📅 Germany Public Holidays 2026 & 2027
Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2026 · Thu | New Year's Day (Neujahr) | Public |
| 3 Apr 2026 · Fri | Good Friday (Karfreitag) | Public |
| 6 Apr 2026 · Mon | Easter Monday (Ostermontag) | Public |
| 1 May 2026 · Fri | Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit) | Public |
| 14 May 2026 · Thu | Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt) | Public |
| 25 May 2026 · Mon | Whit Monday (Pfingstmontag) | Public |
| 3 Oct 2026 · Sat | German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit) | Public |
| 25 Dec 2026 · Fri | Christmas Day (Erster Weihnachtstag) | Public |
| 26 Dec 2026 · Sat | St. Stephen's Day (Zweiter Weihnachtstag) | Public |
Public Holidays 2027
Provisional — most countries publish the official calendar late in the year.
| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2027 · Fri | New Year's Day (Neujahr) | Public |
| 26 Mar 2027 · Fri | Good Friday (Karfreitag) | Public |
| 29 Mar 2027 · Mon | Easter Monday (Ostermontag) | Public |
| 1 May 2027 · Sat | Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit) | Public |
| 6 May 2027 · Thu | Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt) | Public |
| 17 May 2027 · Mon | Whit Monday (Pfingstmontag) | Public |
| 3 Oct 2027 · Sun | German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit) | Public |
| 25 Dec 2027 · Sat | Christmas Day (Erster Weihnachtstag) | Public |
| 26 Dec 2027 · Sun | St. Stephen's Day (Zweiter Weihnachtstag) | Public |
ℹ️ Why these dates matter
Germany has nine holidays that apply nationwide, and the rest are set by each federal state — so the calendar in Munich looks different from the one in Cologne. What matters most for a trip is that shops close on Sundays and public holidays throughout the country, while restaurants, bakeries and museums generally open. Christmas and Easter bring the longest closures; Ascension and Whit Monday are the classic long weekends that send everyone onto the roads.
Festivals Worth Planning a Trip Around
Beyond the stat holidays — the events that define the travel year.
Oktoberfest — Late September to early October 2026 — the opening Saturday usually falls around 19 September
Munich’s Oktoberfest is a two-week beer festival on the Theresienwiese, with huge tents, brass bands and a fairground around them. Entry is free, but the big tents fill by late morning at weekends — reserve a table months ahead or walk in on a Monday to Thursday afternoon. Expect a full litre of beer, cash-heavy stalls and last trains packed.
Christmas Market — Late November to just before Christmas 2026 — Nuremberg traditionally opens on the Friday before Advent, 27 November (Fri)
From late November almost every German town sets up a Christmas market, with Nuremberg, Munich and Cologne among the biggest. Come for the mulled wine, roasted almonds and wooden decorations, and go on a weekday late afternoon when the lights are on but the crowds are thinner. Bring cash and keep your mug — the cup deposit is usually a few euros.
Carnival — Peak week 12–17 February 2026, Rosenmontag parade on Monday 16 February
Cologne and Düsseldorf go costume-crazy in February, with the Rosenmontag street parade as the highlight: floats, sweets thrown into the crowd and a city that starts drinking in the morning. The Thursday before is Weiberfastnacht, when women symbolically take over the town halls. Book hotels months ahead and expect normal sightseeing to stop for the peak days.
German Unity Day — 3 October 2026 (Sat)
The 3 October marks the reunification of Germany and is the only holiday set by federal law, celebrated with a big open-air festival at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. It is a normal working-shop day for most retailers, so museums, restaurants and sights stay open. Expect crowds in the capital and hotel rates a little higher for the weekend around it.
💡 Quick Tips
- Shops are closed nationwide on Sundays and all public holidays; bakeries, station shops, restaurants and museums are the usual exceptions.
- Beyond the nine nationwide dates, each federal state adds its own — Epiphany, Corpus Christi, All Saints’ Day and Reformation Day are regional, so check the local calendar.
- Good Friday and 25 December are the quietest days: clubs and many events are restricted, and most museums shut on 24 and 25 December.
- Ascension Day always falls on a Thursday and Whit Monday on a Monday, which makes both of them classic three-day weekends with heavy traffic.
⚡ Pro Tips
- Ascension Thursday 14 May 2026 and 6 May 2027 double as Father’s Day, when groups pull beer wagons through the streets — charming in villages, rowdy on train lines to Berlin.
- At Oktoberfest, Monday to Thursday afternoons are the calm window; if you go on a weekend, arrive before 11am or reserve a table months in advance.
- Christmas markets are best on a weekday around 5pm: the lights are on, the Glühwein is hot and the school-trip and office-party crowds have not yet arrived.
📋 Summary
The nine holidays observed nationwide in Germany for 2026 and 2027, plus the four events worth building a trip around: Oktoberfest in Munich, the Christmas markets, Carnival in Cologne and Düsseldorf, and German Unity Day on 3 October.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are shops open in Germany on Sundays and public holidays?
No, not the supermarkets: German law keeps shops closed on Sundays and public holidays across the country. Bakeries open for a few hours in the morning, and shops at main stations and airports, plus restaurants and museums, stay open. On 24 December most shops close at midday.
Why do German public holidays differ between regions?
Only 3 October is set by federal law; every other holiday is decided by the individual states. That is why Epiphany, Corpus Christi, All Saints’ Day and Reformation Day appear in some regions and not others. If your trip crosses several states, check each local calendar before booking trains or museum tickets.
When is the best time to visit Germany for the big festivals?
Late September to early October is the Oktoberfest window, while Christmas markets run from late November to just before Christmas. February brings Carnival to the Rhineland, and spring weekends around Ascension and Whit Monday are lively but crowded. For quiet sightseeing, come in May outside the holiday weekends or in early November.
