Germany Public Holidays 2026: Federal vs Regional
Germany's public holidays come in two layers, and the second one catches visitors by surprise. Nine dates apply everywhere in the country, from Hamburg to Munich. Then the states start adding their own: Bavaria stacks four extra days on top, while a Berliner gets exactly the national nine. This guide breaks the 2026 calendar into the federal layer and the regional layer, with exact dates so you can plan around both.
The 9 nationwide holidays everyone gets
These are observed in all 16 states (Bundesländer), no exceptions:
- New Year's Day — Jan 1 (Thursday)
- Good Friday — Apr 3
- Easter Monday — Apr 6
- Labour Day — May 1 (Friday)
- Ascension Day — May 14 (Thursday)
- Whit Monday — May 25
- German Unity Day — Oct 3 (Saturday)
- Christmas Day — Dec 25 (Friday)
- Boxing Day — Dec 26 (Saturday)
2026 is a good year for bridge days here. Labour Day lands on Friday May 1, so take Thursday Apr 30 off and you get a four-day run. Ascension Day on Thursday May 14 turns into a long weekend with a single Friday off. German Unity Day falls on Saturday, which means most workers do not get a substitute Monday — book accordingly.
The regional layer: who adds what
Each state legislates its own holidays on top of the federal nine. The table below shows the extras and where they apply in 2026:
| Holiday | 2026 date | Observed in |
|---|---|---|
| Epiphany (Heilige Drei Könige) | Jan 6 (Tuesday) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Saxony-Anhalt |
| Corpus Christi (Fronleichnam) | Jun 4 (Thursday) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland |
| Assumption Day (Mariä Himmelfahrt) | Aug 15 (Saturday) | Bavaria (parts), Saarland |
| World Children's Day | Sep 20 (Sunday) | Thuringia |
| Reformation Day | Oct 31 (Saturday) | Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia |
| All Saints' Day (Allerheiligen) | Nov 1 (Sunday) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland |
| Repentance and Prayer Day (Buß- und Bettag) | Nov 18 (Wednesday) | Saxony only |
The Catholic south is where the holiday count climbs. Bavaria is the champion with 13 total; the Protestant north runs leaner, and the city-states (Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen) stick close to the national nine.
How germany holidays 2026 differ from the stereotype
A few things people get wrong about the German calendar. First, there is no substitute-day system: a holiday on Saturday (like German Unity Day in 2026) is simply lost for most office workers, so check the weekday before booking travel. Second, the deutsche feiertage list is not national-only; the phrase itself usually refers to the federal layer, but state holidays are where the real planning value hides. Third, bridges are a genuine cultural practice here — Germans call it Brückentag — and 2026 offers two clean ones on the federal layer alone.
Plan around german holidays by state
If your team spans Munich and Berlin, you are managing two different holiday calendars. Bavaria gets Epiphany, Corpus Christi, and All Saints' Day; Berlin gets none of those but still gets German Unity Day. The practical approach: keep one calendar per state, mark the federal nine everywhere, then layer the regional extras. For travel, the June cluster is the quiet winner — Corpus Christi on Thursday Jun 4 in the south turns into a four-day weekend with a single Friday off.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 9 German public holidays in 2026? New Year's Day (Jan 1), Good Friday (Apr 3), Easter Monday (Apr 6), Labour Day (May 1), Ascension Day (May 14), Whit Monday (May 25), German Unity Day (Oct 3), Christmas Day (Dec 25), and Boxing Day (Dec 26).
Which German state has the most holidays? Bavaria, with 13 in 2026 — the federal nine plus Epiphany, Corpus Christi, Assumption Day, and All Saints' Day. Saxony also hits 12 by adding the Repentance and Prayer Day.
Is May 1 a public holiday in Germany? Yes, Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit) is one of the nine nationwide holidays, and in 2026 it conveniently falls on a Friday.
Do German businesses close on all state holidays? Mostly yes, but it varies by state and sector. Shops in Bavaria close on Epiphany; in Berlin they stay open. When in doubt, check the regional calendar.
See the full Germany public holidays 2026 calendar on PubHoliday, or browse the homepage to sync any country's holidays to your calendar.
Verwandte Länder
Häufig gestellte Fragen
How many public holidays does Germany have in 2026?
9 nationwide (New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, German Unity Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day). Bavaria has 13 total, the most of any state, adding Epiphany, Corpus Christi, Assumption Day, and All Saints' Day.
Why do German states have different holidays?
Germany's Basic Law leaves holiday legislation to the states (Länder). The 9 federal holidays are set by nationwide agreement, but each state decides its own additional days, which is why Bavaria gets Epiphany and Corpus Christi while Berlin gets neither.
Is German Unity Day a public holiday everywhere?
Yes. October 3 is the only holiday all 16 states share in addition to the standard federal list. It marks the 1990 reunification and is a nationwide day off.
Does Germany have a substitute day when a holiday falls on Sunday?
Generally no. Unlike Japan or the UK, Germany does not routinely grant make-up days for holidays landing on weekends. Plan around the calendar date itself.