The longest break in history: We will face trade paralysis in December

Trading ban on Sundays and holidays. When will the stores be closed?

December will bring an exceptionally long break in the operation of large retail chains. From Thursday, December 24 to Sunday, December 27, most supermarkets, discount stores and shops in shopping malls will be closed.

From 2025, Christmas Eve is a public holiday. In 2026 it falls on a Thursday. The next two days, Friday, December 25 and Saturday, December 26, are also holidays subject to trade restrictions.

December 27 falls on a non-trading Sunday. As a result, for customers this means as many as four days without the possibility of shopping.

If the regulations do not change, the next such situation will not occur until 2037.

December 23 is the last chance to shop. Shops may be under siege

For millions of Poles, the key date will be Wednesday, December 23. This is when most large stores will end their pre-Christmas sales before the four-day break.

You can expect exceptionally heavy traffic. Poles will shop not only for Christmas Eve and Christmas, but also for the following days, when most chains will remain closed. Shopping lists will therefore include both fresh products, such as bread, milk, dairy products, eggs, vegetables and fruit, as well as drinks and items with a longer shelf life.

It cannot be ruled out that the largest retail chains will decide to extend their opening hours on December 23. This solution could help relieve traffic, but specific store operating schedules will be announced by individual operators only closer to the holidays.

Therefore, it is worth not postponing all purchases until the last minute. Spreading them out over several days in advance may help you avoid queues and shortages of goods on the shelves.

Where to shop on December 25, 26 and 27? Small shops can make money

However, the closure of large discount stores and supermarkets does not mean that all stores will be closed for four days. The regulations provide for exceptions to the trade ban. Thanks to them, it is possible to open, among others: small shops where sales are conducted personally by their owner.

Under certain conditions, the owner's immediate family may also assist in the store's operations. It is such points that may become the most important place for customers to make emergency purchases during the Christmas break.

For small local stores and some franchise outlets, the December calendar may mean increased traffic or even a commercial harvest. When large chains remain closed, customers will primarily look for basic food products.

However, it should be remembered that not all local and franchise stores will be open due to the holiday season, which is special for Poles. Even if some small stores decide to open on holidays, customers will probably not find products such as fresh bread.

Three shopping Sundays before Christmas 2026. When to shop?

In December 2026, there will be three shopping Sundays before Christmas.

You will be able to shop:

December 6, 2026 - trading Sunday,

December 13, 2026 - trading Sunday,

December 20, 2026 - trading Sunday.

These are additional opportunities to avoid the pre-Christmas crowds and spread your shopping over several weeks. Sunday, December 20, will be particularly important. This may be the last opportunity to make major purchases before the Christmas trading break.

How to survive a four-day store closure? This is worth remembering

First of all, it is worth: