The approaching March of 2026 brings a series of significant organizational and legal changes in Poland. A key event will be the change to daylight saving time, which will occur earlier this year than last year. At the same time, students and employees are analyzing the calendar of holidays, including the upcoming Easter break and a bill under consideration that could establish Good Friday as a statutory non-working day.
Earlier Time Change
The transition to daylight saving time in 2026 will occur earlier than last year, forcing clock adjustments in March.
Good Friday Holiday
Work is underway on a bill establishing Good Friday as a non-working day; the decision remains in the hands of the President of Poland.
Challenges for Agriculture
The meteorological start of spring brings high temperatures, after which dangerous frosts are forecast.
CKE Schedule
Dates for mock final exams and eighth-grade exams have been set, defining the rhythm of learning in schools.
The upcoming March 2026 is dominated by preparations for the time change and planning for spring rest. According to current regulations, the transition from standard time to daylight saving time will occur on the last Sunday of March, which falls earlier this year than in the previous calendar cycle. Moving the clocks forward by an hour not only results in less sleep but also necessitates specific payroll and accounting adjustments for work hours. Despite years of debate within the European Union over abolishing this obligation, there are currently no binding decisions to abandon the time rotation in the coming years. In the education sector, attention is focused on the schedule of external exams. The Central Examination Board is preparing to publish the answers from mock final exams, while eighth-graders analyze the dates of their May tests. The spring holiday break in schools, linked to Easter, is a key point in the academic calendar, giving students a few days of respite before the final stage of the school year. Additionally, the topic of establishing Good Friday as a non-working day has resurfaced in public discourse. The bill on this matter has landed on the President's desk, sparking significant interest among employees who, should the regulations come into force, will have to adjust their leave applications. The tradition of changing the clocks in Poland dates back to the interwar period, though it was permanently introduced in 1977 to save electricity. It is currently regulated by EU Directive 2000/84/EC, which standardizes the change dates across all member states.The economic situation in March is characterized by a stable schedule of shopping Sundays. The first Sunday of March will not be a shopping Sunday, forcing consumers to plan purchases in advance. Agriculture, in turn, is preparing to enter the growing season, facing challenges related to protecting crops from potential frosts that may follow an exceptionally warm start to meteorological spring. Weather experts warn of sudden temperature fluctuations that could negatively impact crops. „Arkusze egzaminacyjne oraz klucze odpowiedzi zostaną udostępnione w systemie natychmiast po zakończeniu sesji próbnych, aby umożliwić nauczycielom sprawną weryfikację wiedzy uczniów.” (Exam papers and answer keys will be made available in the system immediately after the end of the mock exam sessions to enable teachers to efficiently verify students' knowledge.) — Central Examination Board
Perspektywy mediów: Liberal media emphasize the social benefits of a free Good Friday and modern lifestyle trends. Conservative media focus on the religious dimension of the upcoming holidays and challenges for traditional agriculture.
Mentioned People
- Selena Gomez — American artist mentioned as inspiration in cosmetic trends for spring 2026.