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Public Holidays in Germany: National and State-Specific Holidays in 2026/2027

Germany observes a range of public holidays, some celebrated nationwide and others specific to individual states. These holidays reflect Germany's rich history and traditions, offering residents time to rest and celebrate. For employers, knowing the exact dates is vital for planning schedules and managing staff leave.

Nationwide Public Holidays in Germany (2026)

The following public holidays are observed across all federal states in Germany:

  • New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
  • Good Friday: Friday, April 3
  • Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
  • Labour Day: Friday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 14
  • Whit Monday (Pentecost Monday): Monday, May 25
  • Day of German Unity: Saturday, October 3
  • Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
  • Boxing Day (Second Day of Christmas): Saturday, December 26

Nationwide Public Holidays in Germany (2027)

The following public holidays are observed across all federal states in Germany:

  • New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1
  • Good Friday: Friday, March 26
  • Easter Monday: Monday, March 29
  • Labour Day: Saturday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 6
  • Whit Monday (Pentecost Monday): Monday, May 17
  • Day of German Unity: Sunday, October 3
  • Christmas Day: Saturday, December 25
  • Boxing Day (Second Day of Christmas): Sunday, December 26

State-Specific Public Holidays in Germany

Baden-Württemberg Public Holidays 2026

  • New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
  • Epiphany: Tuesday, January 6
  • Good Friday: Friday, April 3
  • Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
  • Labour Day: Friday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 14
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
  • Corpus Christi: Thursday, June 4
  • Day of German Unity: Saturday, October 3
  • All Saints’ Day: Sunday, November 1
  • Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Saturday, December 26

Baden-Württemberg Public Holidays 2027

  • New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1
  • Epiphany: Wednesday, January 6
  • Good Friday: Friday, March 26
  • Easter Monday: Monday, March 29
  • Labour Day: Saturday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 6
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 17
  • Corpus Christi: Thursday, May 27
  • Day of German Unity: Sunday, October 3
  • All Saints’ Day: Monday, November 1
  • Christmas Day: Saturday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Sunday, December 26

baden-wuerttemberg.de

Bavaria Public Holidays 2026

  • New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
  • Epiphany: Tuesday, January 6
  • Good Friday: Friday, April 3
  • Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
  • Labour Day: Friday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 14
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
  • Corpus Christi: Thursday, June 4
  • Assumption Day: Saturday, August 15
  • Day of German Unity: Saturday, October 3
  • All Saints’ Day: Sunday, November 1
  • Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Saturday, December 26

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Bavaria Public Holidays 2027

  • New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1
  • Epiphany: Wednesday, January 6
  • Good Friday: Friday, March 26
  • Easter Monday: Monday, March 29
  • Labour Day: Saturday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 6
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 17
  • Corpus Christi: Thursday, May 27
  • Assumption Day: Sunday, August 15
  • Day of German Unity: Sunday, October 3
  • All Saints’ Day: Monday, November 1
  • Christmas Day: Saturday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Sunday, December 26

gesetze-bayern.de

Berlin Public Holidays 2026

  • New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
  • International Women’s Day: Sunday, March 8
  • Good Friday: Friday, April 3
  • Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
  • Labour Day: Friday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 14
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
  • Day of German Unity: Saturday, October 3
  • Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Saturday, December 26

Berlin Public Holidays 2027

  • New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1
  • International Women’s Day: Monday, March 8
  • Good Friday: Friday, March 26
  • Easter Monday: Monday, March 29
  • Labour Day: Saturday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 6
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 17
  • Day of German Unity: Sunday, October 3
  • Christmas Day: Saturday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Sunday, December 26

Brandenburg Public Holidays 2026

  • New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
  • Good Friday: Friday, April 3
  • Easter Sunday: Sunday, April 5
  • Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
  • Labour Day: Friday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 14
  • Whit Sunday: Sunday, May 24
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
  • Day of German Unity: Saturday, October 3
  • Reformation Day: Saturday, October 31
  • Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Saturday, December 26

Brandenburg Public Holidays 2027

  • New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1
  • Good Friday: Friday, March 26
  • Easter Sunday: Sunday, March 28
  • Easter Monday: Monday, March 29
  • Labour Day: Saturday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 6
  • Whit Sunday: Sunday, May 16
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 17
  • Day of German Unity: Sunday, October 3
  • Reformation Day: Sunday, October 31
  • Christmas Day: Saturday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Sunday, December 26

brandenburg.de

Bremen Public Holidays 2026

  • New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
  • Good Friday: Friday, April 3
  • Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
  • Labour Day: Friday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 14
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
  • Day of German Unity: Saturday, October 3
  • Reformation Day: Saturday, October 31
  • Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Saturday, December 26

Bremen Public Holidays 2027

  • New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1
  • Good Friday: Friday, March 26
  • Easter Monday: Monday, March 29
  • Labour Day: Saturday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 6
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 17
  • Day of German Unity: Sunday, October 3
  • Reformation Day: Sunday, October 31
  • Christmas Day: Saturday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Sunday, December 26

bremen.de

Hamburg Public Holidays 2026

  • New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
  • Good Friday: Friday, April 3
  • Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
  • Labour Day: Friday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 14
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
  • Day of German Unity: Saturday, October 3
  • Reformation Day: Saturday, October 31
  • Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Saturday, December 26

Hamburg Public Holidays 2027

  • New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1
  • Good Friday: Friday, March 26
  • Easter Monday: Monday, March 29
  • Labour Day: Saturday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 6
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 17
  • Day of German Unity: Sunday, October 3
  • Reformation Day: Sunday, October 31
  • Christmas Day: Saturday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Sunday, December 26

landesrecht-hamburg.de

Hesse Public Holidays 2026

  • New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
  • Good Friday: Friday, April 3
  • Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
  • Labour Day: Friday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 14
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
  • Corpus Christi: Thursday, June 4
  • Day of German Unity: Saturday, October 3
  • Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Saturday, December 26

Hesse Public Holidays 2027

  • New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1
  • Good Friday: Friday, March 26
  • Easter Monday: Monday, March 29
  • Labour Day: Saturday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 6
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 17
  • Corpus Christi: Thursday, May 27
  • Day of German Unity: Sunday, October 3
  • Christmas Day: Saturday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Sunday, December 26

Lower Saxony Public Holidays 2026

  • New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
  • Good Friday: Friday, April 3
  • Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
  • Labour Day: Friday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 14
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
  • Day of German Unity: Saturday, October 3
  • Reformation Day: Saturday, October 31
  • Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Saturday, December 26

Lower Saxony Public Holidays 2027

  • New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1
  • Good Friday: Friday, March 26
  • Easter Monday: Monday, March 29
  • Labour Day: Saturday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 6
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 17
  • Day of German Unity: Sunday, October 3
  • Reformation Day: Sunday, October 31
  • Christmas Day: Saturday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Sunday, December 26

niedersachsen.de

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Public Holidays 2026

  • New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
  • International Women’s Day: Sunday, March 8
  • Good Friday: Friday, April 3
  • Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
  • Labour Day: Friday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 14
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
  • Day of German Unity: Saturday, October 3
  • Reformation Day: Saturday, October 31
  • Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Saturday, December 26

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Public Holidays 2027

  • New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1
  • International Women’s Day: Monday, March 8
  • Good Friday: Friday, March 26
  • Easter Monday: Monday, March 29
  • Labour Day: Saturday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 6
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 17
  • Day of German Unity: Sunday, October 3
  • Reformation Day: Sunday, October 31
  • Christmas Day: Saturday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Sunday, December 26

landesrecht-mv.de

North Rhine-Westphalia Public Holidays 2026

  • New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
  • Good Friday: Friday, April 3
  • Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
  • Labour Day: Friday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 14
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
  • Corpus Christi: Thursday, June 4
  • Day of German Unity: Saturday, October 3
  • All Saints’ Day: Sunday, November 1
  • Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Saturday, December 26

North Rhine-Westphalia Public Holidays 2027

  • New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1
  • Good Friday: Friday, March 26
  • Easter Monday: Monday, March 29
  • Labour Day: Saturday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 6
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 17
  • Corpus Christi: Thursday, May 27
  • Day of German Unity: Sunday, October 3
  • All Saints’ Day: Monday, November 1
  • Christmas Day: Saturday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Sunday, December 26

nrw.de

Rhineland-Palatinate Public Holidays 2026

  • New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
  • Good Friday: Friday, April 3
  • Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
  • Labour Day: Friday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 14
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
  • Corpus Christi: Thursday, June 4
  • Day of German Unity: Saturday, October 3
  • All Saints’ Day: Sunday, November 1
  • Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Saturday, December 26

Rhineland-Palatinate Public Holidays 2027

  • New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1
  • Good Friday: Friday, March 26
  • Easter Monday: Monday, March 29
  • Labour Day: Saturday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 6
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 17
  • Corpus Christi: Thursday, May 27
  • Day of German Unity: Sunday, October 3
  • All Saints’ Day: Monday, November 1
  • Christmas Day: Saturday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Sunday, December 26

rlp.de

Saarland Public Holidays 2026

  • New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
  • Good Friday: Friday, April 3
  • Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
  • Labour Day: Friday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 14
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
  • Corpus Christi: Thursday, June 4
  • Assumption Day: Saturday, August 15
  • Day of German Unity: Saturday, October 3
  • All Saints’ Day: Sunday, November 1
  • Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Saturday, December 26

Saarland Public Holidays 2027

  • New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1
  • Good Friday: Friday, March 26
  • Easter Monday: Monday, March 29
  • Labour Day: Saturday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 6
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 17
  • Corpus Christi: Thursday, May 27
  • Assumption Day: Sunday, August 15
  • Day of German Unity: Sunday, October 3
  • All Saints’ Day: Monday, November 1
  • Christmas Day: Saturday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Sunday, December 26

saarland.de

Saxony Public Holidays 2026

  • New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
  • Good Friday: Friday, April 3
  • Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
  • Labour Day: Friday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 14
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
  • Corpus Christi: Thursday, June 4
  • Day of German Unity: Saturday, October 3
  • Reformation Day: Saturday, October 31
  • Repentance Day: Wednesday, November 18
  • Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Saturday, December 26

Saxony Public Holidays 2027

  • New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1
  • Good Friday: Friday, March 26
  • Easter Monday: Monday, March 29
  • Labour Day: Saturday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 6
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 17
  • Corpus Christi: Thursday, May 27
  • Day of German Unity: Sunday, October 3
  • Reformation Day: Sunday, October 31
  • Repentance Day: Wednesday, November 17
  • Christmas Day: Saturday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Sunday, December 26

sachsen.de

Saxony-Anhalt Public Holidays 2026

  • New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
  • Epiphany: Tuesday, January 6
  • Good Friday: Friday, April 3
  • Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
  • Labour Day: Friday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 14
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
  • Day of German Unity: Saturday, October 3
  • Reformation Day: Saturday, October 31
  • Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Saturday, December 26

Saxony-Anhalt Public Holidays 2027

  • New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1
  • Epiphany: Wednesday, January 6
  • Good Friday: Friday, March 26
  • Easter Monday: Monday, March 29
  • Labour Day: Saturday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 6
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 17
  • Day of German Unity: Sunday, October 3
  • Reformation Day: Sunday, October 31
  • Christmas Day: Saturday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Sunday, December 26

sachsen-anhalt.de

Schleswig-Holstein Public Holidays 2026

  • New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
  • Good Friday: Friday, April 3
  • Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
  • Labour Day: Friday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 14
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
  • Day of German Unity: Saturday, October 3
  • Reformation Day: Saturday, October 31
  • Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Saturday, December 26

Schleswig-Holstein Public Holidays 2027

  • New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1
  • Good Friday: Friday, March 26
  • Easter Monday: Monday, March 29
  • Labour Day: Saturday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 6
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 17
  • Day of German Unity: Sunday, October 3
  • Reformation Day: Sunday, October 31
  • Christmas Day: Saturday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Sunday, December 26

Thuringia Public Holidays 2026

  • New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
  • Good Friday: Friday, April 3
  • Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
  • Labour Day: Friday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 14
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
  • Corpus Christi: Thursday, June 4
  • Children’s Day: Sunday, September 20
  • Day of German Unity: Saturday, October 3
  • Reformation Day: Saturday, October 31
  • Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Saturday, December 26

Thuringia Public Holidays 2027

  • New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1
  • Good Friday: Friday, March 26
  • Easter Monday: Monday, March 29
  • Labour Day: Saturday, May 1
  • Ascension Day: Thursday, May 6
  • Whit Monday: Monday, May 17
  • Corpus Christi: Thursday, May 27
  • Children’s Day: Monday, September 20
  • Day of German Unity: Sunday, October 3
  • Reformation Day: Sunday, October 31
  • Christmas Day: Saturday, December 25
  • 2nd Day of Christmas: Sunday, December 26

thueringen.de

Notable Nationwide Observance: Day of German Unity

The Day of German Unity on October 3 commemorates the unification of East and West Germany in 1990. Before 1990, June 17 was celebrated as the Day of German Unity, marking the 1953 uprising in East Germany.

Understanding Public Holidays in Germany

Public holidays in Germany provide an opportunity for cultural celebration and rest. While the federal government establishes some holidays, most are determined by individual states, creating variations in observance.

Key Points for Businesses

Employers should be mindful of state-specific holidays, especially for businesses operating in multiple regions. Recognizing these holidays is not only a legal obligation but also a sign of respect for cultural and regional traditions.

Kate Vodopian