Public German Holidays in 2026: A Complete Guide

Germany’s public holidays in 2026 are not quite as simple as a single nationwide calendar. Some holidays apply throughout the country, while others depend on the federal state or, in a few cases, even the municipality. For travelers, residents and anyone planning around German opening hours, school breaks or work schedules, knowing the regional differences can make a real difference.

Public Holidays in Germany in 2026 at a Glance

Germany has several nationwide public holidays in 2026, including New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, German Unity Day and the two Christmas holidays.

Other holidays are regional. Epiphany, Corpus Christi, Assumption Day, Reformation Day, All Saints’ Day and the Day of Repentance and Prayer apply only in certain parts of Germany. Some additional holidays are even more localized.

This federal structure is an important part of understanding the German holiday calendar. A public holiday in Bavaria does not necessarily mean a day off in Berlin, and a holiday in Saxony may be a normal working day elsewhere.

Nationwide Public Holidays in Germany 2026

Regional Public Holidays in Germany in 2026

The following holidays are not nationwide. Their status depends on the federal state or, in some cases, on individual municipalities.

Epiphany — January 6, 2026

Epiphany, known in German as Heilige Drei Koenige, is a public holiday in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria and Saxony-Anhalt.

International Women’s Day — March 8, 2026

International Women’s Day is a public holiday in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In 2026, March 8 falls on a Sunday.

Corpus Christi — June 4, 2026

Corpus Christi is a public holiday in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. It also applies in certain municipalities outside these areas under specific local arrangements.

Assumption Day — August 15, 2026

Assumption Day is a public holiday throughout Saarland and in Bavarian municipalities where the population is predominantly Catholic. It is therefore not a statewide holiday across all of Bavaria.

Augsburg Peace Festival — August 8, 2026

The Augsburger Friedensfest is a public holiday only in the city of Augsburg in Bavaria. It is one of Germany’s most localized public holidays.

World Children’s Day — September 20, 2026

World Children’s Day is a public holiday in Thuringia. In 2026, September 20 falls on a Sunday.

Reformation Day — October 31, 2026

Reformation Day is a public holiday in Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia.

All Saints’ Day — November 1, 2026

All Saints’ Day is a public holiday in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland.

Day of Repentance and Prayer — November 18, 2026

The Buess- und Bettag is a public holiday in Saxony. It is one of the most distinctive state-specific holidays in Germany.

German Public Holidays by Federal State

Every German state observes the nationwide public holidays listed above. The following additional holidays apply according to state or local rules:

• Baden-Wuerttemberg: Epiphany, Corpus Christi and All Saints’ Day.
• Bavaria: Epiphany, Corpus Christi, Assumption Day in applicable municipalities, and All Saints’ Day. Augsburg also has its own local public holiday on August 8.
• Berlin: International Women’s Day.
• Brandenburg: Reformation Day.
• Bremen: Reformation Day.
• Hamburg: Reformation Day.
• Hesse: Corpus Christi.
• Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: International Women’s Day and Reformation Day.
• Lower Saxony: Reformation Day.
• North Rhine-Westphalia: Corpus Christi and All Saints’ Day.
• Rhineland-Palatinate: Corpus Christi and All Saints’ Day.
• Saarland: Corpus Christi, Assumption Day and All Saints’ Day.
• Saxony: Reformation Day and Day of Repentance and Prayer.
• Saxony-Anhalt: Epiphany and Reformation Day.
• Schleswig-Holstein: Reformation Day.
• Thuringia: Reformation Day and World Children’s Day.

Some holidays can have additional local rules, so travelers or businesses with plans in a particular municipality should always check the local calendar.

Which 2026 Holidays Create Long Weekends?

One reason Germans pay close attention to the calendar is the possibility of a Brueckentag, or bridge day. This is a working day between a public holiday and a weekend or another day off. Taking vacation on a bridge day can turn a single public holiday into a longer break.

Ascension Day — May 14, 2026

Ascension Day falls on a Thursday in 2026. Friday, May 15, is therefore a classic bridge-day opportunity for people who can take that day off.

Ascension Day is also an important German cultural holiday, with traditions ranging from church services and family outings to the very different regional traditions associated with Vatertag and Herrentag.

Whit Monday — May 25, 2026

Whit Monday follows Pentecost Sunday and is always a Monday public holiday in Germany. Together with the weekend, it naturally creates a three-day break.

Our guide to Pentecost in Germany looks more closely at the traditions surrounding Pfingsten.

Christmas — December 25 and 26, 2026

Christmas Day falls on a Friday in 2026, while the Second Day of Christmas falls on Saturday. This creates a three-day calendar period from Friday through Sunday, although the exact practical effect depends on individual work schedules.

What Happens on a German Public Holiday?

Public holidays in Germany are generally days of rest. Many businesses and physical stores are closed, although there are exceptions for certain services and types of businesses. Public transport, restaurants, hospitals and other essential or permitted services can continue operating according to their own schedules.

This is one reason public holidays can feel quite different from an ordinary Sunday. Streets may be quieter, shopping opportunities are more limited and many people use the day for family time, recreation, religious observance or simply a break from work.

For travelers, it is worth checking opening hours before making plans, particularly on regional holidays. A holiday in one state does not automatically mean that businesses are closed throughout Germany.

Why Germany Has Different Public Holidays in Different States

Germany is a federal country, and public holidays are largely determined at the state level. Alongside the holidays shared throughout Germany, individual states have retained holidays connected with regional religious and historical traditions.

This is why the German holiday calendar can look surprisingly complicated to visitors. Two cities only a few hours apart can sometimes have different public holidays.

For example, someone in Bavaria may have a day off for a regional Catholic holiday while someone in Berlin continues with a normal working day. In Saxony, the Buess- und Bettag remains a public holiday, while it is not a general public holiday in the other states.

Public Holidays and Everyday Life in Germany

For anyone living in or traveling through Germany, the holiday calendar is useful far beyond vacation planning. It can affect store opening hours, appointments, public services, travel and deliveries.

Online shopping does not stop simply because it is a public holiday, but processing and delivery schedules can be affected when warehouses, carriers or other parts of the logistics network operate differently.

The same applies to travel. Long weekends can be popular periods for short trips, while regional holidays can create particularly busy periods in the areas where they apply.

A German Calendar With Regional Character

Germany’s public holidays tell you something about the country itself. The nationwide holidays create a shared calendar, while regional holidays reflect the country’s federal structure and its different religious and cultural traditions.

For 2026, the most useful approach is therefore not simply to memorize a list of dates. If you are planning a trip, checking opening hours or organizing a visit to a particular German city, look at the holiday calendar for the specific state as well.

That small distinction can make a surprisingly big difference when planning time in Germany.

About the Author

Thomas

Writer on German Food, Culture, Traditions & Everyday Life

Thomas writes about German food, traditional recipes, regional specialties, German customs, and the everyday products and traditions that are part of life in Germany. Through his work with GermanBuy, he has spent years researching and sharing the stories, ingredients, products, and cultural traditions behind authentic German food and everyday life. His articles combine practical information with personal knowledge of German products and German culture for readers around the world.