Germany’s public holiday system is a patchwork of federal and state-level rules. While all 16 Bundesländer (federal states) observe the same core holidays, several states add unique Feiertage based on local traditions and religious demographics. For employers with teams across multiple states, this variation creates real complexity.
This guide maps every German state holiday for 2026, explains which holidays are universal and which vary, and helps you manage compliance across the Bundesländer.
This article is general information, not legal advice.
Key Takeaways
- All German states observe 9-10 common public holidays
- Some states add 1-3 additional holidays (Reformationstag, Allerheiligen, etc.)
- Bavaria and Saarland have unique holidays not found in other states
- Good Friday is a public holiday everywhere but carries special work restrictions
- Employers must apply the holiday calendar of the employee’s work location
Federal Public Holidays (All States)
These holidays are observed across all 16 Bundesländer:
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day (Neujahr) | 1 January | Thursday |
| Good Friday (Karfreitag) | 3 April | Friday |
| Easter Monday (Ostermontag) | 6 April | Monday |
| Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit) | 1 May | Friday |
| German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit) | 3 October | Saturday |
| Christmas Day (Erster Weihnachtstag) | 25 December | Friday |
| Boxing Day (Zweiter Weihnachtstag) | 26 December | Saturday |
Additional Common Holidays
These holidays are observed in most (but not all) states:
| Holiday | States That Observe |
|---|---|
| Epiphany (Heilige Drei Könige) | BW, BY, ST |
| International Women’s Day | BE, MV, TH (from 2024) |
| Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt) | All states |
| Corpus Christi (Fronleichnam) | BW, BY, HE, NRW, RP, SL, SN, ST |
| Assumption Day (Mariä Himmelfahrt) | BY, SL |
| Reformationstag (Reformation Day) | BB, HB, HH, MV, NI, SN, ST, TH |
| All Saints’ Day (Allerheiligen) | BW, BY, NRW, RP, SL |
| Day of Prayer and Repentance (Buß- und Bettag) | SN (only) |
State-by-State Breakdown
Baden-Württemberg (12 holidays)
All federal + Epiphany, Corpus Christi, All Saints’ Day
Bayern (12 holidays)
All federal + Epiphany, Corpus Christi, Assumption Day, All Saints’ Day. Bavaria has the most holidays of any German state.
Berlin (10 holidays)
All federal + International Women’s Day, Reformationstag
Brandenburg (9 holidays)
All federal + Reformationstag, Christmas Eve (half day)
Bremen (10 holidays)
All federal + Reformationstag
Hamburg (10 holidays)
All federal + Reformationstag
Hessen (10 holidays)
All federal + Corpus Christi
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (10 holidays)
All federal + International Women’s Day, Reformationstag
Niedersachsen (10 holidays)
All federal + Reformationstag
Nordrhein-Westfalen (11 holidays)
All federal + Corpus Christi, All Saints’ Day
Rheinland-Pfalz (11 holidays)
All federal + Corpus Christi, All Saints’ Day
Saarland (11 holidays)
All federal + Corpus Christi, Assumption Day, All Saints’ Day
Sachsen (11 holidays)
All federal + Reformationstag, Buß- und Bettag (unique to Saxony)
Sachsen-Anhalt (10 holidays)
All federal + Epiphany, Reformationstag
Schleswig-Holstein (9 holidays)
All federal holidays only — no additional state holidays
Thüringen (10 holidays)
All federal + International Women’s Day, Reformationstag
Holiday Count by State
| State | Total Holidays |
|---|---|
| Schleswig-Holstein | 9 |
| Brandenburg | 9 |
| Berlin | 10 |
| Bremen | 10 |
| Hamburg | 10 |
| Hessen | 10 |
| Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | 10 |
| Niedersachsen | 10 |
| Sachsen-Anhalt | 10 |
| Thüringen | 10 |
| Nordrhein-Westfalen | 11 |
| Rheinland-Pfalz | 11 |
| Saarland | 11 |
| Sachsen | 11 |
| Baden-Württemberg | 12 |
| Bayern | 12 |
Employer Obligations
Work Location Determines the Calendar
The Feiertage that apply to an employee are determined by their work location, not the employer’s headquarters. If an employee works in Bavaria, they receive Bavarian holidays — even if the company is based in Schleswig-Holstein.
Remote Workers
If an employee works remotely from a different state, the holidays of the remote work location apply. This is critical for multi-state employers with remote teams.
Good Friday Restrictions
Good Friday (Karfreitag) has special rules in Germany:
- Public entertainment venues must close
- Dancing is prohibited in public
- Some industries restrict operations
- Churches hold special services
Working on Public Holidays
German law generally prohibits work on public holidays (Feiertagsarbeit). Exceptions exist for essential services, healthcare, hospitality, and other sectors that require continuous operation. Employees who work on holidays must receive a replacement day off within two weeks.
Managing Multi-State Holidays
Use State-Specific Calendars
Set up separate holiday calendars for each state in your HR system. Apply the correct calendar based on each employee’s work location.
Handle Edge Cases
- Posted workers: If an employee is temporarily posted to another state, the host state’s calendar applies for the duration of the posting
- Multi-state employers: Maintain separate calendars and communicate clearly which calendar applies to each employee
- Religious holidays: Some employees may request time off for religious holidays not covered by the state calendar (e.g., Eid, Diwali). Consider offering these as additional leave
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public holidays does Germany have?
Germany has between 9 and 12 public holidays per year depending on the state. Bayern has the most (12), while Schleswig-Holstein and Brandenburg have the fewest (9).
Is there a national list of German public holidays?
No single list covers all states. Each state sets its own additional holidays. The federal government only mandates the holidays that apply nationwide.
Can an employer give employees the holidays of a different state?
An employer can grant additional holidays as a company benefit, but the statutory holidays are determined by the employee’s work location. You cannot apply a state with fewer holidays to avoid granting extra days off.
Do part-time workers get public holidays?
Yes. Public holidays are paid days off for all employees, regardless of their working hours. Part-time workers who would normally work on a public holiday receive the day off with pay.
What is Buß- und Bettag?
Buß- und Bettag (Day of Prayer and Repentance) is observed only in Sachsen. It falls on the Wednesday before the last Sunday of the church year (November 2026). It replaced Reformationstag in Sachsen after reunification.