Public holidays in Germany in 2026
| Holiday | Date | federal states |
|---|---|---|
| New Year in Germany | 01.01.2026 (Thursday) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia |
| Holy Three Kings | January 6, 2026 (Tuesday) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Saxony-Anhalt |
| International Women’s Day | March 8, 2026 (Sunday) | Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern |
| Good Friday in Germany | 03.04.2026 (Friday) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia |
| Easter Sunday in Germany | April 5, 2026 (Sunday) | Brandenburg |
| Easter Monday in Germany | 06.04.2026 (Monday) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia |
| Labor Day in Germany | 01.05.2026 (Friday) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia |
| Ascension Day in Germany | May 14, 2026 (Thursday) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia |
| Trinity in Germany | May 24, 2026 (Sunday) | Brandenburg |
| Trinity in Germany | May 25, 2026 (Monday) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia |
| Corpus Christi in Germany | 04.06.2026 (Thursday) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland |
| Augsburg Peace Festival | 08.08.2026 (Saturday) | Bavaria |
| Assumption of Mary in Germany | 08/15/2026 (Saturday) | Bavaria and Saarland |
| Universal Children’s Day in Germany | 09/20/2026 (Sunday) | Thuringia |
| German Unity Day | October 3, 2026 (Saturday) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia |
| Reformation Day in Germany | October 31, 2026 (Saturday) | All countries |
| All Saints’ Day in Germany | November 1, 2026 (Sunday) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland |
| Day of Repentance and Prayer in Germany | November 18, 2026 (Wednesday) | Saxony |
| Christmas in Germany | December 25, 2026 (Friday) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia |
| Boxing Day in Germany | December 26, 2026 (Saturday) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia |
In 2026, there will be 20 public holidays in Germany.
New Year in Germany
In Western culture, New Year’s Day is traditionally celebrated on January 1 and is a holiday in both Christian and legal terms. This day immediately following New Year’s Day is a contemplative review of the past year and anticipation of the new year. An interesting fact is that the ancient Romans had already established New Year’s Day on January 1 in 153 BC, and only the Swabian-Alemanni “High New Year” dated from Epiphany.
What is the origin of the New Year tradition?
New Year is celebrated in almost every tradition and culture. The way of celebration, as well as the date, varies. In this country, the origin of New Year is not of a religious nature. In ancient Rome, the magistrate first passed from hand to hand on this day, and later the citizens also celebrated the beginning of the new (official) year.
Christianity adapted the New Year in various ways. Around 700, the first attempts were made to establish it as a feast of Mary, but these failed due to the growing importance of holidays such as the Assumption of Mary. Later, the circumcision and naming of Jesus were celebrated, a practice also practiced in the Lutheran church.
How is New Year celebrated?
The way New Year’s Eve is celebrated in Germany varies considerably. Although fireworks and firecrackers are traditionally set off on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day is celebrated more quietly. Culinary traditions include eating a doughnut or a “Berliner” (pancake). It is also customary to wish each other a Happy New Year either on New Year’s Eve or on New Year’s Day, and to invite friends and relatives to do so. New Year’s customs also include giving small talismans such as four-leaf clovers, horseshoes, pennies or cents. Finally, lentil soup is a popular and often consumed classic dish on both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Individual lentils symbolize gold coins, and the more of these tasty legumes you eat, the more prosperity you will have. Last but not least: the New Year’s address by the current Chancellor, which is broadcast on television the night before.
Three Kings Day
Epiphany, or Three Kings Day, is a public holiday in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Saxony-Anhalt. However, Epiphany (Epiphany of the Lord), as it is called in the Christian context, is also a religious holiday in other German states. Interestingly, in some traditions, Epiphany is celebrated as New Year’s Day. In addition, January 6 is also Christmas (and therefore Christmas in Orthodox churches) according to the Julian calendar, which was used until 1582.
What is the basis for the celebration of Epiphany on January 6?
January 6 was already a special holiday in the Greco-Roman period of Ancient Egypt, and in earlier years it was dedicated to the sun god Aeon. As the Christian Epiphany, this date was celebrated as early as the second century and soon replaced pagan rites. The Three Magi only began to play a role in the Western Church when January 6 was dedicated to the Adoration of the Magi.
The historical Three Wise Men were probably not kings, but perhaps astrologers. The names Caspar, Melchior, and Belshazzar were also not attributed until the sixth century, as were the supposed gifts at Jesus’ birth, namely frankincense, myrrh, and gold.
What are the customs on Epiphany in Germany?
Epiphany is celebrated with a variety of customs, chief among them being the star singers who, in Catholic regions, go from house to house, leaving the blessing C+M+B (Christus Mansionem Benedicat, or Christ blesses this house) along with the appropriate year.
Another tradition is the High New Year, when the New Year is moved to the feast of the Three Kings, which is especially common in the Swabian-Alemanni region. In this cultural region, Carnival also traditionally begins on Epiphany.
The fact is that on January 6, the twelve Raunachte end, and therefore the magical time.
In some places, people drink beer to gain strength on the eve of Epiphany. This custom is especially popular in Upper Franconia and the surrounding regions.
Finally, some churches consecrate water and salt on Epiphany, commemorating the baptism of Jesus. Another culinary custom is the king cake, in which a coin or bean is baked, or the South German custom of drinking a spoonful of Sampermilli or Perchtmilch.
International Women’s Day
It was a real sensation when Berlin became the first German federal state to declare International Women’s Day a public holiday. Since then, shops have been closed every year on March 8, and neither schools nor government offices are open. The German capital’s pioneering role was only within Germany, as International Women’s Day is also a public holiday in a number of African and Asian countries, from Angola to Kazakhstan and Vietnam. Russia, Ukraine and China are particularly striking examples, where women have at least an afternoon off. Comparisons with Mother’s Day are simply inappropriate because of the deeply political nature of International Women’s Day.
What is International Women’s Day?
International Women’s Day was originally intended to celebrate equal rights and women’s suffrage and has existed since 1911. The idea came from socialist Claire Zetkin after a similar initiative had been launched in the United States a few years earlier. Initially, March 19 was deliberately chosen as the date to establish a connection with the revolutionary March 18, 1848. In the early years, the focus was solely on the fight for women’s suffrage. After this goal was achieved, different themes were established depending on the country. The United Nations now offers separate events.
History of the holiday
The history of International Women’s Day dates back to before World War I and was popularized primarily by German socialists and social democrats, as well as by the Russian revolutionary Lenin. Lenin is also believed to have set the date for March 8 in 1921, although this is disputed as a historical fact.
It is certain that March 8 was considered a communist International Women’s Day during the Weimar Republic, and issues such as legal abortion, working hours and wages were at the forefront of the Weimar Republic era. The National Socialists banned International Women’s Day and invented Mother’s Day instead. After the end of World War II, Women’s Day was soon reintroduced in the GDR, while the Federal Republic of Germany, and especially many feminists, fought against the idea, criticizing the day as a form of “deception” and demanding and continuing to demand its abolition. In 1975, the United Nations declared “International Women’s Year” and held a celebration on March 8. Since then, the date has been used repeatedly to criticize discrimination and the lack of equal rights. Since 1990, International Women’s Day has been celebrated mainly in East Germany, with early approaches also appearing in other European countries such as Austria, Spain and Turkey.
How is International Women’s Day celebrated?
International Women’s Day is not a holiday in the traditional sense. Rather, it is a holiday about political demands and the desire for equality between men and women. Accordingly, social injustice is primarily condemned and appropriate rallies are held. They are organized, among others, by trade unions, some political parties, and sometimes also by government organizations such as ministries or city councils.
Good Friday in Germany
Good Friday follows Maundy Thursday and precedes Easter. It is already part of the Triduum Sacrum, the Easter holidays. The date is calculated based on the date of Easter, which falls on the first full moon after the beginning of spring on March 21. According to the lunar cycle, certain dates repeat every 19 years. Good Friday is the most important Protestant holiday and a national public holiday in Germany. In addition, there is a strict requirement of church fasting. It commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus.
What is the origin of Good Friday?
The name Good Friday contains the Old High German word “kara”, which means weeping or mourning. It is therefore not surprising that the holiday is celebrated in silence. The reason for this weeping or mourning is the crucifixion and death of Jesus, as recorded in the Gospels. Good Friday has been known as a day of fasting since the second century, as evidenced by the works of the Roman church historian Tertullian.
What happens on Good Friday?
Most of the customs and events of Good Friday take place in a church context. In the Catholic Church, there is no Holy Mass, but rather a kind of prayer, usually scheduled for 3:00 p.m. This is the “ninth hour” when, according to the Roman calendar of the time, Jesus died on the cross, and which corresponds to this time. The altar is not decorated on Good Friday, and the bells are also silenced. Sometimes bells replace rattles and chimes, emphasizing the secretly sad nature of the day.
What customs characterize Good Friday?
Regional customs vary, with some churches holding Stations of the Cross and processions on Good Friday. These are well-known in Bad Cannstatt, Lauter am Main and Menden in the Sauerland region. In Protestant communities, fish is often eaten on Good Friday. In Berlin-Mitte, the Protestant church has been organizing an ecumenical procession since 2009.
In theaters and opera houses, the range of possible performances is limited in most federal states, and dance events are also prohibited. In addition, public events are generally not permitted in places where drinks are served.
Eggs laid by hens on Good Friday are said to have magical powers. For this reason, in Swabia, these eggs were often baked into a pie to enhance the power of love. Similarly, schoolchildren were given the alphabet along with the Good Friday egg, or the eggs were placed in chimneys and gutters to protect against fire.
Easter Sunday in Germany
Easter follows the Easter Vigil, or Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Together, these three days form the so-called Triduum Sacrum, which begins with the Last Supper on the evening of Maundy Thursday. Easter is considered the most important feast in Christianity, although the three days of the Triduum constitute a single great feast from a liturgical point of view. The date is based on what is known as the lunisolar calendar. Simply put, Easter always falls on the Sunday after the first full moon in spring or after the equinox. The significance of Easter can also be seen in the fact that Carnival, or Fasching, as well as Ascension and Pentecost, are all based on its date.
What is celebrated on Easter?
Easter Sunday is the first day after Jesus’ resurrection from the tomb. The term is often derived from the Old High German word “austro”, meaning dawn. Thus, it may be either an adaptation of a Germanic spring festival or a commemoration of Jesus’ empty tomb, which, according to the Gospel of Mark, was discovered early in the morning, i.e. at dawn. Another interpretation connects Easter with the North Germanic word “ausa”, meaning pouring. This explanation refers to the ritual of baptism, which often takes place on Easter.
According to the Gospel, Jesus overcame death and rose bodily from the dead on the morning of Easter Sunday. This occurred on the third day after his crucifixion. The date of Easter Sunday, or Passover, was first officially established at the Council of Nicaea in 325.
How is Easter celebrated?
Easter is celebrated in the same way in all churches. In many cases, the celebration of the resurrection also takes place during the Easter Vigil, and the so-called Easter lights are lit. Lent ends, and in the Catholic Church the Pope pronounces the traditional blessing “Urbi et orbi” (To the City (in this case Rome) and to the whole world). During the Easter Vigil, or even on Easter, the Paschal candle enters Catholic churches and spreads its light.
Easter Sunday customs
Like few other holidays, Easter is associated with traditions. First and foremost, it is certainly the all-German tradition of egg hunting. Children, in particular, usually search the streets for painted eggs, as well as small gifts and sweets that, according to legend, the Easter Bunny has hidden. The eggs and sweets usually end up in a so-called “Easter nest”, which is a plate or basket.
An ancient custom is the consumption of the Passover lamb. This tradition has its roots in the Jewish Passover and also honors the fact that Jesus was often called the “Lamb of God.” The lamb (in the form of a flatbread) is considered a symbol of life and victory over death.
It is also worth mentioning the Easter bonfires, which are lit on the evening of Holy Saturday, and the Easter water. The latter is considered a symbol of fertility and refers to the consecrated baptismal water from the Easter Vigil. The bathing of young unmarried women in a running stream on the morning of Easter Sunday can also be considered an Easter water custom.
After all, at least since the time of Goethe’s Faust, the Easter walk has also been a popular ritual and served to welcome spring.
Easter Monday in Germany
Easter Monday is a public holiday throughout Germany. Interestingly, although this day is closely linked to the preceding Easter Sunday, it is no longer part of the Christian “Holy Triduum”. Rather, it is a remnant of a festive season that lasted two weeks before the Middle Ages, from Palm Sunday to Trinity Sunday.
What tradition does Easter Monday date back to?
Easter Monday can be compared to Boxing Day or Trinity, and is therefore the so-called second feast. In 1642, Pope Urban VIII established the “Triduum of the Resurrection” from Sunday to Tuesday, alongside the then existing “Triduum of the Passion”, consisting of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Tuesday had also been a feast in previous years, but it was soon abolished.
From a Christian perspective, Easter Monday tells the story of the resurrection from the perspective of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. On their way back from Jerusalem to Emmaus, they met a man whom they belatedly recognized as the resurrected Jesus, and who convinced them to return to Jerusalem to proclaim the resurrection.
What customs characterize Easter Monday?
Compared to previous days, Easter Monday is markedly less traditional. In southern Germany, the Emmaus procession, also known as the “Feldumgang” (field procession) in some places, takes place in many places. In Traunstein, the St. George’s Ride (Georgiritt) with around 500 horses takes place, which is also a tradition on a smaller scale in Effeltrich in Franconian Switzerland and in Geldenstein in Upper Bavaria.
Also worth mentioning are the egg races held in Remlingen, Franconia, since 1738, and the Eierlage egg races in Schöneich. These races date back to 1500 and attract many visitors to the Eifel village.
Labor Day in Germany
May 1st is a public holiday not only in Germany but also in several other countries. It is also known as “Labor Day” and is considered one of the most important non-Christian holidays. The tradition dates back to the 19th century, more precisely from 1890, and the introduction of May 1st as a public holiday dates back to 1933. However, before that, there was already a turbulent and very political history.
The history of May 1 as Labor Day
The special significance of May 1 stems from the fact that in Anglo-American countries it has always been the so-called “Moving Day”. In the past, this date was often used to mark the day when people changed jobs or even places of residence. In Australia, the first demonstrations for the eight-hour working day took place on May 1, 1856, and in the USA, a general strike was declared for the same reason in 1886. In this context, a famous speech was given at the Haymarket in Chicago, which led to a general strike and, known as the “Haymarket Affair”, to bloody clashes between workers and the police.
When the Second International was founded in 1889, these protests were commemorated by declaring May 1 a “day of struggle for the workers’ movement.” A year later, demonstrations and mass rallies were taking place around the world.
May 1 in Germany
In the German Empire, May Day initially played a secondary role. At the beginning of the Weimar Republic, the SPD, in particular, sought to establish May Day as a national holiday in 1919, but this failed due to resistance from the bourgeois camp. Only the National Socialists granted May Day the status of a national holiday, albeit as a “National Labor Day”.
After the end of World War II, May Day remained and played an important role, especially in the GDR, as the “International Day of Struggle and Celebration of Workers for Peace and Socialism.” In the Federal Republic of Germany, May Day was also a holiday, although it was more often associated with demonstrations.
How is May 1st celebrated?
May Day is generally a political holiday. This is also reflected in the fact that demonstrations and less specific customs are common in Germany. Clashes between demonstrators and police in the Berlin district of Kreuzberg and the Hamburg district of Schönefeld are recurring, although their intensity has decreased significantly in recent years. In some places, red carnations are also handed out at demonstrations, although this has also decreased.
Among those less interested in politics, Walpurgis Night is usually
is celebrated with a “Dance in May.” On this day, a May tree is set up in the Rhineland, as well as in parts of Bavaria and Swabia, as well as in several other regions. It is then left in front of the lover’s house or in the middle of the village for a month, starting on May 1.
School holidays in Germany 2026
Academic year 2025/2026 | Academic year 2026/2027 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal state | Winter holidays | Easter holidays | Holy Trinity | Summer vacation | Autumn holidays | Christmas holidays |
| Baden-Württemberg | March 30 – April 11 | 26.05 – 05.06 | 30.07 – 12.09 | 26.10 – 31.10 | 23.12 – 09.01 | |
| Bavaria | February 16 – 20 | March 30 – April 10 | 26.05 – 05.06 | 03.08 – 14.09 | 02.11 – 06.11, 18.11 | 24.12 – 08.01 |
| Berlin | 02.02 – 07.02 | March 30 – April 10, May 15 | 26.05 | 09.07 – 22.08 | 19.10 – 31.10 | 23.12 – 02.01 |
| Brandenburg | 02.02 – 07.02 | March 30 – April 10, May 15 | 26.05 | 09.07 – 22.08 | 19.10 – 30.10 | 23.12 – 02.01 |
| Bremen | 02.02 – 03.02 | March 23 – April 7 | May 15, May 26 | 02.07 – 12.08 | 12.10 – 24.10 | 23.12 – 09.01 |
| Hamburg | 30.01 | 02.03 – 13.03 | 11.05 – 15.05 | 09.07 – 19.08 | 19.10 – 30.10 | 21.12 – 01.01 |
| Hesse | March 30 – April 10 | 29.06 – 07.08 | 05.10 – 17.10 | 23.12 – 12.01 | ||
| Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | 09.02 – 20.02 | March 30 – April 8 | May 15, 22 – 26 | 13.07 – 22.08 | 19.10 – 24.10, 26.11 – 27.11 | 19.12 – 02.01 |
| Lower Saxony | 02.02 – 03.02 | March 23 – April 7 | May 15, May 26 | 02.07 – 12.08 | 12.10 – 24.10 | 23.12 – 09.01 |
| North Rhine-Westphalia | March 30 – April 11 | 26.05 | 20.07 – 01.09 | 17.10 – 31.10 | 23.12 – 06.01 | |
| Rhineland-Palatinate | March 30 – April 10 | 29.06 – 07.08 | 05.10 – 16.10 | 23.12 – 08.01 | ||
| Saarland | February 16 – 20 | 07.04 – 17.04 | 29.06 – 07.08 | 05.10 – 16.10 | December 21 – December 31 | |
| Saxony | 09.02 – 21.02 | 03.04 – 10.04, 15.05 | 04.07 – 14.08 | 12.10 – 24.10 | 23.12 – 02.01 | |
| Saxony-Anhalt | 31.01 – 06.02 | March 30 – April 4 | 26.05 – 29.05 | 04.07 – 14.08 | 19.10 – 30.10 | 21.12 – 02.01 |
| Schleswig-Holstein | 02.02 – 03.02 | March 26 – April 10 | 15.05 | 04.07 – 15.08 | 12.10 – 24.10 | 21.12 – 06.01 |
| Thuringia | February 16 – 21 | 07.04 – 17.04 | 15.05 | 04.07 – 14.08 | 12.10 – 24.10 | 23.12 – 02.01 |