German Resistance Memorial Day is observed on July 20th, marking the anniversary of the failed 1944 assassination attempt against Adolf Hitler led by Claus von Stauffenberg and other German military officers. Commemorative ceremonies are held annually at the Bendlerblock memorial in Berlin, where the plot's leaders were executed, often attended by senior government and military officials. It is not a public holiday, but it carries significant weight in Germany's culture of historical remembrance.
Public Holidays & State Holidays in Germany 2026
View the official 2026 public holiday calendar for Germany. Plan your year with our guide to national holidays, state-specific bank holidays, and important German observances.
Last verified: June 2026
Public Holidays & Observances List
Augsburg Peace Festival, or Augsburger Hohes Friedensfest, is a public holiday observed on August 8th exclusively within the city of Augsburg in Bavaria, commemorating the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, which ended religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants in the region. It is the only municipal-level public holiday in Germany, unique to a single city rather than an entire federal state. Local churches and civic institutions hold ecumenical services marking the historic reconciliation.
- Observed as a public holiday exclusively within the city of Augsburg, unique among German public holidays
- Attending ecumenical church services marking the historic 1648 Peace of Westphalia
Assumption Day, or Mariä Himmelfahrt, is a public holiday observed on August 15th in parts of Bavaria and Saarland with significant Catholic populations, marking the Catholic belief in the bodily assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven. Processions and the blessing of herbs are traditional features of the day in many Bavarian communities. It is not observed nationwide and does not apply in Germany's Protestant-majority states.
- Observed as a public holiday in parts of Bavaria and Saarland with significant Catholic populations
- Attending the traditional blessing of herbs and flowers, a custom associated with the day in Bavarian communities
World Children's Day, or Weltkindertag, is observed on September 20th and is a public holiday exclusively in the federal state of Thuringia, which adopted it as a statutory holiday in 2019. Elsewhere in Germany, the day is marked informally with events and campaigns focused on children's rights and welfare but remains a normal working day. Thuringia is the only state to grant the day full public holiday status.
- Observed as a public holiday exclusively in the federal state of Thuringia
- Attending children's rights awareness events and family-oriented activities held in towns across the country
German Unity Day, or Tag der Deutschen Einheit, is a nationwide public holiday observed on October 3rd, marking the official reunification of East and West Germany in 1990. It is Germany's national day and the only nationwide public holiday explicitly tied to a modern political event rather than a religious occasion. Berlin and other major cities host large public festivals, concerts, and citizens' celebrations (Bürgerfest) around this date each year.
- Attending the Bürgerfest, a large public citizens' festival held in the city hosting the official national celebrations
- Watching official reunification ceremonies, which rotate annually between different German cities
Reformation Day, or Reformationstag, is a public holiday observed on October 31st, commemorating Martin Luther's posting of the Ninety-Five Theses in Wittenberg in 1517, the event traditionally seen as sparking the Protestant Reformation. It is observed nationwide as of 2018 in several additional states, though it remains most deeply rooted in Germany's historically Protestant regions, including Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg. Special church services are held in Protestant communities across the country.
- Observed as a public holiday in Germany's Protestant-majority eastern and northern states
- Attending special church services commemorating Martin Luther and the Reformation
Halloween is observed on October 31st in Germany, coinciding with Reformation Day in several states, and has grown in popularity over recent decades despite having no traditional roots in German culture. Costume parties and trick-or-treating among children have become increasingly common, particularly in larger cities. It is not a public holiday, and in the eastern and northern states where Reformation Day is observed, the two occasions exist somewhat awkwardly side by side.
All Saints' Day, or Allerheiligen, is a public holiday observed on November 1st in Germany's predominantly Catholic southern and western states, including Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland, honouring all saints and, in German tradition, deceased loved ones. Families visit cemeteries to clean graves and light candles in remembrance. It is not observed in Germany's Protestant-majority states.
- Observed as a public holiday in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland
- Visiting cemeteries to clean family graves and light remembrance candles
Fall of Berlin Wall Remembrance is observed on November 9th, marking the anniversary of the night in 1989 when the Berlin Wall was opened, a pivotal moment that preceded German reunification the following year. Berlin holds commemorative events, including light installations and ceremonies at remaining sections of the wall, particularly in significant anniversary years. It is not a public holiday, but it carries deep historical and emotional resonance across Germany.
St. Martin's Day, or Sankt Martin, is observed on November 11th across much of Germany, particularly in Catholic regions, commemorating the life of St. Martin of Tours. Children carry handmade paper lanterns in evening processions known as Martinsumzüge, often accompanied by a man on horseback dressed as St. Martin, singing traditional Martinslieder along the way. It is not a public holiday but remains a deeply cherished tradition, especially for families with young children.
Day of Repentance and Prayer, or Buß- und Bettag, is a public holiday observed on the Wednesday before the last Sunday of the church year, but only in the federal state of Saxony, where it remains a statutory holiday. It was previously observed nationwide before being abolished in most states in 1995 to help fund long-term care insurance. Protestant churches in Saxony hold special services of reflection and prayer on this day.
- Observed as a public holiday exclusively in the federal state of Saxony
- Attending Protestant church services centred on themes of reflection, repentance, and prayer
St. Nicholas Day, or Nikolaustag, is observed on December 6th across Germany, when children traditionally leave a boot or shoe outside their door on the night of December 5th in hopes that St. Nicholas will fill it with sweets, nuts, and small gifts overnight. In some regions, St. Nicholas is accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht, a stern companion figure who reminds children to behave well throughout the year. It is not a public holiday but is a beloved tradition observed nationwide.
Christmas Eve, or Heiligabend, falls on December 24th and is considered the most important part of the German Christmas season, with the main family gift exchange and festive meal taking place on this evening rather than on Christmas morning. Many families attend a Christmas Eve church service before gathering for dinner and the lighting of the Christmas tree. It is not a full statutory public holiday, though most businesses close by early afternoon.
Christmas Day, or Erster Weihnachtstag, is a nationwide public holiday observed on December 25th, marking the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Since gift-giving typically takes place the evening before on Heiligabend, Christmas Day itself is usually spent quietly with family over a more elaborate lunch, often featuring goose, duck, or carp depending on regional tradition. Shops, banks, and most businesses are closed nationwide.
- Sharing a traditional Christmas lunch, commonly featuring roast goose, duck, or carp depending on the region
- Attending a Christmas Day church service, in addition to the more widely attended service held the evening before
Second Christmas Day / St. Stephen's Day, or Zweiter Weihnachtstag, is a nationwide public holiday observed on December 26th, extending the German Christmas celebrations into a second full day off. Many families use the day to visit relatives they were unable to see on Christmas Day itself, continuing festive meals and gatherings. Shops, banks, and most businesses remain closed nationwide.
- Visiting additional family members and relatives not seen on Christmas Day itself
- Continuing festive meals and enjoying leftovers from the previous day's feast
New Year's Eve, or Silvester, falls on December 31st and is celebrated across Germany with large private and public firework displays, parties, and the watching of "Dinner for One," a British comedy sketch that has become an unlikely and beloved New Year's television tradition in Germany. Berlin's Brandenburg Gate hosts one of the largest public New Year's celebrations in the country. It is not a public holiday, though many businesses close early in the afternoon ahead of the evening's festivities. ---
Complete Germany National and State Public Holiday Calendar for 2026
Germany's public holiday calendar is shaped by its federal structure, with each of the sixteen Bundesländer setting its own list of statutory holidays on top of a smaller set of nationwide dates. For businesses, schools, and families planning around 2026, understanding which holidays apply nationally and which are limited to specific states is essential, since the difference can directly affect whether offices, schools, and shops are open on a given day. This guide covers every national and major state-specific holiday in Germany for 2026, along with the cultural and historical context behind each one.
National vs. State Public Holidays in Germany
Germany has nine public holidays that apply nationwide across all sixteen federal states: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, German Unity Day, Christmas Day, and Second Christmas Day. Every other public holiday on the German calendar is determined at the state level, which produces significant regional variation, particularly between Germany's Catholic-majority south and west and its Protestant-majority north and east.
Bavaria, for instance, observes more public holidays than almost any other state, including Epiphany, Corpus Christi, Assumption Day, and All Saints' Day, reflecting its strong Catholic tradition. Saxony uniquely retains the Day of Repentance and Prayer, abolished elsewhere in 1995, while Berlin and Thuringia have each added their own distinctive modern holidays — International Women's Day and World Children's Day respectively. Augsburg goes a step further still, with a public holiday recognised only within that single city. Employers and HR teams operating across multiple German states in 2026 need to track these variations carefully, since a date that closes an office in Munich may be a completely normal working day in Hamburg.
Long Weekends and Regional Breaks in 2026
Germany's holiday calendar produces several reliable long weekends in 2026, particularly around the Easter and Pentecost periods, when Good Friday, Easter Monday, Ascension Day, and Whit Monday cluster together between spring and early summer. Ascension Day frequently becomes a four-day weekend, as it falls on a Thursday and many workers add the following Friday as a "Brückentag," or bridge day.
School holidays add a further layer of complexity, as German states stagger their summer breaks to manage travel demand, meaning families planning trips around both public holidays and school holidays in 2026 should check their specific state's official Ferienkalender well in advance.
Plan Ahead with the Printable PDF Calendar
A printable PDF version of the 2026 Germany holiday calendar is a practical resource for HR departments, schools, and families navigating the country's complex mix of national and state-specific dates. Having every public holiday mapped out by state in one place removes the guesswork from planning travel, payroll, and operations throughout the year. Download our free printable 2026 Germany holiday calendar to keep every national and regional public holiday organised and within easy reach.