Q: How many public holidays are there in Germany in 2026?

Germany observes 9 nationwide public holidays in 2026: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, German Unity Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day (St. Stephen's Day). Each federal state adds 1 to 3 regional holidays on top — bringing the total to 10–13 paid days off depending on where you work (up to 14 in the City of Augsburg).

Q: Which German state has the most public holidays in 2026?

Bavaria (Bayern) leads with 12 statewide public holidays in 2026 — Mariä Himmelfahrt on 15 August adds a 13th in predominantly Catholic municipalities, and the City of Augsburg adds its own Augsburger Hohes Friedensfest on 8 August (14 in total). Baden-Württemberg and Saarland also reach 12 public holidays each. North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Thuringia each observe 11.

Q: When is Easter in Germany in 2026?

Easter Sunday 2026 falls on 5 April . Good Friday is 3 April and Easter Monday is 6 April — both are nationwide public holidays. The Easter weekend creates a four-day break for most employees in Germany.

Q: Are German public holidays paid?

Yes. Under the German Entgeltfortzahlungsgesetz (EFZG) , employees are entitled to receive their regular pay on public holidays that fall on a workday. Freelancers and self-employed professionals do not receive holiday pay, but most clients factor public holidays into project planning.

Q: What is a "stiller Feiertag" (silent holiday) in Germany?

"Silent holidays" ( stille Feiertage ) are days on which state laws restrict public entertainment — typically a ban on dancing, loud music and similar events. Good Friday (Karfreitag) is a silent holiday in every German state. Depending on the state, further silent days include All Souls' Day (Allerseelen), Day of Repentance and Prayer (Buß- und Bettag), Volkstrauertag and Totensonntag.

Q: Do shops open on public holidays in Germany?

Generally no. The Ladenschlussgesetz requires most retail shops to close on Sundays and public holidays. Exceptions include shops at airports, train stations, petrol stations, bakeries (limited hours) and pharmacies on duty. Tourist regions can issue specific exemptions.

Q: Is German Unity Day a public holiday everywhere in Germany?

Yes. German Unity Day on 3 October is Germany's national holiday and applies in all 16 federal states. It commemorates the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990. In 2026 it falls on a Saturday, so there is no additional day off in lieu — German labour law does not transfer holidays that land on a weekend.

Question 1

How many public holidays are there in Germany in 2026?

Accepted Answer

Germany observes 9 nationwide public holidays in 2026: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, German Unity Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day (St. Stephen's Day). Each federal state adds 1 to 3 regional holidays on top — bringing the total to 10–13 paid days off depending on where you work (up to 14 in the City of Augsburg).

Question 2

Which German state has the most public holidays in 2026?

Accepted Answer

Bavaria (Bayern) leads with 12 statewide public holidays in 2026 — Mariä Himmelfahrt on 15 August adds a 13th in predominantly Catholic municipalities, and the City of Augsburg adds its own Augsburger Hohes Friedensfest on 8 August (14 in total). Baden-Württemberg and Saarland also reach 12 public holidays each. North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Thuringia each observe 11.

Question 3

Which German state has the fewest public holidays in 2026?

Accepted Answer

Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein observe 10 public holidays in 2026 — the 9 federal holidays plus one regional addition. Hesse adds Corpus Christi (Fronleichnam), while the other five add Reformation Day on 31 October — a permanent fixture in Brandenburg since 1990 and in the four northern states since 2018.

Question 4

When is Easter in Germany in 2026?

Accepted Answer

Easter Sunday 2026 falls on 5 April. Good Friday is 3 April and Easter Monday is 6 April — both are nationwide public holidays. The Easter weekend creates a four-day break for most employees in Germany.

Question 5

How many long weekends does Germany have in 2026?

Accepted Answer

2026 is a strong year for long weekends in Germany. Easter (3–6 April) gives a four-day break, Labour Day on Friday 1 May and Whit Monday on Monday 25 May add three-day weekends, and Ascension Day on Thursday 14 May creates a four-day stretch with a bridge day on Friday. In the six Corpus Christi states (BW, BY, HE, NW, RP, SL), Thursday 4 June offers the same bridge-day bonus. Christmas Day on Friday 25 December closes the year with another extended weekend together with Boxing Day.

Question 6

Are German public holidays paid?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Under the German Entgeltfortzahlungsgesetz (EFZG), employees are entitled to receive their regular pay on public holidays that fall on a workday. Freelancers and self-employed professionals do not receive holiday pay, but most clients factor public holidays into project planning.

Question 7

What is a "stiller Feiertag" (silent holiday) in Germany?

Accepted Answer

"Silent holidays" (stille Feiertage) are days on which state laws restrict public entertainment — typically a ban on dancing, loud music and similar events. Good Friday (Karfreitag) is a silent holiday in every German state. Depending on the state, further silent days include All Souls' Day (Allerseelen), Day of Repentance and Prayer (Buß- und Bettag), Volkstrauertag and Totensonntag.

Question 8

Do shops open on public holidays in Germany?

Accepted Answer

Generally no. The Ladenschlussgesetz requires most retail shops to close on Sundays and public holidays. Exceptions include shops at airports, train stations, petrol stations, bakeries (limited hours) and pharmacies on duty. Tourist regions can issue specific exemptions.

Question 9

Is German Unity Day a public holiday everywhere in Germany?

Accepted Answer

Yes. German Unity Day on 3 October is Germany's national holiday and applies in all 16 federal states. It commemorates the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990. In 2026 it falls on a Saturday, so there is no additional day off in lieu — German labour law does not transfer holidays that land on a weekend.

Question 10

Do public holidays that fall on a Sunday get an extra day off?

Accepted Answer

No. German labour law does not provide a substitute day off when a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday. In 2026 this affects International Women's Day (Sun 8 March), Assumption Day (Sat 15 August), World Children's Day (Sun 20 September), German Unity Day (Sat 3 October), Reformation Day (Sat 31 October), All Saints' Day (Sun 1 November) and Boxing Day (Sat 26 December).

Question 11

When is Corpus Christi (Fronleichnam) in 2026 and where is it observed?

Accepted Answer

Corpus Christi 2026 falls on Thursday, 4 June. It is a public holiday in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, as well as in predominantly Catholic municipalities of Saxony and Thuringia.

Question 12

What about freelancers and interim managers — do they take holidays off?

Accepted Answer

Freelancers and interim managers are not legally entitled to paid public holidays in Germany — but most factor them into project planning and day rates. On FRATCH, you can browse availability calendars before requesting a freelancer to plan around bridge days, Easter, Ascension and the Christmas break.

Public holidays in Germany 2026

Holiday summary

Every German public holiday in 2026 — explained

New Year's Day

Epiphany

International Women's Day

Good Friday

Easter Monday

Labour Day

Ascension Day

Whit Monday

Corpus Christi

Assumption Day

World Children's Day

German Unity Day

Reformation Day

All Saints' Day

Day of Repentance and Prayer

Christmas Day

St. Stephen's Day

How many public holidays are there in Germany in 2026?

Which German state has the most public holidays in 2026?

Which German state has the fewest public holidays in 2026?

When is Easter in Germany in 2026?

How many long weekends does Germany have in 2026?

Are German public holidays paid?

What is a "stiller Feiertag" (silent holiday) in Germany?

Do shops open on public holidays in Germany?

Is German Unity Day a public holiday everywhere in Germany?

Do public holidays that fall on a Sunday get an extra day off?

When is Corpus Christi (Fronleichnam) in 2026 and where is it observed?

What about freelancers and interim managers — do they take holidays off?

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