🚩 Norway's flag days without mistakes: official calendar, raising/lowering times and joint flagging 🇳🇴

Whether you work for the government, are responsible for a municipal area, or simply want to fly the flag correctly, this guide is the perfect place to find everything you need to know! Check out Norway's awesome official flag days below (including floating ones), exact times for raising/lowering (summer/winter/north), the awesome division of responsibilities for government agencies, municipalities and private individuals, the rules for flying the Sami flag alongside other flags, the rules for using foreign flags and half-mast. We are proud to rely on the excellent publications from Utenriksdepartementet/Regjeringen, KDD and Lovdata, and we are also pleased to provide simple checklists and answers to frequently asked questions. Save the article to your bookmarks and go to the neighbouring hubs for May, winter and summer dates.

When is it an "official flag day" in Norway and who must observe it?

The government sets official flag days. All government agencies must fly the national flag (statsflagg) on these days. This obligation does not apply to private individuals or companies. For them, it is simply a matter of etiquette. Local governments are not considered "public institutions" for the purposes of the regulations, so they are allowed to set up their own rules (many of them follow the national list).

Let's take a look at which days are included in the official list.

The full list of flag days includes both fixed and variable dates.

The following dates have been fixed: 1 January; 21 January (Ingrid Alexandra); 6 February (Sami Day); 21 February (King Harald V); 1 May; 8 May; 17 May; 7 June; 4 July (Queen Sonja); 20 July (Crown Prince Haakon); 29 July (Olsok); 19 August (Crown Princess Mette-Marit); 25 December. Movable: The first day of Easter, the first day of Pentecost and election day for the Storting all fall on the same day. In the date cards, use the notes "movable/holiday" and a link to the annual calendar for exact dates. You can find the official list on UD.

Once you know the dates, it is important to understand who should flag them.

Who has to fly the flag? Is it the state, the municipalities or private individuals?

On all official flag days, it is compulsory to fly the flag (statsflagg). Local governments: not required by default; may introduce their own rules, follow the state list in full/in part, or approve extra local days. If you are a private individual or an organisation, you don't have any official obligations. But it is recommended that you follow the temporary rules for raising or lowering the flag. For more examples and legal references, look at the KDD publication (2025) and the UD basic page.

Now, let's talk about how to raise and lower the flag.

When should the flag be raised and lowered? (This is the standard for the country.)

The general rule is: March to October — start at 8 a.m., finish at sunset, but no later than 9 p.m. (if the sun sets later). The time to start is 9 a.m. in November to February. The time to finish is at sunset. These rules are set for government agencies and are used as a guideline by others. Have a short table in your cheat sheet with "March–October/November–February" and a note saying "if you're not sure, go with 8 a.m./9 a.m. and sunset (or 9 p.m. in summer)".

In the north, different hours apply in winter, so make sure you know what they are when you're planning your trip.

Northern latitudes: Nurland, Tromsø and Finnmark have different opening hours in winter.

There are special rules for November to February that apply to the areas of Nurland, Troms and Finnmark. The flags should be hoisted at 10:00 and lowered at 15:00. During the "white nights" period, the flag is still lowered at 9pm if it is still light outside. These rules are important for schools, institutions and event organisers in the north of the country. Add a tip about checking local practices in the municipality if the location is above the Arctic Circle.

People also often ask whether the flag can be left up overnight.

Can the flag be left up at night? What about private "pennants"?

For government institutions, lowering at set times is mandatory. There is no official requirement for private owners, but it is considered good manners to raise the flag in the morning and lower it in the evening. Often, a pennant (vimpel) is used instead of a flag at night. This is not a matter of state regulation, so it is important for private individuals to follow local practice and common sense. The best advice is to follow the time rules from the UD and only fly the flag at night if you really need to.

Now, about flying the flag together with the Sami flag.

Where and when should the Sami flag be placed in relation to the Norwegian flag?

6 February is a special day in Norway. It is both Flag Day and Sami National Day. When the flags of the Sami people and Norway are flown together, the Sami flag goes on the right of the Norwegian flag (so that the Norwegian flag can be in the best place) and after the Norwegian flag but above local flags. The rules for how and when to use it are set out in the KDD and Forskrift om bruk av det samiske flagget (Lovdata), and these rules are updated regularly. It makes sense for private individuals and local governments to follow the same rules.

What about foreign flags on local buildings?

When can foreign flags be used on local government buildings?

A foreign flag may be flown next to the Norwegian flag as a sign of respect (e.g. when a group of people from another country visits). There are important conditions that must be met. You will need separate flagpoles, and the foreign flag must not be placed in a more prominent position than the Norwegian flag. You can find these rules in section UD "Fremmed lands flagg". For more practical guidance in your local area, please also look at the latest information from KDD and local rules.

A special type of official status is known as the 'splittflag'.

What is a 'splittflag' and who can use it?

A 'split flag' is a type of national flag used by government institutions and certain vessels/services. Individuals and organisations should use the regular flag. This is clearly explained in the UD materials and related regulations. In the error hint cards, be sure to specify: Please do not use splittflagg on private property.

What do you do about lowering the flag at times when you are mourning?

How do you lower the flag to half-mast?

Algorithm: first, raise the flag to the top. Then, lower it so that it is one third of the way down from the top of the flagpole. After the ceremony, raise it again to the top and lower it at the usual time, following the rules of the day. This order is used on the day of the funeral or the official mourning ceremony. To help you remember, look at the "3 steps" diagram in the "Mourning" section. You can find a description of the procedure in Store Norske Leksikon.

The calendar also has movable flag days – what should be done with them?

Movable flag days: Easter, Pentecost and Election Day are all on the same day.

You can move these holidays: the first day of Easter, the first day of Pentecost, and the day of the parliamentary elections. Their dates change every year, so don't set specific dates in the hub — just display the widget for the current year or provide a link to the annual calendar. Remember: on these days, it is the law for government agencies to flag; for municipalities, it depends on the local rules. The list comes from UD "Norges flagg".

What if there is only one flagpole but two flags need to be raised?

Can you hang two flags on one pole?

No, you need more than one flagpole when you fly flags together. The Norwegian flag should stay in the place of honour, with the others placed next to it, not on the same pole. KDD explains this in its explanation of foreign flags and municipal practice, and it makes sense when you think about UD. If you have only one flagpole, fly the Norwegian flag (or the flag that the local authorities say you should fly on a particular day).

Let's quickly go over some of the most common mistakes.

Here are some common mistakes people make when flagging, and how to avoid them.

The most common mistakes people make are:

- Not lowering the flag by 9 p.m. in summer

- Not giving priority to the Norwegian flag

- Using splittflagg on private property

- Having a wet or tattered flag

- Not following the correct mourning procedure Solution: keep a small table of times for raising and lowering the flag, a list of important tasks (Norwegian → Sami → regional), a link to "half-mast" and a separate note about splittflagg. Check all standards against UD/KDD and SNL.

And finally, how can you easily tell if it's a Flag Day?

How can you easily find out if today is a Flag Day?

The best way to find out is to check the official UD page, where you'll find a list of flag days and flagging times. If you need to know what the dates are for any other day, look at the yearly calendar on the website or in local community publications (this may also include any extra flag days).

Correct flagging in Norway is so much fun! It's a combination of the calendar, time and priority of flags. Make sure you've got the official UD list close by, and be sure to lower the flag by 9 p.m. in summer and by 11 p.m. in winter. Also, remember the special rules in the north, as well as the exciting opportunity to join in with the Sami flag and the order for foreign flags! The great news is that municipalities and counties now have even more leeway! Of course, this must be within the law and KDD guidelines, but the opportunities are limitless. Save this guide and check out the neighbouring hubs and city mini-guides for all the practical scenarios you can think of.

We would absolutely love to hear your thoughts in the comments! If you have photos, case studies from your institutions or questions about specific situations, we would love to hear from you – please leave a comment! We can't wait to hear from you and we're totally dedicated to creating the most useful blog about Norway!