Public Holidays and Days Off in Germany in 2026

When moving to a new country, one of the practical adjustments involves understanding the local calendar of public holidays and days off. In Germany, this is especially important because some holidays are observed nationwide, while others depend on the federal state (Bundesland).

In this article, we explain which German public holidays apply across all federal states and which are regional. We also briefly cover the working calendar and how official days off are regulated under German labor law.

Earlier, we wrote about the Waste Sortying Rules in Germany.

According to the official working calendar, there are 9 nationwide public holidays in Germany in 2026. In addition, employees in certain federal states receive 2 to 4 extra days off, depending on regional holidays.

By strategically planning annual paid leave around public holidays that fall close to weekends, employees in Germany can extend their total rest period significantly — in some cases up to 60 days off per year, including weekends and vacation days.

The total number of official days off depends on the federal state of residence. However, there are 9 public holidays recognized across all 16 federal states of Germany:

Contrary to popular belief, neither Christmas Eve (Heiligabend) nor New Year’s Eve (Silvester) are official public holidays under the Federal Leave Act. However, individual employers may grant additional days off at their discretion.

With thoughtful vacation planning, it is possible to significantly reduce the number of actual working days in Germany each year.

In addition to nationwide holidays, several federal states in Germany observe regional public holidays, many of which are rooted in religious traditions.

For example, Protestant and Lutheran communities commemorate Reformation Day, marking Martin Luther’s church reform. While October 31 is not a public holiday everywhere, it is widely celebrated — especially among younger people. On November 1, Catholics observe All Saints’ Day, traditionally marked by reflection and quiet remembrance.

In the city of Augsburg, the Peace Festival (Friedensfest) is celebrated annually on August 8, commemorating the end of religious oppression of Protestants. The day includes a special church service and community events such as children’s peace-themed drawing competitions.

Below is a summary of regional public holidays in 2026:

German students go on school holidays six times per year, with a total annual break of at least 75 days.

Holiday dates are not fixed nationwide — they are determined annually by the federal states. According to German law, children under 9 years old cannot stay home alone during holidays. As a result, many parents arrange childcare, take annual leave, or adjust their work schedules.

Since Christmas is celebrated nationwide at the same time, school holidays are relatively synchronized across Germany. Catholic-majority regions may allocate slightly longer breaks than predominantly Protestant areas.

Christmas holidays usually begin between December 20–23 and end between January 3–11.

These take place from late January into February. Because of the extended Christmas break, winter holidays in Germany are generally short — ranging from one day to one week, depending on the state.

In May or early June, students receive short spring holidays around Pentecost. These typically last 1 to 10 days, depending on the region. However, in Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, and Saxony, no additional Pentecost break is provided.

The main holiday period begins for most students in late July and ends in September. The start and end dates vary by state — if holidays begin one week later in a region, they will also end one week later. This staggered system helps manage national travel flows.

Autumn breaks usually occur in late October and last 1–2 weeks. Most states begin mid-month, though some start as early as October 5, while others may begin on October 26 or even November 2.

In 2026, employees working a five-day week can enjoy up to 60 days of rest by strategically combining annual leave with public holidays.

To share holiday cheer with family abroad, many expats use the Korona app to send instant international money transfers to 50+ countries on favorable terms.

In our blog, we regularly publish articles about life, study, and work in Europe. If you are interested in these topics, explore our article catalog for more practical guides.