2026 delivers one of the most worker-friendly public holiday spreads in recent memory. Labour Day (1 May) falls on a Friday, gifting every employee in Germany an automatic three-day weekend — no annual leave required. Christmas Day (25 December) lands on a Friday as well, meaning the full festive period from 24 to 27 December forms a natural four-day break.
Easter Sunday is on 5 April in 2026, an early date that front-loads the spring holiday season. Good Friday falls on 3 April and Easter Monday on 6 April. Ascension Day follows on 14 May (Thursday), again offering a natural bridge day opportunity on 15 May for those willing to use one day of leave.
German Unity Day on 3 October falls on a Saturday in 2026 — meaning most employees will not receive a compensatory day off, as Germany has no statutory substitute holiday system for public holidays that land on weekends. Workers in Germany are advised to plan accordingly when 3 October or other fixed holidays fall at weekends.
Nationwide Holidays 2026
9 holidays
Public Holidays for all of Germany
| Date | Day | Holiday Name | 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 |
Baden-Württemberg — Additional Holidays
3 regional
Baden-Württemberg — Regional Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday Name | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jan 2026 | Tue | Epiphany | Regional |
| 4 Jun 2026 | Thu | Corpus Christi | Regional |
| 1 Nov 2026 | Sun | All Saints' Day | Regional |
Bavaria — Additional Holidays
4 regional
Bavaria — Regional Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday Name | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jan 2026 | Tue | Epiphany | Regional |
| 4 Jun 2026 | Thu | Corpus Christi | Regional |
| 15 Aug 2026 | Sat | Assumption of Mary | Regional |
| 1 Nov 2026 | Sun | All Saints' Day | Regional |
Berlin — Additional Holidays
1 regional
Berlin — Regional Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday Name | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Mar 2026 | Sun | International Women's Day | Regional |
Brandenburg — Additional Holidays
3 regional
Brandenburg — Regional Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday Name | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Apr 2026 | Sun | Easter Sunday | Regional |
| 24 May 2026 | Sun | Whit Sunday | Regional |
| 31 Oct 2026 | Sat | Reformation Day | Regional |
Bremen — Additional Holidays
1 regional
Bremen — Regional Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday Name | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Oct 2026 | Sat | Reformation Day | Regional |
Hamburg — Additional Holidays
1 regional
Hamburg — Regional Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday Name | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Oct 2026 | Sat | Reformation Day | Regional |
Hesse — Additional Holidays
1 regional
Hesse — Regional Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday Name | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jun 2026 | Thu | Corpus Christi | Regional |
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern — Additional Holidays
2 regional
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern — Regional Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday Name | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Mar 2026 | Sun | International Women's Day | Regional |
| 31 Oct 2026 | Sat | Reformation Day | Regional |
Lower Saxony — Additional Holidays
1 regional
Lower Saxony — Regional Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday Name | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Oct 2026 | Sat | Reformation Day | Regional |
North Rhine-Westphalia — Additional Holidays
2 regional
North Rhine-Westphalia — Regional Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday Name | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jun 2026 | Thu | Corpus Christi | Regional |
| 1 Nov 2026 | Sun | All Saints' Day | Regional |
Rhineland-Palatinate — Additional Holidays
2 regional
Rhineland-Palatinate — Regional Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday Name | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jun 2026 | Thu | Corpus Christi | Regional |
| 1 Nov 2026 | Sun | All Saints' Day | Regional |
Saarland — Additional Holidays
3 regional
Saarland — Regional Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday Name | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jun 2026 | Thu | Corpus Christi | Regional |
| 15 Aug 2026 | Sat | Assumption of Mary | Regional |
| 1 Nov 2026 | Sun | All Saints' Day | Regional |
Saxony — Additional Holidays
2 regional
Saxony — Regional Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday Name | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Oct 2026 | Sat | Reformation Day | Regional |
| 18 Nov 2026 | Wed | Day of Repentance and Prayer | Regional |
Saxony-Anhalt — Additional Holidays
2 regional
Saxony-Anhalt — Regional Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday Name | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jan 2026 | Tue | Epiphany | Regional |
| 31 Oct 2026 | Sat | Reformation Day | Regional |
Schleswig-Holstein — Additional Holidays
1 regional
Schleswig-Holstein — Regional Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday Name | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Oct 2026 | Sat | Reformation Day | Regional |
Thuringia — Additional Holidays
2 regional
Thuringia — Regional Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday Name | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Sept 2026 | Sun | World Children's Day | Regional |
| 31 Oct 2026 | Sat | Reformation Day | Regional |
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Easter in Germany in 2026?
Easter Sunday is 5 April 2026. Good Friday falls on 3 April and Easter Monday on 6 April — an early Easter that places the break firmly at the start of April. School Easter holidays in most states will cluster around this window.
Does Labour Day create a long weekend in 2026?
Yes — and it's one of the best in years. Labour Day (1 May) falls on a Friday in 2026, giving every worker in Germany an automatic three-day weekend with no annual leave needed.
Does German Unity Day offer a long weekend in 2026?
No. German Unity Day (3 October) falls on a Saturday in 2026. Germany has no substitute holiday system, so workers do not receive a compensatory day off. The long weekend effect is lost this year.
Is Christmas favourable in 2026?
Very much so. Christmas Day (25 December) falls on a Friday and Boxing Day (26 December) on a Saturday. Combined with the weekend, the festive break runs naturally from Thursday 24 December through Sunday 27 December — ideal for travel planning.
Which states have the most public holidays in 2026?
Bavaria leads with up to 13 public holidays, observing Epiphany (6 January), Corpus Christi, Assumption of Mary (15 August), and All Saints' Day (1 November) on top of the 9 nationwide holidays. Bremen and Hamburg observe only the national minimum of 9.