Will Shops Be Open on 13 September?

13 September 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

13 September Sunday trading: most supermarkets will be closed. Check exceptions and plan weekend shopping ahead.

Many people who left big weekend shopping until Sunday may be disappointed. 13 September Sunday trading will not apply, so most large supermarkets and mall shops will be closed.

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What the ban means for shoppers

The current law bans most retail work on specified Sundays. The statute lists the allowed trading Sundays. In 2026 those dates are: 25 January, 29 March, 26 April, 28 June, 30 August, 6 December, 13 December and 20 December. The last trading Sunday was 30 August. The next trading Sunday is 6 December. That gap means you will wait more than three months between trading Sundays.

Practically, chains like Lidl, Biedronka, Aldi, Kaufland and similar discounters will usually close. The ban covers both sales and work tied to selling goods. Malls and shopping centres will largely shut retail doors. However, cinemas, restaurants and leisure outlets inside centres may operate. Therefore check individual opening hours before you go.

13 September Sunday trading — who may open

The law includes a long list of exceptions. Open outlets may include petrol stations, pharmacies and pharmacy points, and some florists that meet legal conditions. Certain post offices may open, but only when postal services form the predominant activity of that location. Shops at train stations and airports, and some tourist or hotel outlets may trade. The regulation also allows bakeries, confectioneries and ice cream shops whose main business is baked goods.

A key exception covers small neighbourhood shops run personally by the owner. The owner may work in their shop in person. They may also use unpaid help from close family, such as spouse, children, parents, siblings and grandparents, if the legal conditions apply. That rule lets some independent convenience stores and some franchise outlets operate. It does not force every small store or every franchise shop to open. The decision and hours rest with the individual entrepreneur.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: If you are new in Poland, plan ahead. Big supermarkets may be closed on 13 September, so do large grocery runs on Saturday. Check the individual shop online or call ahead. Remember local terms: ZUS means the social insurance institution, NFZ means the National Health Fund, and PESEL is your national ID number. Small owner-operated shops often open on non-trading Sundays if the owner works personally. For official details, check the official government portal.

For expats, card payments and online shopping help. Many shops let you order online and pick up in store on a different day. Also note that even outlets allowed to open have no legal obligation to do so. Owners may shorten hours or close for staff rest.

In short, do not rely on Sunday shopping on 13 September. Plan purchases for Saturday. If you must go out on Sunday, verify that a specific shop operates under a legal exception before you travel.

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