National Day2026 · Date · History
Austrian Parliament material establishes October 26 as National Day, ties the date to the 1955 neutrality law and identifies Federal Act No. 298 of October 25, 1965 as the law establishing National Day status.
About National Day
Austria’s National Day is observed on 26 October. Austrian Parliament material states that October 26 became the country’s National Day by Federal Act No. 298 of 25 October 1965.
The date is tied to 26 October 1955, when Austria’s National Council passed the Federal Constitutional Law declaring the country’s perpetual neutrality.
Why National Day matters
The observance connects Austria’s postwar constitutional history with a modern national holiday. It is not simply the anniversary of the State Treaty: the treaty entered into force on July 27, 1955, while the neutrality law was passed on October 26 after the occupation-force withdrawal period ended.
Austrian institutions mark the day with public events, including parliamentary open-house programming and other civic activities.
History of National Day
Austria’s State Treaty was signed in May 1955 and entered into force on July 27, restoring sovereignty under the treaty framework.
On October 26, 1955, the National Council passed the constitutional law on permanent neutrality.
Austria first observed a “Day of the Flag” on October 26, 1956, but Parliament notes that the date did not yet have National Day status.
Federal Act No. 298 of October 25, 1965 declared October 26 the Austrian National Day, and Parliament records the first National Day celebration in 1965.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Day of the Flag (Tag der Fahne)
Austrian Parliament records the first Day of the Flag on October 26, 1956; the date acquired formal National Day status by federal law in 1965.
Austrian National Council
Federal Act No. 298 of 25 October 1965 concerning the Austrian National Holiday
First documented observance
Austrian Parliament states that the first National Day was celebrated on October 26, 1965.
Republic of Austria
Current Austrian Parliament and Foreign Ministry material continue to present October 26 as the national holiday and support official programming.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
Predecessor and precursor observances
Earlier or merged observances are kept separate from former names and later institutional actions.
Also known as
Austrian National Day
How to Observe National Day
Read the Austrian Parliament’s history of the State Treaty, troop withdrawal and neutrality law.
Visit official National Day programming from Austrian institutions if you are in Austria.
Compare the 1955 constitutional milestone with the separate 1965 law that established National Day status.
Use primary Austrian sources when discussing legal or constitutional history rather than reducing the date to a single slogan.
National Day Facts
Austria’s National Day is October 26.
The date commemorates the 26 October 1955 neutrality-law milestone.
Federal Act No. 298 of 25 October 1965 established October 26 as the Austrian National Day.
Austrian Parliament records the first National Day celebration on October 26, 1965.
A “Day of the Flag” was observed on October 26, 1956 before the date acquired National Day status.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Remembrance Civic Context Care.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Austrian Foreign Ministry — October 26 National Holiday (opens in a new tab)
Government Foreign Ministry
Austrian Parliament — History of the Austrian National Day (opens in a new tab)
Government Parliamentary
Austrian Parliament — State Treaty and neutrality history (opens in a new tab)
Government Parliamentary
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is National Day?
26 October The documented recurrence rule is: 26 October.
Does National Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is National Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Austria. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes National Day?
The reviewed sources identify Austrian National Council as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as Republic of Austria.
Is National Day international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to Austria. Its fuller verified scope is: Austria.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-02.
When is Austria’s National Day?
It is observed on October 26.
Why is October 26 important in Austria?
On October 26, 1955, the National Council passed the Federal Constitutional Law on Austria’s permanent neutrality.
When did October 26 become the National Day?
Austrian Parliament material identifies Federal Act No. 298 of October 25, 1965 as the law declaring October 26 the Austrian National Day.
Was the date observed before 1965?
Yes. Parliament records a first “Day of the Flag” on October 26, 1956, but says the date did not have National Day status until 1965.
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