German Public Holidays [2025 & 2026 Table] - Live In Germany

Jibran Shahid 11 Oct 2024 Life in Germany

Looking to celebrate some German holidays in 2024? Look no further! This year, there are a variety of celebrations to choose from, including Christmas, Easter, and Hannukah. Whether you’re looking to experience a traditional holiday or explore a new one, we’ve got you covered.

It’s important to note the dates of Germany’s public holidays and significant dates whether you’re residing in the country or just visiting. Since businesses and government agencies close or operate at reduced hours on specific dates, this is the case.

Our guide compiles a list of Germany’s public holidays, as well as key dates for your calendar, to ensure you don’t miss anything crucial.

Types of German Holidays

There are three categories of German Holidays, each describe below:

German Public Holidays

New Year’s Day, German Unity Day, and Christmas Day are only a few of the nine public holidays observed throughout Germany’s sixteen federal states.

German Regional Holidays

While the federal government has the authority to proclaim national holidays, individual states are in charge of determining public holidays. So, certain federal states celebrate days that are not recognized elsewhere. Bavaria, with 13 public holidays per year, is the state with the most public holidays. Between ten and twelve days per year are spent in federal states.

Other Holidays in Germany

There are various unofficial holidays, such as Saint Nicholas Day (Nikolaus) on December 5, Carnival Monday (Rosenmontag), and Christmas Eve, in addition to officially-recognized public holidays.

School Holidays in Germany

Easter, summer, and Christmas vacations, as well as breaks in the autumn and spring, are among the five to six vacation times that German schools enjoy each year. In Germany, the federal states have different school holidays.

Public Holidays in Germany Vary from State to State

Did you know that Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Saarland have the most public holidays per year, with twelve each? Germany does not observe public holidays on a national level; instead, each federal-state determines which German public holidays are official.

Since there are only ten German public holidays, this regulation leaves your holiday account in Hamburg and Bremen somewhat empty.

So, why do your foreign acquaintances in Berlin (state: Berlin) have eleven public holidays while you only have ten in Frankfurt am Main (state: Hessen)? This overview helps you understand the federal state of Germany’s holidays, depending on your location:

Bavaria (12)
Saarland (12)
Baden-Wuerttemberg (12)
Saxony (11)
Niedersachsen (11)
Saxony-Anhalt: (11)
Rhineland-Palatinate (11)
North Rhine-Westphalia (11)
Thuringia (11)
Berlin (11)
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (10)
Hesse (10)
Schleswig-Holstein (10)
Brandenburg (10)
Bremen (10)
Hamburg (10)

Here is the list of German Holidays in Germany for the Year 2022 \& 2023

What is the most Important Holiday in Germany?

It’s tough to choose which German holiday is the most important. Religious festivals are highly important for Catholics, but Easter and Reformation Day are more significant for Protestants. Everywhere across Germany, the political and cultural significance of Unity Day is remembered. Yet, for almost everyone, the holidays in Germany are particularly memorable.

Jibran Shahid

Hi, I am Jibran, your fellow expat living in Germany since 2014. With over 10 years of personal and professional experience navigating life as a foreigner, I am dedicated to providing well-researched and practical guides to help you settle and thrive in Germany. Whether you are looking for advice on bureaucracy, accommodation, jobs, or cultural integration, I have got you covered with tips and insights tailored specifically for expats. Join me on my journey as I share valuable information to make your life in Germany easier and more enjoyable.