FRATCH Tools · Holiday Calendar
Public holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia 2026
The complete 2026 calendar of German public holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia — all 11 dates plus bridge days, long weekends and working days for your annual planning. These public holidays apply across North Rhine-Westphalia, including Cologne, Düsseldorf, Dortmund and Essen.
Select your state
- Workday
- Weekend
- Public holiday
January
- New Year's Day
February
No public holidays this month.
March
No public holidays this month.
April
- Good Friday
- Easter Monday
May
- Labour Day
- Ascension Day
- Whit Monday
June
- Corpus Christi
July
No public holidays this month.
August
No public holidays this month.
September
No public holidays this month.
October
- German Unity Day
November
- All Saints' Day
December
- Christmas Day
- St. Stephen's Day
Holiday summary
11
Total public holidays
Federal plus regional holidays observed.
8
Fall on a weekday
Paid time off for most employees.
3
Fall on a weekend
No substitute day off — labour law does not transfer holidays that land on a weekend.
4
Long weekends in 2026
Three- or four-day stretches around holidays.
253
Working days in 2026
Mon–Fri minus public holidays for the selected scope.
21.1
Avg. working days per month
Total working days divided by 12 months.
Bridge days in North Rhine-Westphalia 2026 — turn 1 day of leave into 4 days off
Every public holiday that falls on a Tuesday or Thursday opens a bridge-day window: one well-placed day of annual leave turns the holiday into a four-day long weekend. Essential for freelancers planning availability and teams scheduling around short weeks.
New Year's Day
Thursday, January 1
Take Friday, January 2 off
4 days off in a row (January 1 – January 4) for 1 day of leave
Ascension Day
Thursday, May 14
Take Friday, May 15 off
4 days off in a row (May 14 – May 17) for 1 day of leave
Corpus Christi
Thursday, June 4
Take Friday, June 5 off
4 days off in a row (June 4 – June 7) for 1 day of leave
Working days 2026 in North Rhine-Westphalia — month by month
How many billable days does each month really have? The chart shows Monday-to-Friday working days minus public holidays — the baseline for capacity planning, sprint scheduling and freelance revenue forecasts.
Dots mark months with public holidays
Q1
63 working days
1 public holiday
Q2
59 working days
6 public holidays
Q3
66 working days
0 public holidays
Q4
65 working days
4 public holidays
Every public holiday in North Rhine-Westphalia in 2026 — explained
A reference list of every public holiday observed in North Rhine-Westphalia in 2026 — date, day of the week, scope and historical background.
Regional
Thursday, June 4, 2026
Corpus Christi
Catholic feast in honour of the Eucharist, observed 60 days after Easter Sunday. Public holiday in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland.
Regional
Sunday, November 1, 2026
All Saints' Day
Catholic feast honouring all saints, known and unknown. Public holiday in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland.
Falls on a weekend — no substitute day off.
Nationwide
Thursday, January 1, 2026
New Year's Day
Federal public holiday marking the start of the new year. Businesses and public offices are closed throughout Germany.
Nationwide
Friday, April 3, 2026
Good Friday
Federal public and silent holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Restrictions on public entertainment apply across Germany.
Nationwide
Monday, April 6, 2026
Easter Monday
Federal public holiday following the Easter weekend, one of the most important dates in the Christian liturgical year.
Nationwide
Friday, May 1, 2026
Labour Day
Federal public holiday recognising workers and the achievements of the labour movement.
Nationwide
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Ascension Day
Federal public holiday observed 39 days after Easter Sunday. Also widely celebrated as Father's Day in Germany.
Nationwide
Monday, May 25, 2026
Whit Monday
Federal public holiday observed 50 days after Easter Sunday, marking Pentecost in the Christian calendar.
Nationwide
Saturday, October 3, 2026
German Unity Day
National holiday of Germany commemorating the reunification of East and West Germany on 3 October 1990.
Falls on a weekend — no substitute day off.
Nationwide
Friday, December 25, 2026
Christmas Day
Federal public holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
Nationwide
Saturday, December 26, 2026
St. Stephen's Day
Federal public holiday. Second Christmas day, also known as Boxing Day or Saint Stephen's Day.
Falls on a weekend — no substitute day off.
Which federal state has the most public holidays in 2026?
Regional holidays make the difference between 10 and 12 public holidays a year. Compare every federal state in Germany and open its 2026 calendar straight from the map.
What the 2026 holidays mean for your business
Public holidays shape billable days, team capacity and hiring timelines. Three takeaways for North Rhine-Westphalia in 2026.
For freelancers
Your billable baseline
2026 offers 253 working days in North Rhine-Westphalia. Subtract 30 days of leave and roughly 223 potential billable days remain — the number your day rate and utilisation plans should build on.
Browse open projectsFor hiring managers
Capacity has a low season
May has just 18 working days — the leanest month of 2026. Plan sprints, releases and go-lives around holiday clusters, and bridge capacity gaps with external experts before they hit delivery.
How companies hire on FRATCHFor recruiters & HR
Holidays move start dates
Most 2026 holidays cluster in Q2. Factor regional holidays into notice periods, onboarding dates and payroll runs — the rules differ by region, and weekend holidays are not carried over.
FRATCH for recruitersPublic holidays 2026 — FAQ
Quick answers on long weekends, regional rules, paid time off and what freelancers and interim managers should know.
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