Public holidays

Germany recognizes nine statutory public holidays that apply uniformly across all federal states. These are New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, Labour Day (May 1st), German Unity Day (October 3rd), and the first and second days of Christmas (December 25th and 26th). On these days, employees are generally entitled to paid time off, and employers must not require work unless the business nature demands it or collective agreements permit exceptions.

The statutory framework governing public holidays in Germany is established through the Gesetzliche Feiertage (statutory holidays) provisions, with oversight by the German Trade Union Confederation (Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund, DGB) and implementation through federal and state labour law. Individual federal states may designate additional regional public holidays beyond these nine, which vary by location.

These nine holidays have remained consistent in recent years, with no changes to the core list for 2025 and 2026. However, the specific dates of moveable holidays such as Easter Monday, Ascension Day, and Whit Monday shift annually based on the Easter calendar.

Employers and payroll teams must ensure that employees receive full pay for statutory public holidays, even if they fall on a weekend or during vacation periods. When work is performed on a public holiday, employees are typically entitled to additional compensation or compensatory time off, depending on the employment contract and collective agreement terms. Payroll systems must accurately track and process these holidays to ensure compliance with German labour law and avoid penalties.