Public holidays
Public holidays in Bavaria
Public holidays in Bavaria for 2026 and 2027: with weekdays, bridge days, and which days do not apply across the whole state.
Bavaria adds Epiphany, Corpus Christi and All Saints’ Day. Two further days are not state-wide: Assumption Day applies only in municipalities with a predominantly Catholic population, and the Augsburg Peace Festival only in the city of Augsburg. If your company has several Bavarian sites, the relevant question is the municipality, not the state.
2026
12 state-wide holidays in 2026
| Date | Weekday | Holiday | Applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | New Year's Day | state-wide | |
| Tuesday | Epiphany | state-wide | |
| Friday | Good Friday | state-wide | |
| Monday | Easter Monday | state-wide | |
| Friday | Labour Day | state-wide | |
| Thursday | Ascension Day | state-wide | |
| Monday | Whit Monday | state-wide | |
| Thursday | Corpus Christi | state-wide | |
| Saturday | Augsburg Peace Festival | regionally limited: only in the city of Augsburg | |
| Saturday | Assumption Day | regionally limited: only in municipalities with a predominantly Catholic population | |
| Saturday | German Unity Day | state-wide | |
| Sunday | All Saints' Day | state-wide | |
| Friday | Christmas Day | state-wide | |
| Saturday | Boxing Day | state-wide |
Bridge days 2026
These working days sit between a state-wide holiday and the weekend. One day of leave turns them into a long weekend, and they are where leave requests cluster.
- , because of New Year's Day
- , because of Epiphany
- , because of Ascension Day
- , because of Corpus Christi
Holidays on a weekend in 2026
These holidays fall on a Saturday or Sunday in 2026. German law grants no substitute day off for them.
- German Unity Day
- All Saints' Day
- Boxing Day
2027
12 state-wide holidays in 2027
| Date | Weekday | Holiday | Applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | New Year's Day | state-wide | |
| Wednesday | Epiphany | state-wide | |
| Friday | Good Friday | state-wide | |
| Monday | Easter Monday | state-wide | |
| Saturday | Labour Day | state-wide | |
| Thursday | Ascension Day | state-wide | |
| Monday | Whit Monday | state-wide | |
| Thursday | Corpus Christi | state-wide | |
| Sunday | Augsburg Peace Festival | regionally limited: only in the city of Augsburg | |
| Sunday | Assumption Day | regionally limited: only in municipalities with a predominantly Catholic population | |
| Sunday | German Unity Day | state-wide | |
| Monday | All Saints' Day | state-wide | |
| Saturday | Christmas Day | state-wide | |
| Sunday | Boxing Day | state-wide |
Bridge days 2027
These working days sit between a state-wide holiday and the weekend. One day of leave turns them into a long weekend, and they are where leave requests cluster.
- , because of Ascension Day
- , because of Corpus Christi
Holidays on a weekend in 2027
These holidays fall on a Saturday or Sunday in 2027. German law grants no substitute day off for them.
- Labour Day
- German Unity Day
- Christmas Day
- Boxing Day
Regionally limited holidays
- Augsburg Peace Festival, only in the city of Augsburg
- Assumption Day, only in municipalities with a predominantly Catholic population
Source: Feiertagsgesetze der Länder · reviewed on
This information is provided without warranty and without any claim to completeness, and it is not legal advice. Individual holidays apply only in certain municipalities, and states can change dates at short notice. The respective state law is what binds.
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays apply nationwide in Germany?
Nine days apply in every state: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, German Unity Day, and both Christmas holidays. Everything else is decided by the individual states, which is why a Berlin employee and a Munich employee can have three days' difference per year.
Is there a substitute day when a holiday falls on a weekend?
No. If a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no legal entitlement to a replacement day off. Some employers grant one voluntarily, but they are not obliged to.
Which state applies to an employee who works across state lines?
As a rule the place where the work is actually performed governs, not the location of the company headquarters. For remote work across state borders, a clear rule in the employment contract or a works agreement avoids disputes.
Why do some holidays apply only in certain municipalities?
Some state laws tie validity to the religious majority of a municipality or to a local tradition. Examples are Assumption Day in Bavaria, Corpus Christi in parts of Saxony and Thuringia, and the Augsburg Peace Festival in the city of Augsburg.
Can employees work on a public holiday?
Section 9 of the Working Hours Act (ArbZG) generally prohibits employment on public holidays. Section 10 lists exceptions for many sectors (care, hospitality, transport, emergency services), usually combined with an entitlement to a substitute rest day.
Manage absences without maintaining spreadsheets
Gemploy knows the holidays of every German state and factors them into leave requests and absence planning automatically.