How to use Germany’s 2026 Feiertage wisely for longer holidays

Taking a proper long holiday and giving yourself enough time to relax is important. Here’s how to use German public holiday dates wisely to maximise downtime in 2026.

Maximising your German public holidays in 2026

People who work full-time in Germany are legally entitled to a minimum of 20 paid holiday days per year. At most companies, employees are given a few more, somewhere between 24 and 30 each year.

Some national public holidays, like Reunification Day on October 3, fall on specific dates, while others, such as Good Friday and Easter Monday, fall somewhere within a range of weeks but always on a working day. This means that each year there are some calculations to do about which days are best to take off work to maximise the duration of your uninterrupted holidays.

These are the nine public holidays which are acknowledged in every federal state and the dates they will be celebrated in 2026:

• New Year’s Day (Neujahr) - January 1
• Good Friday (Karfreitag) - April 3 
• Easter Sunday (Ostersonntag) - April 5
• Easter Monday (Ostermontag) - April 6
• Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit) - May 1
• Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt) - May 14 
• Whitsunday (Pfingstsonntag) - May 24 
• Whitmonday (Pfingstmontag) - May 25
• Reunification Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit) - October 3
• Christmas Day (Erster Weihnachtstag) - December 25
• Boxing Day (Zweiter Weihnachtstag) - December 26

On top of these nine dates, some public holidays in Germany are only celebrated in one or several German federal states, such as Fronleichnam and Weltkindertag. You can find out more information on our page German holidays in 2026.

Take four leave days for 10 days off at Easter

Easter is the first longer public holiday period after Christmas, and since it falls in April, by then we will be well in need of an extended break.

With Good Friday falling on April 3 and Easter Monday on April 6, take off Monday, March 30 to Thursday, April 2 (four days of annual leave) for a 10-day holiday running from March 28 to April 6.

May 1 will just be a long weekend

Unfortunately, May 1 falls on a Friday in 2025, so while everyone will be able to enjoy a long weekend, there isn't a great possibility for squeezing the holiday for all it can give us.

Take four days off work between April 27 and 30 and get 10 days off between April 25 and May 3. Enjoy it while it lasts, because May 1 will fall on a Saturday in 2027!

Ascension Day is Brückentag territory

Germany’s nationwide public holiday, Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt), always falls on a Thursday. This makes it prime territory to take a Brückentag (Bridge Day) holiday to create a long weekend. Book off Friday, May 15, to enjoy a four-day weekend.

Double your holidays with Ascension Day and Whit Monday

If an Ascension Day long weekend isn’t enough for you, you can double the public holiday up with Whit Monday (Pfingstmontag) for a longer break. Ascension Day falls on May 14 and Whit Monday falls on May 25, so book May 15 to 22 off work to use just six holiday days for 12 days off.

October 3 falls on a Saturday

2026 isn’t going to be the best year for public holidays. Reunification Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit), another national holiday, falls on a Saturday this time. Germany’s Reunification Day celebrations happen in a different city every year. In 2026, Bremen will be centre stage.

Christmas is creeping closer to the weekend

Germany’s two Christmas public holidays on December 25 and 26 are creeping closer to the weekend, which doesn’t make for such good holiday maximisation.

In 2026, December 25 and 26 will fall on a Friday and Saturday. Book off December 21 to 24 and December 28 to 31 for eight days off work and 16 days of holiday.