Germany Bank Holidays and National Holidays

Planning your year in Germany starts with knowing the Germany bank holidays. Understanding the public holidays in Germany is important for booking travel, organising time off, and managing business closures. This guide covers national holidays as well as state-specific holidays in Germany, helping you plan seamlessly and with confidence.

Public Holidays in Germany

German public holidays are a mix of national celebrations and regional observances. This system means your holiday calendar depends on whether you’re in Bavaria for public holidays or bank holidays. Let’s break down the key dates for the coming years.

Germany Bank Holidays for 2026

Mark your German holiday calendar for 2026 with these key German holiday dates.

Germany Bank Holidays for 2027

Plan your medium-term holiday planning with the 2027 German public holidays by month.

Germany Bank Holidays for 2028

Get ahead for future German holidays with our 2028 overview. Please note: 2028 dates are based on projections and typical calendars. Always verify with official sources closer to the time.

With these calendars, you can easily spot long weekends and plan your holiday planning Germany. Remember, business closures Germany holidays and public transport Germany holidays often follow these schedules, making advance knowledge incredibly useful.

What Are Bank Holidays in Germany?

In Germany, a bank holiday (Feiertag) is a day when, by law, most businesses, banks, and schools are closed. It’s a day of rest. However, it’s not as simple as one national list! Germany’s system reflects its federal structure, leading to fascinating regional holidays Germany variations.

National vs. State-Specific Holidays

There are two main types:

• National Holidays: These German national holidays all states observe, like the Day of German Unity. They are mandated nationwide.
• State-Specific Holidays: These depend on your Bundesland (federal state). This is why knowing Baden-Württemberg holidays is different from knowing Saxony holidays.

National Holidays (All Federal States)

These nine federal holidays Germany are your guaranteed days off, no matter where you live:

1. New Year’s Day (Neujahr)
2. Good Friday (Karfreitag)
3. Easter Monday (Ostermontag)
4. Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit)
5. Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt)
6. Whit Monday (Pfingstmontag)
7. Day of German Unity (Tag der Deutschen Einheit)
8. Christmas Day (Erster Weihnachtsfeiertag)
9. Boxing Day / Second Day of Christmas (Zweiter Weihnachtsfeiertag)

State-Specific Holidays by Region

This is where it gets interesting! Your location adds extra days. For example:

• Catholic-majority states like Bavaria and Saarland observe All Saints’ Day and Assumption Day.
• Eastern states like Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern celebrate International Women’s Day.
• Saxony uniquely has Repentance Day.
• Brandenburg enjoys both Easter Sunday and Whit Sunday as holidays.

Understanding these federal state holiday differences is key to accurate planning, whether for southern Germany holidays or northern Germany holidays.

Religious & Cultural Observances

German public holidays are deeply tied to Christian holidays Germany (like Pentecost holidays Germany), but also include secular and German cultural holidays. There are also German silent days (Stille Tage), like Good Friday, where public festivities are restricted. Other German memorial days and observances exist but aren’t always public holidays, affecting the atmosphere more than business hours.

For the most authoritative information, always consult the official sources:

• Germany Bank Holidays – Visit the official federal portal: bund.de
• Wikipedia: Public holidays in Germany

Explore Other Bank Holidays:

• All Countries
• Romania Bank Holidays
• Poland Bank Holidays
• France Bank Holidays
• Spain Bank Holidays
• Germany Bank Holidays

Ready to plan? Get our printable Germany holiday calendar for a clear view of all upcoming German holidays and transform your yearly planning!

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Nico Bevan

I've always helped people across the UK plan their year with reliable holiday insights. I'm passionate about accuracy and organization; I ensure every celebration and bank holiday is easy to plan for.