notes first.
Frequently asked questions
Is 28 November a public holiday in Albania in 2026?
Yes. Flag and Independence Day is an official holiday. In 2026 it falls on a Saturday, so the day off moves to Monday 30 November, and Liberation Day (Sunday 29 November) moves to Tuesday 1 December (Bank of Albania 2026 calendar).
Is 28 November a day off in Kosovo?
Not under the law. Kosovo's Law No. 03/L-064 lists 28 November as a memorial day, not an official holiday, and the 2026 official calendar has no November date. Whether the government declares a day off in 2026 is unknown.
Are banks open in Albania on 30 November 2026?
The Bank of Albania says it is closed on 30 November and 1 December 2026. Commercial banks set their own hours; check with yours.
Sources
- Bank of Albania: official holiday calendar 2026 (updated 29 Oct 2025)
- Kosovo Official Gazette: Law No. 03/L-064 on Official Holidays
- Kosovo Ministry of Internal Affairs: official holidays 2026
Checked 24 Oct 2026. Rules change; always confirm with the official source before you travel.
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