What are the public / bank holidays in Germany?



Modified on: Fri, 7 Nov, 2025 at 5:51 PM

In Germany, the determination of public holidays is primarily the responsibility of each federal state (Bundesland). The federal government does not have direct authority to establish or regulate public holidays on a national level.

However, there are public holidays recognized and protected across all states as National Public Holidays. 

Official Government webiste: Germany National holidays 

National Public Holidays observed every year:

  1. New Year's Day ('Neujahrstag') - January 1
  2. Good Friday ('Karfreitag') - Date varies (Friday before Easter Sunday)
  3. Easter Sunday ('Ostersonntag') - Date varies (usually in April)
  4. Easter Monday ('Ostermontag') - Date varies (the day after Easter Sunday)
  5. Labor Day ('Tag der Arbeit') - May 1
  6. Ascension Day ('Christi Himmelfahrt') - Date varies (40 days after Easter)
  7. Whit Monday ('Pfingstmontag') - Date varies (50 days after Easter)
  8. German Unity Day ('Tag der Deutschen Einheit') - October 3
  9. Christmas Day ('Erster Weihnachtstag') - December 25
  10. St. Stephen's Day ('Zweiter Weihnachtstag') - December 26



Regional public holidays (and the states they are observed In):

  1. All Saints' Day ('Allerheiligen') - November 1
    Observed in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland
  2. Reformation Day ('Reformationstag') - October 31 (annually, starting in 2021)
    Observed in Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Schleswig-Holstein
  3. Corpus Christi ('Fronleichnam') - Date varies (60 days after Easter, in 2026 is June 4)
    Observed in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland
  4. Assumption Day ('Mariä Himmelfahrt') - August 15
    Observed in Saarland and parts of Bavaria
  5. Day of Prayer and Repentance ('Buß- und Bettag') - Date varies (in 2026 is November 18)
    Observed in Saxony
  6. International Women's Day ('Internationaler Frauentag') - March 8
    Observed in Berlin


Key Information to Take into Account

  • When a public holiday falls on a weekend (e.g., All Saints’ Day on Sunday in 2026), it does not automatically move to the next Monday unless this is explicitly stated in state legislation.

  • To determine which public holidays apply to you or your employees, you must check the federal state (Bundesland) where the workplace is located — not the employee’s home address.

  • Always verify the official holiday legislation of the relevant state for any last-minute changes or substitute days.

  • Both employers and employees should ensure that the terms and conditions regarding public holidays are clearly defined in employment contracts or collective agreements.





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