National Day2026 · Date · History
Liechtenstein government material identifies National Day on 15 August, says the Government introduced it in 1940, and explains that the date combined the Feast of the Assumption with the eve of Prince Franz Josef II’s birthday. Government material also states that the date was retained after his death and declared a public holiday.
About National Day
Liechtenstein celebrates National Day on 15 August. Government material says the observance was introduced by the Government in 1940 and has been celebrated on that date since then.
The date combined two circumstances: August 15 is the Feast of the Assumption, already a traditional religious holiday in Liechtenstein, and it was the day before the August 16 birthday of the then-ruling Prince Franz Josef II.
Why National Day matters
National Day is a civic state observance. Its placement on August 15 historically overlaps with a Catholic feast, but the state-day identity and the religious feast should not be treated as the same observance.
Government material says August 15 was retained after Prince Franz Josef II’s death and declared a public holiday.
History of National Day
A 1990 Liechtenstein government report states that the Government decided in 1940 to create a state holiday in honor of Prince Franz Josef II.
The report says a government meeting on 18 July 1940 declared August 15, the Feast of the Assumption, as the state holiday.
Current government material says it was first observed in 1940 and explains that August 15 was also the eve of the Prince’s birthday.
The date was retained after Prince Franz Josef II’s death and became a legal public holiday, while National Day continues on August 15.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Government of Liechtenstein
Government material says the state holiday was introduced by order/decision of the Government in 1940.
Government of Liechtenstein
Government decision declaring 15 August as the state holiday
First documented observance
Current government material says National Day was first observed in 1940.
August 15 was retained as National Day and declared a public holiday.
Principality of Liechtenstein · Later legal public-holiday treatment after the death of Prince Franz Josef II
Government of Liechtenstein
Current government material describes the National Day and official state ceremony.
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.
2 fields not established in reviewed sources
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
Also known as
Liechtenstein National Day
How to Observe National Day
Use August 15 for Liechtenstein National Day.
When explaining the date, distinguish the civic National Day from the Assumption feast that shares the calendar date.
Use current Liechtenstein government material for ceremony and public-holiday details.
Keep the 1940 government decision as the establishment history rather than inferring a different founding event.
National Day Facts
Liechtenstein National Day is observed on August 15.
The Government introduced the state holiday in 1940.
Government material says the first observance was in 1940.
August 15 combined the Feast of the Assumption with the eve of Prince Franz Josef II’s birthday.
The date was retained after his death and declared a public holiday.
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.
Government of Liechtenstein — National Day brochure (opens in a new tab)
Government First Party
Government report 14/1990 — state holiday history (opens in a new tab)
Government Legislative Report
Liechtenstein National Administration — annual dates (opens in a new tab)
Government First Party
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?
15 August The documented recurrence rule is: 15 August.
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: Liechtenstein. 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 Government of Liechtenstein as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as Government of Liechtenstein.
Is National Day international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to Liechtenstein. Its fuller verified scope is: Liechtenstein.
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 Liechtenstein National Day?
It is observed on August 15.
When was the state holiday introduced?
Liechtenstein government material says the Government introduced it in 1940 and that it was first observed that year.
Why August 15?
The date is the Feast of the Assumption and was also the day before the birthday of then-ruling Prince Franz Josef II.
Is National Day the same thing as the Assumption feast?
No. They share August 15 historically, but one is the civic state observance and the other is a religious feast.
Other observances on August 15
These observances are also listed on August 15, 2027.
Asunción de la Virgen
Spain’s national labor-holiday regulation lists 15 August as Asunción de la Virgen within the national holiday framework.
Founding anniversary of Asunción
Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies and the Municipality of Asunción mark 15 August as the city’s founding anniversary and identify 1537 as the founding year.
Fundación de Panamá la Vieja / Foundation of Panama Viejo
Panama’s Law 14 of 20 January 1955 recognizes 15 August 1519 as the foundation date of Panama City and declares 15 August each year a holiday for the District of Panama; municipal and herit…
Independence Day
Republic of the Congo laws directly list August 15 as the national holiday, including Law No. 19-2010, which adopts August 15 of every year in commemoration of the proclamation of independe…
Independence Day
The Indian Independence Act 1947 establishes the August 15, 1947 constitutional transition, while current Government of India sources independently verify annual August 15 Independence Day…
National Acadian Day
Government of Canada / Canadian Heritage; celebrated since 1881 and recognized in federal law in 2003