Germany Leave Guide

Best Days to Take Annual Leave in Germany 2026

19 public holidays in 2026. Here is how to turn them into the longest breaks possible.

In Germany in 2026, the best annual leave opportunity is New Year's Day Break (1 January – 4 January), where just 1 leave day delivers 4 consecutive days off — a 4.0× ROI. There are 19 public holidays in Germany in 2026, with Epiphany Break and Ascension Day Break also offering strong returns.

Germany's public holidays are primarily administered at the state (Bundesland) level, meaning the number of holidays you receive depends greatly on where you live. Bavaria consistently leads with up to 13 public holidays per year, while states like Hamburg have fewer. Workers who know their state calendar can leverage these dates for impressive extended breaks. Use PocketLeave to calculate your best leave opportunities for 2026 and get the most out of every day off.

Top 3 Leave Opportunities in 2026

1
4.0× ROI

New Year's Day Break

1 Jan4 Jan
Use 1d leaveGet 4 days off
2
4.0× ROI

Epiphany Break

3 Jan6 Jan
Use 1d leaveGet 4 days off
3
4.0× ROI

Ascension Day Break

14 May17 May
Use 1d leaveGet 4 days off

Germany Public Holidays 2026

DateHoliday
1 Jan 2026New Year's Day
6 Jan 2026Epiphany
8 Mar 2026International Women's Day
3 Apr 2026Good Friday
5 Apr 2026Easter Sunday
6 Apr 2026Easter Monday
1 May 2026Labour Day
14 May 2026Ascension Day
24 May 2026Pentecost
25 May 2026Whit Monday
4 Jun 2026Corpus Christi
15 Aug 2026Assumption Day
20 Sept 2026World Children's Day
3 Oct 2026German Unity Day
31 Oct 2026Reformation Day
1 Nov 2026All Saints' Day
18 Nov 2026Repentance and Prayer Day
25 Dec 2026Christmas Day
26 Dec 2026St. Stephen's Day

Frequently Asked Questions — Germany

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