Public Holidays in Germany 2026: When Do Germans Take Time Off?

Public Holidays in Germany 2026: National and Regional Days Off

Germany has a generous number of public holidays — and that’s one of the reasons it’s known for its work-life balance! Some holidays are specific to certain federal states, while others are observed nationwide. Most public holidays in Germany have religious origins.

This article covers the key public holidays in Germany in 2026 that are also official days off for employees.

January 1, 2026 — New Year’s Day (Neujahr)

Like in other countries, New Year’s is celebrated in Germany — but much more modestly than Christmas. Germans get just one day off and are back at work on January 2nd! Many employers informally give their staff the afternoon or full day of December 31st as a gift.

January 6, 2026 — Epiphany (Heilige Drei Könige)

This Christian holiday celebrates the Three Kings (the Magi) who came to honor the newborn Jesus. On this day, groups of children called Sternsinger visit homes from local churches — often collecting donations for charity. It is observed throughout Germany but is an official public holiday only in Bavaria, Saxony-Anhalt, and Baden-Württemberg.

March 8, 2026 — International Women’s Day (Frauentag)

This holiday is not widely celebrated across Germany, but it is an official day off in Berlin and the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

April 3, 2026* — Good Friday (Karfreitag)

A solemn public holiday marking the end of the 40-day Lenten period. Good Friday is a nationwide day off across all German states.

April 5, 2026* — Easter Sunday (Ostersonntag)

Easter in Germany is both a religious and a secular celebration. Regardless of religious beliefs, many Germans decorate their garden trees with painted eggs, and children follow the tradition of searching for chocolate eggs hidden by the Easter Bunny (Osterhase).

April 6, 2026* — Easter Monday (Ostermontag)

Easter Monday in Germany is a day for gifts and family gatherings — and a public holiday in all federal states.

May 1, 2026 — Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit)

As in many countries, Labour Day in Germany is marked by trade union demonstrations and rallies. Public holiday nationwide.

May 14, 2026* — Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt)

The 40th and final day of Easter (always falls on a Thursday). Public holiday in all federal states.

May 25, 2026* — Whit Monday (Pfingstmontag)

Unlike Christmas and Easter, this religious holiday is not widely celebrated — most Germans use the long weekend for travel. Public holiday nationwide.

June 4, 2026* — Corpus Christi (Fronleichnam)

Observed on the Thursday after Whit Sunday. A public holiday in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland.

August 15, 2026 — Assumption of Mary (Mariä Himmelfahrt)

A regional holiday observed in Saarland and parts of Bavaria (specifically Augsburg and Munich).

October 3, 2026 — German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit)

The official anniversary of German reunification — when the GDR joined the Federal Republic in 1990. A deeply meaningful national holiday. Public holiday nationwide.

October 31, 2026 — Reformation Day (Reformationstag)

A Protestant holiday commemorating the start of the Reformation in Europe in 1517. A public holiday in the states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Thuringia, Saxony, Hamburg, and Bremen.

October 31, 2026 — Halloween

Halloween arrived in Germany relatively recently — in 1991 — but quickly became very popular, especially among children and young people. Halloween is not an official public holiday in Germany.

November 1, 2026 — All Saints’ Day (Allerheiligen)

All Saints’ Day is a religious holiday observed across Germany. Catholics commemorate all saints and light a symbolic “soul light” as a representation of eternal light for all the departed. This is a so-called stiller Feiertag (quiet holiday): public dance events and loud music are legally prohibited.

December 1–24 — Advent (Advent)

Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. This cozy and meaningful season is often the first thing people associate with German holiday traditions.

During Advent, early morning church services are held in honor of the Virgin Mary — known as Roraten. The symbol of this service is a lit candle that lights the way for those walking to church before sunrise. To keep the flame from going out, it is placed in a special lantern with transparent windows.

All Sundays of Advent are considered major feast days. If another holiday falls on an Advent Sunday, it is moved to Monday. The First Sunday of Advent marks the start of the new Church Year.

People decorate their homes for Christmas, put up trees, and buy (or handcraft) Adventskerzen — a candleholder with four candles, each lit on one Advent Sunday in turn.

For Advent, there is the Adventskalender — a cardboard house with 24 little windows, each hiding a small gift: a candy, a piece of chocolate, a tea bag, cosmetics, a figurine, a note with wishes, or even a prayer or scripture verse.

While Advent calendars used to be handmade by families, they have become increasingly commercialized in recent years. More and more companies now produce their own Advent calendars (with beer, cosmetics, sweets, tea, coffee, or spices).

December 25–26, 2026 — Christmas (Weihnachten)

The biggest holiday in Germany is Christmas (Weihnachten). Christmas markets open a month or a month and a half before the holiday, and the four weeks of Advent begin. December 24 is Christmas Eve (Heiligabend) — every family has its own traditions, and everyone gathers for a festive dinner. December 25 and 26 are the First and Second Day of Christmas, traditionally a time for giving gifts and spending time with family.

*Some companies gift their employees December 24 and 31 as extra days off to extend the holiday season.

Make yourself a calendar of German public holidays! It’s important to know them all — because all shops are closed on public holidays in Germany.

Don’t forget to stock up on groceries in advance. And of course, embrace the German holidays — it’s a great way to integrate and simply have a wonderful time.