article_detail

The Friday May 1 Labour Day holiday will be marked throughout Spain in 2026, giving many people a long weekend to switch off, travel or simply enjoy some downtime. As always with public holidays, one of the most common last minute questions is which supermarkets will actually be open.

 

Each supermarket chain has made its own decision on opening hours and in some cases it varies depending on the region. Madrid also adds an extra twist this year as May 2 is its own regional holiday, meaning different opening patterns compared to the rest of the country.

 

Here is how the main supermarket chains across Spain are expected to operate during the May bank holiday weekend.

 

 

Mercadona will close all of its stores across Spain on Friday May 1. It will reopen as normal on Saturday May 2 in most areas, although stores in the Community of Madrid will remain closed due to the regional holiday. As usual, Mercadona will also stay closed on Sunday, following its standard weekly pattern.

 

 

Carrefour will also shut all branches on May 1, although some smaller convenience-style stores in major cities may stay open with reduced hours depending on location. On May 2, most Carrefour supermarkets will reopen nationwide, including in Madrid, and they are expected to operate as normal on Sunday as well.

 

 

Alcampo hypermarkets will be closed this Friday across Spain. On May 2, stores in Madrid will be open despite it being a public holiday in the community, while opening hours elsewhere will depend on local arrangements. Many locations are expected to resume normal weekend trading from Saturday onwards.

 

 

Lidl stores will be closed on Friday May 1 throughout Spain. On Saturday May 2, branches in the Community of Madrid are expected to reopen, although some may operate reduced morning hours depending on the store. Normal Sunday opening rules will apply afterwards.

 

 

Aldi will close most of its supermarkets on May 1. On May 2, a number of stores in central Madrid may open for the full day despite the regional holiday, while others across Spain will return to their usual weekend schedule.

 

 

Dia will remain closed on May 1 for Labour Day. However, many smaller neighbourhood stores may open in the mornings depending on location, offering limited hours for essential shopping during the holiday.

 

 

Image: Freepik