On March 1, 2025, the seventh anniversary of the ban on Sunday trading in Poland was observed. This legislation, implemented to limit commercial activities on Sundays, has undergone various changes since its introduction. Beginning as a partial restriction, stores were initially allowed to operate on the first and last Sundays of each month in 2018. By 2019, the law limited operation to just the last Sunday of the month, and currently, only eight Sundays a year are designated as trading days.
According to recent updates, the permitted Sundays for trading in 2025 include: the last Sunday of January, April, June, and August, as well as the Sunday before Easter and the three Sundays preceding Christmas. Notably, there have been just seven trading Sundays in total over the past five years, with significant shifts evident in recent amendments.
The latest amendment to the holiday law has introduced the notion of Christmas Eve as an official holiday, while simultaneously adding a trading Sunday in December. However, March 23, 2025, is not a trading Sunday, meaning most shops, including large retail chains such as Biedronka, Lidl, and Carrefour, will remain closed.
As a result of the law, many consumers are left wondering where they can shop on this date. Although significant supermarket chains will be closed, smaller local stores run by owners (such as Żabka) and certain gas stations will remain open. The new regulations also allow for specific exceptions that authorize trading by a variety of established stores, including florists, pharmacies, and cafes. In total, the legislation features over 30 exceptions that provide customers with limited shopping options during non-trading Sundays.
Fines ranging from PLN 1,000 to PLN 100,000 can be imposed for violations of the Sunday trading ban. Repeat offenders may face even more severe penalties, including restrictions on liberty. The April Sundays in 2025 will be more favorable for shoppers, with the next trading Sunday being on April 13, only three weeks from today. Following that, there will be another trading Sunday on April 27.
Since the ban's introduction on March 1, 2018, shopping on Sundays has seen a gradual decline. Initially, when the law was first designed, it allowed for more trading opportunities, which were gradually tightened through subsequent reforms. By 2020, the ban had restrictive features that limited Sunday shopping to a mere sevendays a year. Today, under the current law, shoppers can only avail themselves of eight trading Sundays.
Legislators have hinted at potential shifts in policy regarding Sunday trading, particularly after the upcoming presidential election. Mid-2024 saw the introduction of a project named Poland 2050, which proposes to ease the current regulations by permitting two trading Sundays every month—essentially reverting to the initial alignment of the law. Currently, the proposal is awaiting action in the Sejm.
A survey conducted by SW Research for the magazine Wprost indicated that 56% of Poles support the Poland 2050 initiative, with 30.1% opposed and 14% undecided. If the proposal progresses and the legislation is enacted after the presidential elections, it could reshape the landscape of Sunday trading in Poland significantly.
As shopping evolves under the new legal framework, it appears many Poles might prefer to capitalize on potential changes in legislation to enjoy a more flexible shopping experience. Ultimately, with just a few trading Sundays remaining in 2025, consumers should prepare to adapt their shopping habits accordingly.
In the meantime, for shoppers eager to make purchases in March, it's essential to remain aware of which stores are operational despite Sunday trading restrictions. The list of exceptions provides a roadmap for where to shop, ensuring consumers can still fulfill their needs even when major outlets are closed. As the conversation about Sunday trading regulations continues, it will be interesting to see how opinions evolve and shape future policies.
