Constitution Day
May 17th is the country's national day and is a fantastic occasion in Norway.
People nationwide will be decked out in their bunad (national dress), attend parades with marching bands, and enjoy the unmissable breakfast with salmon, strawberries, and champagne.
Oslo is set to have the largest parade, which makes its way up Karl Johans Street to the Royal Palace.
The day is a public holiday, meaning that almost all stores and businesses will be closed for the day.
The downside to May 17th this year is that it falls on a Sunday, meaning workers won't receive the day off like they would if it was a weekday. Most people will have to head back to work on Monday morning (likely with a bit of a hangover).
READ MORE: Why does Norway celebrate May 17th
Other public holidays
May usually has the most public holidays in Norway.
May 1st is Labour Day, so it will be a day off work for most workers in Norway. In 2026, it falls on a Friday, giving you a three-day weekend.
Ascension Day (May 14th) is on a Thursday. If you haven’t considered it already, it might be worth booking off Friday, which is an inneklemt dag (squeezed day).
At the end of May, there’s the Pentecost weekend. In 2026, Whitsun Eve is on Saturday, May 23rd, and Pentecost Sunday is on May 24th. The main benefit for workers is Whit Monday (2. Pinsedag) on May 25th, which is a national holiday and creates a three-day long weekend.
May 8th is Liberation Day (Frigjøringsdagen), celebrating the end of the German occupation during WWII. It’s an official flag day, so you’ll see the national colours everywhere, but it’s not a public holiday, meaning shops and offices stay open as usual.
READ MORE: What’s on: The best events in Norway in May 2026
Tax dates
The deadline for most tax returns is actually the end of April. However, there are still a number of important dates to be aware of in May.
May 31st is the deadline for business owners to submit their tax returns. This applies to sole proprietorships (Enkeltpersonforetak/ENK) and companies (Selskap/AS).
May is also a key time for rebates. Those who submitted their tax returns early, may have already received their rebate. Meanwhile, everyone else can expect their rebate to arrive between May and June.
Finally, those who have paid too little tax will have until May 31st to pay back any tax they own to avoid interest.
Revised national budget
The Norwegian government will present its revised budget for the rest of 2026 on May 12th.
This document will include updated estimates for the Norwegian economy and any changes to the 2026 state budget, which was submitted on October 15th, 2025, and approved by the Storting in December.
This year’s revision must include several new laws and proposals sent to parliament recently. The budget will also reflect the current global economy, which is still unstable due to international conflicts.
Wage negotiations
Salary negotiations (lønnsoppgjør) have been ongoing since March, making May a key month for both the public and private sectors.
By the end of the month, we should have a clearer picture of the new salaries across industries.
This year, talks focus on both pay raises and better working conditions.
After the hotel industry strikes in April, there’s still a high risk of more strikes if negotiations don’t succeed.
READ MORE:When will know the outcome of Norway's wage negotiations this year?
READ ALSO: What Norway's 2026 wage settlement means for you
New rules for Ukrainians
Starting May 4th, Norway will tighten its collective protection scheme for people displaced from Ukraine.
Men aged 18 to 60 will no longer be automatically covered unless they have specific exemptions, for example, if they have a child in Norway.
Those who fall outside this collective scheme will now have their asylum applications reviewed individually. This change intends to ease the strain on local housing and welfare services.
Studded tyre deadline in the North
The deadline to remove studded tyres (piggdekk) in Northern Norway was April 30th. Starting May 1st, all vehicles in Nordland, Troms, and Finnmark must use regular tyres.
While the rest of Norway switched shortly after Easter, the northern counties are granted an extended deadline due to the longer winter season.
READ MORE: Drivers in Norway reminded to change tyres as new rules come in
National Insurance Basic Amount
Each year on May 1st, Norway updates the National Insurance Basic Amount, known as "G" (Grunnbeløpet).
Although it may sound technical, it is one of the most important financial measures in Norway. It determines the amount of your pension, disability benefits, and other NAV payments. When G goes up, your benefits increase too.
This metric is also important for immigration. For example, if you want to apply for a Family Immigration residence, the UDI uses G to set the minimum income a "reference person" (the Norwegian citizen or resident in Norway) must earn to sponsor family members. This varies depending on the case.
The current rate is 130,160 kroner, and the 2026 update won’t be known until mid-May because it depends on ongoing wage negotiations.
However, even though the new rate is announced later, it applies retroactively from May 1st.
Asphalt season
The Norwegian Public Roads Administration is starting a major asphalting campaign, resurfacing 730 kilometres of national roads.
Most of the work will take place at night to avoid traffic jams. However, expect short waits, while busy national roads may be closed during work hours.
Here is a map of all roads affected.
Road & rail disruptions
Commuters between Oslo and Bærum, as well as travellers on the Bergensbanen line, should be ready for several infrastructure projects starting this month.
At the end of May, the E18 Strandlokket project in Bærum will close the Michelets culvert until 2029. This will affect all road users, including cars, pedestrians, and cyclists, with detours marked through Fornebu and Høvik.
Near Asker, night work on the E18 between Asker and Holmen will continue until mid-May to install speed limit portals. This may cause short, temporary traffic stops.
Rail travel will also be affected, with regular closures between Finse and Myrdal due to ongoing work. However, this section will stay open from May 13th to May 18th to accommodate passengers during May holidays.
Always check the state of the road on the Statens vegvesen website and train updates here.
Russetiden
Russetiden marks the final celebration for graduating students (called "Russ") as they finish thirteen years of school.
While the festivities technically begin in April, they reach their peak during the first two weeks of May, culminating in the grand finale on May 17th.
Expect more noise than usual, especially on weekends. You’ll see the well-known "Russe-buses", decorated cars, and many young people celebrating.
The midnight sun
Northern Norway enters a unique phase in May. From early in the month, the sun no longer sets in the far north. This constant daylight lasts until late August, so there’s no real "night" during the summer.
READ ALSO: What you need to know about the midnight sun in Norway
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