Andorra Allows Shops to Open Voluntarily on 2026 Constitution Day
Government authorizes optional retail openings on March 14, 2026—a busy tourist Saturday—to prevent revenue losses while upholding the public holiday.
Key Points
- 14 March 2026 is a mandatory paid public holiday for all sectors, with tourism exceptions.
- Law allows government to lift shop closures for weekend holidays or peak tourism.
- Saturday timing and tourist surge prompted the decision to avoid retailer losses.
- Businesses can now voluntarily operate to balance celebrations and economy.
The Andorran government has authorised the voluntary opening of shops on Constitution Day, 14 March 2026—a Saturday expected to see high tourist numbers.
Under the law designating 14 March as Constitution Day, the date is a mandatory, paid and non-recoverable public holiday across all sectors, with exceptions limited to tourism-related activities. The same legislation, however, permits the government to lift the commercial closure requirement before 1 January each year if the holiday falls on a weekend, another festivity or during peak tourism periods.
Given the Saturday timing and anticipated visitor surge, officials invoked this provision to avoid significant revenue losses for retailers. Businesses may now choose to operate at their discretion, allowing them to balance national celebrations with the Principat's economic and tourism demands.
The executive views this exceptional measure as a way to support commerce while preserving the holiday's importance.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: