In 2026, Germany's public holiday calendar offers a particularly strong spread for those planning ahead. Labour Day (1 May) falls on a Friday, creating an automatic long weekend nationwide. German Unity Day (3 October) lands on a Saturday — meaning most workers will not receive a substitute day off, a detail worth noting when booking travel.
Germany remains divided into 16 Bundesländer, each with legislative independence over regional holidays and school schedules. Catholic-majority states — Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia — observe additional holidays like Epiphany, Corpus Christi, and All Saints' Day that other states do not recognise.
Public Holidays 2026
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Nationwide Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2026 | Thu | New Year's Day | Nationwide |
| 3 Apr 2026 | Fri | Good Friday | Nationwide |
| 6 Apr 2026 | Mon | Easter Monday | Nationwide |
| 1 May 2026 | Fri | Labour Day | Nationwide |
| 14 May 2026 | Thu | Ascension Day | Nationwide |
| 25 May 2026 | Mon | Whit Monday | Nationwide |
| 3 Oct 2026 | Sat | German Unity Day | Nationwide |
| 25 Dec 2026 | Fri | Christmas Day | Nationwide |
| 26 Dec 2026 | Sat | Boxing Day | Nationwide |
School Holidays 2026
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Baden-Württemberg — School Holidays Overview
Winter Break
No break
Easter Break
30.03.2026 - 11.04.2026
Pentecost Break
26.05.2026 - 05.06.2026
Summer Holidays
30.07.2026 - 12.09.2026
Autumn Break
26.10.2026 - 30.10.2026
Christmas Break
23.12.2026 - 09.01.2027
Holidays by Region
Baden-WürttembergBavariaBerlinBrandenburgBremenHamburgHesseMecklenburg-VorpommernLower SaxonyNorth Rhine-WestphaliaRhineland-PalatinateSaarlandSaxonySaxony-AnhaltSchleswig-HolsteinThuringia
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public holidays does Germany have?
Germany has 9 nationwide public holidays that apply to all 16 federal states. On top of these, individual states can designate additional regional holidays. Bavaria has the most with up to 13 total, while Bremen has 9.
When is German Unity Day?
German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit) is on 3 October every year. It commemorates the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990 and is Germany's only purely national public holiday.
Do school holidays differ between German states?
Yes, significantly. Each of Germany's 16 federal states sets its own school holiday dates. The Kultusministerkonferenz (KMK) coordinates the summer holiday windows to prevent all states from overlapping, but other holidays vary widely.
Is Labour Day (1 May) a public holiday in Germany?
Yes. 1 May (Tag der Arbeit / Labour Day) is a public holiday in all 16 German federal states.
Are Christmas Day and Boxing Day both holidays in Germany?
Yes. Germany observes both 25 December (First Day of Christmas, Erster Weihnachtstag) and 26 December (Second Day of Christmas, Zweiter Weihnachtstag) as public holidays.