In this short publication, we’ll cover public holidays in Baden-Württemberg in 2026. We’ll provide their exact dates and explain the rules of conduct during the holidays. The article will also cover long weekends and several options for taking an additional short break. We’ve also listed three specific religious holidays that are important to know for those with school-aged children.
Table of Contents
Public holidays 2026 in Baden-Württemberg
Below is a table of public holidays in Baden-Württemberg for 2026. Please note that in addition to public holidays, this German state also observes religious holidays. During these holidays, certain activities are restricted.
| National holiday | Date | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| New Year | January 1st | Thursday |
| Three Holy Kings | January 6 | Tuesday |
| Good Friday | April 3 | Friday |
| Easter Monday | April 6 | Monday |
| May 1 | May 1 | Friday |
| Ascension of Christ | May 14 | Thursday |
| Monday of Pentecost | May 25 | Monday |
| Corpus Christi | June 4 | Thursday |
| Day of German Unity | October 3 | Saturday |
| All Saints’ Day | November 1 | Sunday |
| Christmas (first day) | December 25 | Friday |
| Christmas (second day) | December 26 | Saturday |
IMPORTANT! If a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, it is not moved. This means you will not be given an extra day off on November 2nd because All Saints’ Day falls on a Sunday.
Holidays not for everyone?
This federal state has three days that are not public holidays, but children have no classes in school (these dates are religious holidays). However, teachers must work (these days are usually used for conferences, seminars, etc.):
| Church holiday | Date | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| Maundy Thursday | April 2 | Thursday |
| Reformation Day | October 31 | Saturday |
| Day of Repentance and Prayer | November 18 | environment |
Baden-Württemberg has an interesting situation with school holidays and public holidays. In other German states, school break dates are typically set to include public holidays. This is not the case in Baden-Württemberg. Here’s a clear example:
- Autumn break in 2026 begins on Monday, October 26 and ends on Friday, October 30.
- Reformation Day falls on Saturday, October 31st.
Conclusion: if school is open on Saturdays, students will still only attend classes on Monday, November 2. This structure of the school year allows for a shorter number of school days.
INTERESTING FACT! Private companies allow employees to bring their children to work on the Day of Prayer and Repentance. To prevent them from disrupting work, children’s playrooms are often set up for them.
Long weekend in 2026
There are two long weekend periods in 2026. This is because May 1st and Christmas Day fall on Fridays. Therefore, you’ll have three days off on these dates:
- From Friday, May 1 to Sunday, May 3, 2026.
- From Friday, December 25 to Sunday, December 27, 2026.
If you want to take a four-day long weekend:
- Take a day off on January 2nd – you will rest from Thursday, January 1st (New Year’s) to Sunday, January 4th.
- Take a day off on January 5th – you will have four days off from Saturday, January 3rd to Tuesday, January 6th (Three Holy Kings public holiday).
- Take a day off on May 15th – you will rest from Thursday, May 14th (Ascension Day) to Sunday, May 17th.
- Take a day off on June 5th – take a four-day vacation from Thursday, June 4th (Corpus Christi public holiday) to Sunday, June 7th.
What you can’t do on public holidays in Baden-Württemberg in 2026
The Law on Sundays and Public Holidays establishes clear prohibitions on certain activities. On Sundays and public holidays, work that could disturb public order or interfere with church services is prohibited.
On all public holidays except May 1st and German Unity Day in Baden-Württemberg the following are prohibited:
- Outdoor public gatherings, processions and parades, if they may directly interfere with the conduct of religious services.
- All public events that have entertainment purposes.
- Public events and entertainments to which everyone is invited or for which an admission fee is charged.
Special restrictions are also being introduced on public dance events, sporting events, etc. This is discussed in more detail in the law on Sundays and public holidays (paragraphs 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, the latest version).
In this publication, De-Sf.Info examined the topic of public holidays in Baden-Württemberg in 2026. We also provided the dates of special religious holidays and special rules of conduct for holidays. Don’t forget to share this publication with your friends!
