Changes in legislation and consolidation measures have brought news that will affect hundreds of thousands of shoppers in Slovakia. Although September 15 remains a public holiday in the calendar, in 2026 it will no longer be a day off. In practice, this means that the legal obligation to close retail outlets on this day no longer applies, and store doors will remain open.
How the main chains will operate
Most major market players have decided to fully take advantage of the new rules. A closer look shows what to expect:
- Kaufland: All Slovak branches will be open at the standard time from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM. The only exception is the store in the Bratislava shopping center Avion, whose hours will be adjusted to the center's schedule.
- Lidl and Tesco: Shoppers will shop as usual. Stores will operate on their regular schedule, and exact times can be checked on the chains' websites or mobile apps.
- BILLA: The chain does not plan any restrictions, and stores operate on the standard working schedule.
- Terno and KRAJ: Residents of the capital and surrounding districts do not need to change their shopping habits; stores will not introduce any holiday exceptions.
- COOP Jednota: Although the chain expects stores to be open, due to its structure connected with separate regional cooperatives, the schedule may vary somewhat in certain regions or smaller towns. It is advisable to check the situation locally before visiting.
- METRO: Wholesale centers along with gas stations will serve customers at a unified time from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM across all Slovakia.
More details about store operations can be found in the original review on Regióny.sk.
What this change means for employees
The cancellation of the day off status has consequences not only for shoppers but also for store staff. Employers can normally schedule work shifts on this day, and sellers do not have an automatic right to a day off.
On the other hand, for payment purposes, September 15 still remains a holiday. This means that employees, in addition to their regular salary, are entitled to a holiday work bonus of at least 100% of their average earnings, or they can agree with the employer on taking time off.
When stores in Slovakia must close
Although rules for some public holidays have been relaxed, the general ban on retail sales still applies during the most important days of the year. You will not be able to carry shopping bags on:
- January 1 (New Year's Day)
- Good Friday and Easter Sunday
- December 24 after 12:00 PM
- December 25 and 26 (Christmas holidays)
On other public holidays, as shown by the September example, chains are no longer required to close their doors, which has put an end to panic buying before every day off.
