German public holiday rights are governed by state-level Feiertagsgesetze (public holiday laws) — there are 9 to 13 public holidays per year depending on the federal state (Bundesland), and employees are entitled to full pay on days when a public holiday falls on their normal working day. Germany’s 16 federal states each have their own public holiday calendar, with some holidays observed nationwide (New Year’s Day, Labour Day, German Unity Day, Christmas, Easter) and others specific to certain states ( Corpus Christi, Reformation Day, All Saints’ Day).
This guide covers the nationwide and state-specific holidays, the pay continuation rules, the interaction between public holidays and annual leave, and the restrictions on Sunday and public holiday work.
Key takeaways
- Germany has 9 to 13 public holidays per year depending on the federal state (Bundesland).
- Employees receive full pay on public holidays that fall on their normal working day under §6 EntGFG.
- Public holidays that fall on a Sunday provide no additional entitlement — the employee receives the Sunday, not both.
- Sunday and public holiday work is restricted under the Arbeitszeitgesetz (ArbZG) and only permitted in specific industries.
- Public holidays do not reduce the annual leave entitlement — they reduce the number of leave days needed.
Nationwide public holidays
The following public holidays are observed in all 16 federal states:
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year’s Day (Neujahr) |
| Good Friday (varies) | Karfreitag |
| Easter Monday (varies) | Ostermontag |
| 1 May | Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit) |
| Ascension Day (varies) | Christi Himmelfahrt |
| Whit Monday (varies) | Pfingstmontag |
| 3 October | German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit) |
| 25 December | Christmas Day (Erster Weihnachtstag) |
| 26 December | Boxing Day (Zweiter Weihnachtstag) |
State-specific public holidays
In addition to the 9 nationwide holidays, several states observe additional holidays:
| Holiday | States |
|---|---|
| Epiphany (6 January) | Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg |
| International Women’s Day (8 March) | Berlin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern |
| Corpus Christi (varies) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, NRW, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, parts of Saxony and Thuringia |
| Reformation Day (31 October) | Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia |
| All Saints’ Day (1 November) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, NRW, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland |
| Repentance Day (varies) | Saxony |
The total number of public holidays per state ranges from 9 (Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein) to 13 (Baden-Württemberg, parts of Bavaria).
Pay continuation on public holidays
§6 Entgeltfortzahlungsgesetz (EntGFG) is the operative provision:
“Für Arbeitsfälle, die infolge eines gesetzlichen Feiertages ausfallen, hat der Arbeitgeber das Arbeitsentgelt zu zahlen, das der Arbeitnehmer ohne den Ausfall erhalten hätte.”
If a public holiday falls on the employee’s normal working day, the employer pays full salary for that day. The employee does not need to work and does not need to use annual leave.
Key rules:
- Public holiday on a normal working day: Full pay, no work required
- Public holiday on a non-working day (e.g. Sunday): No additional entitlement
- Public holiday during annual leave: The day is not counted as leave — it is excluded from the leave calculation
Public holidays and annual leave interaction
When a public holiday falls during a period of annual leave, it is not counted as a leave day. The employee’s leave is extended by one day for each public holiday that falls on a working day during the leave period.
Example:
- Employee takes 5 days of leave (Monday–Friday)
- A public holiday falls on Wednesday
- The employee uses 4 days of leave, not 5
- The employee is on leave for 5 calendar days (Monday–Friday) but uses only 4 leave days
This rule applies automatically — the employer must adjust the leave balance to exclude public holidays.
Sunday and public holiday work
The Arbeitszeitgesetz (ArbZG) restricts Sunday and public holiday work:
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sunday work | Prohibited except in specific industries (healthcare, hospitality, emergency services, media) |
| Public holiday work | Prohibited except in the same industries as Sunday work |
| Compensation | Employee entitled to a substitute rest day within 2 weeks (§11 ArbZG) |
| Pay premium | Higher rates under collective agreements; no statutory premium |
Employers who require Sunday or public holiday work must:
- Obtain the necessary permits from the competent authority (Gewerbeaufsichtsamt)
- Ensure the employee receives a substitute rest day within the statutory period
- Pay any applicable premium under the collective agreement
Employer obligations
Six core duties apply to German public holiday management:
- Pay full salary on public holidays that fall on the employee’s normal working day
- Adjust annual leave balances to exclude public holidays that fall during a leave period
- Apply the correct state calendar — the employer must use the Feiertagsgesetz of the state where the employee works, not where the employer is headquartered
- Restrict Sunday and public holiday work — only permit it where legally allowed and with proper authorisation
- Grant substitute rest days for Sunday and public holiday work
- Record public holidays in the leave management system
Common pitfalls
1. Using the wrong state calendar
Public holidays vary by state. An employer with employees in multiple states must apply the correct calendar for each employee’s place of work. Using the wrong calendar results in incorrect leave balances.
2. Counting public holidays as leave days
Public holidays that fall on a working day during a leave period must be excluded from the leave balance. Failure to adjust the balance is a breach of §7 BUrlG.
3. Not paying on public holidays
Full salary continuation on public holidays is mandatory under §6 EntGFG. Reducing salary or requiring the employee to take leave on a public holiday is a breach.
4. Allowing Sunday work without authorisation
Sunday and public holiday work requires a permit from the Gewerbeaufsichtsamt. Working without authorisation attracts a fine and may be challenged by the works council.
5. Forgetting state-specific holidays
States like Berlin, which added International Women’s Day as a public holiday in 2019, demonstrate that the list changes. Employers must track legislative changes to the Feiertagsgesetz.
For more German context, see our guide to German annual leave entitlements and German urlaubsgeld (holiday allowance).
A leave management system that applies the correct state calendar, automatically adjusts leave balances for public holidays, and tracks Sunday work authorisations keeps German public holiday compliance on autopilot.
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does Germany have?
Germany has 9 nationwide public holidays. Depending on the federal state, there are 2–4 additional holidays, bringing the total to 9–13 per year.
Are employees paid on public holidays?
Yes. Under §6 EntGFG, employees receive full salary on public holidays that fall on their normal working day. The employee does not need to work and does not need to use annual leave.
Do public holidays reduce annual leave entitlement?
No. Public holidays that fall on a working day reduce the number of leave days needed to achieve a continuous break, but they do not reduce the entitlement itself.
What happens if a public holiday falls during annual leave?
The public holiday is excluded from the leave calculation. The employee’s leave is extended by one day, and the leave balance is adjusted accordingly.
Can an employer require work on a public holiday?
Only in specific industries (healthcare, hospitality, emergency services) and with a permit from the Gewerbeaufsichtsamt. The employee must receive a substitute rest day and any applicable premium.
Sources
- Bundesurlaubsgesetz (BUrlG)
- Arbeitszeitgesetz (ArbZG) — §11
- Entgeltfortzahlungsgesetz (EntGFG) — §6
- Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales
Last updated: 26 July 2026. This article is general guidance, not legal advice. State-level Feiertagsgesetze change — confirm current holidays with the applicable Bundesland’s ministry of labour.