Is today a public holiday in Germany?

Federal Rules, State Feiertage & Banking Rails

In Germany, public holidays (gesetzliche Feiertage) are governed under a decentralized constitutional model. Under Article 70 of the Basic Law (Grundgesetz), legislative authority over public holidays rests with the 16 individual federal states (Länder), not the federal parliament.

Consequently, the federal government establishes only one single national public holiday: German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit, 3 October), enacted via the 1990 Unification Treaty. The other eight nationwide holidays—including New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day (1 May), Ascension Day, Whit Monday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day—are recognized uniformly across the country because all 16 state legislatures have enacted parallel provisions in their respective state holiday laws (Feiertagsgesetze).

State Discrepancies: 10 Days vs. 14 Days

Because state parliaments determine their own statutory calendars, regional differences between Catholic-majority and Protestant-majority states are substantial:

• Northern & Eastern States (10–11 Days): Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen, and Lower Saxony observe fewer holidays. Berlin observes International Women's Day (8 March), while northern states celebrate Reformation Day (31 October).
• Southern & Catholic States (12–14 Days): Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland observe Corpus Christi (Fronleichnam) and All Saints' Day (Allerheiligen, 1 November). Bavaria also recognizes Epiphany (6 January) and Assumption Day (15 August in predominantly Catholic municipalities).
• The City of Augsburg: Observes the Peace Festival (Augsburger Hohes Friedensfest) every year on 8 August, giving its residents 14 statutory public holidays—the highest entitlement in Germany.

The Working Hours Act (ArbZG § 9) & Work Prohibition

Germany enforces one of Europe's strictest statutory holiday labor codes under the Working Hours Act (Arbeitszeitgesetz - ArbZG § 9). Employees cannot legally be employed on Sundays and public holidays between 00:00 and 24:00.

Section 10 of the ArbZG provides narrow exceptions for emergency rescue, hospitals, gastronomy, continuous manufacturing plants, transport, and energy infrastructure. When an employee is legally required to work on a weekday public holiday under an exemption, Section 11(3) mandates an alternative compensatory rest day (Ersatzruhetag) within an eight-week window. However, contrary to common belief, federal labor law does not require employers to pay a cash premium (Feiertagszuschlag); holiday pay supplements depend strictly on collective bargaining agreements (Tarifverträge) or employment contracts.

The 'No Rollover' Rule in Germany

Unlike the United States, the UK, or Canada, Germany does not observe substitute holidays (Ersatzfeiertage) when a statutory holiday falls on a weekend. If Christmas Day (25 December) or German Unity Day (3 October) falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the statutory day off is absorbed by the weekend and lost. German labor statutes do not transfer unworked weekend holidays to Monday. In 2026, Tag der Deutschen Einheit (Saturday, 3 Oct), Reformationstag (Saturday, 31 Oct), Allerheiligen (Sunday, 1 Nov), and 2. Weihnachtstag (Saturday, 26 Dec) fall on weekends. In 2027, Tag der Arbeit (Saturday, 1 May), Tag der Deutschen Einheit (Sunday, 3 Oct), Reformationstag (Sunday, 31 Oct), and both Christmas holidays (25–26 Dec) fall on weekends—making Thursday bridge days around Christi Himmelfahrt (14 May 2026 / 6 May 2027) and Fronleichnam (4 June 2026 / 27 May 2027) especially valuable. Read our Germany State Holiday Laws & TARGET2 Guide.

Banking Settlement: Deutsche Bundesbank & TARGET2

Wholesale banking across Germany is coordinated through the Deutsche Bundesbank and the Eurosystem's TARGET2 (T2) real-time gross settlement network. TARGET2 operates on a unified pan-European calendar that closes on only six statutory days per year: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day (1 May), Christmas Day, and 26 December.

This creates a critical distinction for corporate treasuries: on regional state holidays (such as Corpus Christi or All Saints' Day) and on German Unity Day (3 October), TARGET2 remains open. While commercial bank lobbies in Munich or Frankfurt may be closed, interbank wholesale wires and SEPA direct credit files clear through the central bank. To model business day cutoffs across German states, use our Working Days Calculator.

Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Deutsche Börse / Xetra)

The Frankfurt Stock Exchange, operated by Deutsche Börse Group, aligns its electronic trading platform (Xetra) with European derivatives and cash market clearing standards:

• Xetra Trading Halts: Xetra closes for trading on Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day (1 May), Christmas Day, and 26 December.
• Open on German Holidays: Xetra remains fully open for regular cash equity trading on German Unity Day (3 October), Ascension Day, Whit Monday, and Corpus Christi, preserving cross-border market liquidity even while German public schools and administrative offices are shut.

Germany Payment Rails, Exchange Cutoffs & Statutory Pay Matrix (2026–2027)

When a statutory public holiday or in-lieu bank holiday occurs in Germany, commercial banking counters, central bank real-time gross settlement (RTGS) rails, and retail instant payment systems follow distinct operational rules:

Key 2026 vs. 2027 Holiday Date Shifts & Bridge-Day Planning in Germany

Because fixed calendar holidays shift one weekday forward between 2026 and 2027 (and movable lunar or liturgical holidays shift by 10 to 15 days), HR teams, payroll processors, and employees in Germany should account for the following 2026–2027 date comparisons and leave-bridge opportunities: