When do shops close on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve in Norway?
The closing rule for Christmas Eve, the holidays and New Year's Eve.
Short answer
On Christmas Eve, Norwegian shops must close by 16:00 at the latest, while New Year's Eve has no special closing rule, so each shop sets its own hours. Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day are public holidays, when most shops are closed. In 2026 both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve fall on a Thursday.
Why
- Under the Public Holidays Act, shops covered by the Sunday rules must close at 16:00 on Christmas Eve, Easter Eve and Whitsun Eve.
- Christmas Day and Boxing Day (25 and 26 December) and New Year's Day are public holidays, and on these days shops must stay closed, as on Sundays.
- New Year's Eve is not on the list of public holidays and is not covered by the 16:00 rule.
Details
Many shops close earlier than the law requires: Visit Tromsø says all shops in Tromsø normally close at 13:00 on Christmas Eve and usually stay closed on 25 and 26 December. Visit Oslo notes that alcohol sales hours are different on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, and that museums which are open most of the holiday period still close on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January.
Tip
Do your food shopping before Christmas Eve and check your local shop's holiday hours on its website, since some close well before 16:00.
What may differ
Small grocery shops of up to 100 m² and petrol stations of up to 150 m² are exempt from the Sunday and holiday closing rules, so some of them may open on public holidays.
People also ask
- What time do shops close on Christmas Eve in Norway?
- Are shops open on New Year's Eve in Norway?
Sources
- Store norske leksikon: Shop closing hoursChecked at:
- Store norske leksikon: Public holidayChecked at:
- Visit Tromsø: Opening hours during the holidaysChecked at:
- Visit Oslo: Public holidays in Oslo and what to expectChecked at:
This answer is for reference only. Each shop sets its own holiday hours within the law, so check the shop before you go.
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