Is today a trading Sunday? - No ads
- Damian Brzeski
- Jun 10, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 26, 2025
You’re standing in front of the closed doors of a mall, asking yourself: "Is today a shopping sunday in Poland?" In the maze of the Poland sunday trading ban, it’s easy to get lost.
This guide is your compass for shopping sundays Poland—here you’ll find the Poland trading sundays 2025 calendar, an explanation of how the sunday trading ban polandworks, and where to find shops open now when the city is asleep.
How does the current system work? When can we shop?
Raise your hand if you’ve ever driven for Sunday shopping in Poland only to forget that a trading ban was in effect. It’s frustrating, but there is a human side to this.
The zakaz handlu w niedziele (Sunday trading ban) sparked one of the biggest social discussions in recent years, balancing buyer convenience with the right of workers to rest.
The principle is simple, though full of exceptions. Typically, a year has seven shopping Sundays. These are strictly assigned to the calendar to make life easier before key periods like holidays or vacations.
Before you plan a trip, check the Poland trading Sundays 2025 list to see if all stores will be waiting for you or only selected points.
When is it usually a trade Sunday in Poland?
Here are the "iron rules" for working Sundays in Poland:
The last Sunday of January, April, June, and August.
The Sunday directly preceding Easter (Poland trading Sundays April 2025).
Sundays before Christmas (where the biggest changes occurred).
Poland Trading Sundays 2026 Calendar – What’s ahead?
The year 2026 brings a new quality. Due to Christmas Eve (Wigilia) becoming a public holiday, the Poland trading Sundays 2026 schedule has been modified. Instead of seven, we expect eight shopping days.
Here is the verified list of when shops are open on Sunday in Poland in 2026:
January 25 – Winter sales.
March 29 – Pre-Easter shopping.
April 26 – Spring shopping.
June 28 – Start of the holidays.
August 30 – Back to school.
December 6 – St. Nicholas Day shopping.
December 13 – Pre-holiday fever.
December 20 – Final stretch before Christmas.
The December Revolution: Three Shopping Sundays
The amendment to the regulations has made a third shopping Sunday in December a reality. Since Christmas Eve is a day off, the law "returned" an extra date to the retail sector.
This means that in December 2026, all stores will be open on the 6th, 13th, and 20th.
A Look Into the Future: Trading Sundays in Poland 2027
Planning far ahead? 2027 will be specific due to an early Easter. The list of trading Sundays Poland 2027 includes:
January 31 – Last Sunday of Jan.
March 21 – Pre-Easter Sunday.
April 25 – Last Sunday of Apr.
June 27 – Last Sunday of Jun.
August 29 – Last Sunday of Aug.
December 5, 12, and 19 – The triple Sunday rule for Christmas.
What about the past? Shopping Sundays Poland 2025
The niedziele handlowe 2025 calendar was a testing ground for the new "Free Christmas Eve" rules.
If you are looking for archived shopping Sundays Poland 2025 info: the year included the classic dates, but the end of the year showed the new legislative direction. Remember that future shopping Sundays are based on this updated law.
When the City Says "No" – Nighttime Prohibition
Poland shopping isn't just restricted on Sundays. Many cities now introduce local "nighttime prohibitions." While the Sunday trading ban is national, alcohol restrictions are local.
The Rule: Between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, you cannot buy alcohol in retail stores or gas stations.
Where? Zones exist in Kraków, Wrocław, Katowice, Poznań, and Zakopane.
Trade Sunday Gdansk: Even on a commercial Sunday, local city laws may still keep the alcohol shutters down at night.
Where to find help? Poland Sunday trading ban exceptions 2025
Even on a non-trading Sunday in Poland, life goes on. There are 32 exceptions where you can find shops open today:
Gas stations – Often act as well-stocked delis.
Żabka near me – Most Żabka stores are open if the owner is behind the counter.
Pharmacies, Florists, and Confectioneries.
Dworce and Airports – Stations like Warsaw Centralna or Kraków Główny have shops open on Sundayalmost always.
Online stores – The ban does not apply to the internet.
Heart or Head? The human dimension of non-trading Sundays
We can discuss economics, but working Sundays in Poland are days of hard work for retail employees. A free Sunday is often the only time for a family dinner.
Perhaps instead of a shopping mall in Warsaw, it's an opportunity for a walk in the park? The next trading Sunday will come eventually.
FAQ – Trading Sundays Poland, Ban, and Exceptions
Is December 28, 2025, a shopping Sunday? No, it is a non-trading Sunday; the next opportunity for Sunday shopping in Poland is January 25, 2026.
How many trading Sundays will there be in 2026? A total of 8 working Sundays in Poland are planned for 2026, due to the additional trading day in December.
When are the shopping Sundays in December 2026? Stores will be open on three consecutive Sundays preceding Christmas: December 6, 13, and 20, 2026.
Why are there now three shopping Sundays in December? This change compensates for Christmas Eve (Wigilia) becoming a public holiday, shifting the trading Sunday schedule to earlier dates.
Which stores are open every Sunday despite the ban? Gas stations, pharmacies, florists, confectioneries, ice cream parlors, and shops at railway stations or airports are typically open on Sundays.
Is Żabka open on non-shopping Sundays? Yes, most stores in this chain operate because the service is provided personally by the owner—look for a Żabka near me if you need essentials.
Where can I do grocery shopping when supermarkets are closed? You can shop at small neighborhood stores, gas stations, or autonomous (unmanned) stores.
What is nighttime prohibition and where is it in force? It is a local ban on selling alcohol in stores during night hours (usually 10 PM – 6 AM) in cities like Kraków or Wrocław.
Does the trading ban apply to online stores? No, the Poland Sunday trading ban only applies to brick-and-mortar establishments; online shops can work all week.
What is the penalty for breaking the trading ban? Entrepreneurs face a fine from 1,000 PLN to 100,000 PLN, and in extreme cases, restriction of liberty.
Are shopping malls completely closed on non-shopping Sundays? No, in a shopping mall in Warsaw or other cities, cinemas, food courts, gyms, and pharmacies usually remain open.
When is the first shopping Sunday in 2026? The first Sunday without a trade ban in the new year is January 25.
Can we shop on Christmas Eve? No. Starting from 2025, Christmas Eve is a statutory day off, meaning large stores remain closed.
Are Biedronka and Lidl open on non-shopping Sundays? Generally no, unless a specific store is located at a train station and qualifies for the traveler exception.
What are the fixed dates for shopping Sundays in the year? They are always the last Sundays of January, April, June, and August, plus the Sunday directly before Easter.
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