2026 Germany Holidays Calendar – Key Dates & Printable Overview
Germany’s public holidays in 2026 blend Christian traditions, labor rights, and national unity celebrations, creating multiple long weekends ideal for travel and family time. With 10 national holidays and numerous regional observances across the 16 federal states, planning requires awareness of state-specific variations. This comprehensive guide details all key dates, regional differences, and printable resources for effective 2026 holiday scheduling.
National Holidays in Germany 2026
Germany observes 10 national public holidays in 2026, with additional regional variations by federal state. These dates account for Christian, secular, and historical observances, creating multiple long weekends. Key national holidays include New Year’s Day on January 1 (Thursday), Good Friday on April 3 (Friday), and Christmas on December 25 (Friday).
| Date | Day | Holiday | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Thursday | New Year’s Day (Neujahr) | Marks the start of the year; nationwide closure with celebrations. |
| April 3 | Friday | Good Friday (Karfreitag) | Christian observance of Jesus’ crucifixion; national holiday. |
| April 6 | Monday | Easter Monday (Ostermontag) | Extends Easter celebrations; family gatherings common. |
| May 1 | Friday | Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit) | Honors workers; often includes protests and spring festivities. |
| May 14 | Thursday | Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt) | Commemorates Jesus’ ascension; bridges to Whit Monday for a long weekend. |
| May 25 | Monday | Whit Monday (Pfingstmontag) | Follows Pentecost; emphasizes Holy Spirit in Christian tradition. |
| October 3 | Saturday | Day of German Unity (Tag der Deutschen Einheit) | Celebrates 1990 reunification; no extra day off due to weekend. |
| December 25 | Friday | Christmas Day (Weihnachtsfeiertag) | Primary Christmas celebration with family dinners. |
| December 26 | Saturday | Boxing Day (Zweiter Weihnachtsfeiertag) | Second Christmas day; gift-giving and relaxation. |
Regional Holidays in Germany 2026
Germany’s 16 federal states observe unique holidays based on local history and religion, leading to many total observances nationwide. For example, Epiphany is observed only in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Saxony-Anhalt, while Corpus Christi applies to seven states. Plan travel considering state-specific closures.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Applicable States | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 6 | Tuesday | Epiphany (Heilige Drei Könige) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Saxony-Anhalt | Commemorates Three Wise Men; processions in southern states. |
| June 4 | Thursday | Corpus Christi (Fronleichnam) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony | Catholic procession honoring Eucharist; regional school holidays. |
| August 15 | Saturday | Assumption Day (Mariä Himmelfahrt) | Bavaria, Saarland | Catholic feast of Mary’s ascension; no extra day off. |
| October 31 | Saturday | Reformation Day (Reformationstag) | Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia | Honors Martin Luther; Protestant heritage in eastern and northern states. |
| November 1 | Sunday | All Saints’ Day (Allerheiligen) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland | Catholic remembrance of saints; cemetery visits. |
| November 18 | Wednesday | Day of Repentance and Prayer (Buß- und Bettag) | Saxony | Protestant day of reflection; observed only in Saxony. |
Long Weekends and Observances in 2026
Several holidays create extended breaks, ideal for travel. Easter (April 5) spans from Good Friday to Easter Monday, making a four-day weekend. Ascension Day to Whit Monday provides another extended break. Non-statutory observances like Mother’s Day (May 10, Sunday) and Halloween (October 31, Saturday) add cultural flavor without closures.
- Easter Break (April 3-6): Four days; national.
- Labor Day (May 1): Friday off; potential three-day weekend.
- Pentecost Break (May 14-25): Thursday to Monday; six days with weekend.
- Christmas (December 25-26): Friday-Saturday; extends to year-end.
Printable Calendar Overview for 2026
For planning, download free templates from sites like TimeandDate.com or CalendarLabs.com, which include German holidays in PDF or Excel formats. These often feature monthly grids with marked holidays, suitable for A4 printing. Customize by adding regional dates using tools like Google Calendar export.
To create a simple printable overview in Excel:
- List months in column A (January-December).
- Add holiday dates in column B using formulas like
=DATE(2026,1,1)for New Year’s. - Format as a table for printing.
Sample monthly layout for January 2026:
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
Planning Tips for 2026 Holidays
Regional differences mean businesses in Bavaria close more often than in Berlin. Check state-specific calendars for school holidays, which vary (e.g., summer break July-August). Use apps like Time Off Management for alerts on long weekends. For international visitors, note that Sundays and holidays typically mean shop closures.
