Germany: public holidays, long weekends, and school breaks
Which 2026 holidays actually give you time off in Germany, and where a single leave day buys you a four-day weekend.
Germany observes nine public holidays in 2026, of which seven fall on a working day.
- Germany has 9 public holidays in 2026.
- 2 of them fall on a weekend, so they do not add a day off work.
- 5 already fall on a Monday or Friday, giving a three-day weekend for no leave at all.
- The strongest break is New Year's Day, running 1 January to 4 January.
- On 2 of them the holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, so one day of leave creates a four-day weekend.
Best long weekends
View allGood Friday + Easter Sunday + Easter Monday
Apr 1, 2026 to Apr 4, 2026
Labour Day
Apr 29, 2026 to May 2, 2026
Repentance and Prayer Day
Nov 13, 2026 to Nov 16, 2026
Christmas Day + St. Stephen's Day
Dec 18, 2026 to Dec 26, 2026
Epiphany
Dec 31, 2025 to Jan 4, 2026
Ascension Day
May 8, 2026 to May 12, 2026
Public holiday snapshot
Full calendar| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2026 | New Year's Day(Neujahr) | NATIONAL |
| Jan 6, 2026 | Epiphany(Heilige Drei Könige) | REGIONAL |
| Jan 6, 2026 | Epiphany(Heilige Drei Könige) | REGIONAL |
| Jan 6, 2026 | Epiphany(Heilige Drei Könige) | REGIONAL |
| Mar 8, 2026 | International Women's Day(Internationaler Frauentag) | REGIONAL |
| Mar 8, 2026 | International Women's Day(Internationaler Frauentag) | REGIONAL |
| Apr 3, 2026 | Good Friday(Karfreitag) | NATIONAL |
| Apr 5, 2026 | Easter Sunday(Ostersonntag) | REGIONAL |
More ways to maximize your time off
Take 7 days off
See what 7 leave days can unlock in 2026.
Public holidays in 2026
Review the official holiday calendar.
Long weekends in 2026
Check the ranked break windows for the year.
France vs Germany
Compare public holidays and long weekends for 2026.
Germany vs Austria
Compare public holidays and long weekends for 2026.
Germany vs Netherlands
Compare public holidays and long weekends for 2026.
Travel ideas
Browse allEdinburgh Hogmanay Long Weekend
A four-day Hogmanay escape to Edinburgh — torchlight through the Old Town, the world's most famous New Year street party, a bracing Loony Dook and a slow recovery day in the Scottish capital, built around Scotland's two-day New Year holiday.
Bastille Day Long Weekend: Paris to Provence in 4 Days
Catch the July 14 parade and Eiffel Tower fireworks in Paris, then unwind among Provence's lavender fields — all in one bridged long weekend.
Netherlands & Belgium in 5 Days without Rush
A smart multi-city route across the Netherlands and Belgium using trains, mixing iconic cities with hidden gems for a balanced and realistic trip.
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Germany holiday questions, answered
How many public holidays does Germany have in 2026?
Germany has 9 public holidays in 2026. 7 of them fall on a working day and 2 fall on a weekend.
Which Germany holidays fall on a weekend in 2026?
2 of the 9 public holidays in Germany fall on a Saturday or Sunday in 2026, so they do not create an extra day off work.
When is the best long weekend in Germany in 2026?
The best long weekend in Germany in 2026 is New Year's Day, from 1 January to 4 January. Booking 1 day of leave turns it into 4 consecutive days off.
How many bridge days can I use in Germany in 2026?
Germany has 2 bridge days in 2026 — public holidays that fall on a Tuesday or Thursday, where a single day of leave creates a four-day weekend. May is the densest month, with 3 public holidays.
Plan your time off in Germany
Turn these dates into a real leave plan, or compare them with another country.