Germany has a combination of national and regional public holidays, which influence work schedules, school holidays, and leisure planning. The number of holidays can vary by federal state, meaning employees in some regions enjoy more days off than others. In 2026, planning ahead is key, as several holidays fall on weekends or create opportunities for long weekends. Here’s a detailed month-by-month guide to Germany’s public holidays in 2026.
January
- New Year’s Day - January 1 (Thursday)
- Epiphany - January 6 (Tuesday), observed only in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Saxony-Anhalt
March
- Women's Day - March 8 (Sunday), observed only in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
April
- Good Friday - April 3 (Friday)
- Easter Monday - April 6 (Monday)
May
- Labor Day - May 1 (Friday)
- Ascension Day - May 14 (Thursday)
- Whit Monday / Pentecost - May 25 (Monday)
June
- Corpus Christi - June 4 (Thursday), observed in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland
August
- Assumption Day - August 15 (Saturday), observed only in Bavaria (in predominantly Catholic communities) and Saarland
September
- Children's Day - September 20 (Sunday), observed in Thuringia
October
- German Unity Day - October 3 (Saturday)
- Reformation Day - October 31 (Saturday), celebrated in Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia
November
- All Saints’ Day - November 1 (Sunday), observed in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland
- Repentance Day - November 18 (Wednesday), observed in Saxony only
December
- Christmas Day - December 25 (Friday)
- Second Christmas Day / Boxing Day - December 26 (Saturday)
With several holidays falling on weekends in 2026, employees may not automatically gain extra days off for these occasions. Regional differences mean some workers enjoy additional public holidays not observed nationwide, impacting work schedules and long-weekend planning. Being aware of the month-wise public holiday calendar allows employees to plan vacations, family events, and personal time effectively.
