Public holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia 2026 (exact dates), unofficial holidays

In this publication, we’ll cover public holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia in 2026. We’ll provide the exact dates of all 11 official holidays, as well as discuss local and unofficial holidays. We’ll also describe their characteristics and differences.

Public holidays 2026 in North Rhine-Westphalia

Below is a table listing official public holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia in 2026. On these days, most residents of the state are entitled to a legal day off, and schools are closed. However, many sectors of activity (retail, transportation, and some municipal services) remain open.

The table of public holidays lists the official names. However, the law provides clarification:

• May 1 – Day of Commitment to Freedom and Peace, Social Justice, International Understanding and Human Dignity (1).
• October 3 – Day of German Unity (2).

Prohibitions and restrictions

The Sunday and Public Holidays Act prohibits the following activities during public holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia (quote below):

1. Public gatherings in the open air, as well as public processions and parades not connected with religious services.
2. All public gatherings intended for entertainment purposes where there is no overriding interest in art, science or public education.
3. Public gatherings in closed spaces if they directly interfere with the conduct of religious services.
4. Major sporting events and those that directly interfere with religious services.

This ban does not apply to October 3rd if it falls on a weekday. It also does not apply to trade union events on May 1st. The main hours for church services are from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Local authorities, in consultation with churches, may establish that these hours must end before 11:00 AM.

Special holidays you should know about

In the federal state (autonomous state) of North Rhine-Westphalia, religious and local traditions are strong. Therefore, there are several holidays that are not regulated by law but are celebrated in practice. In this article, we examine public holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia in 2026, but we cannot ignore these significant dates.

Rose Monday / Carnival Monday

This day falls on February 16th in 2026. It’s not officially a public holiday, but in large cities (Cologne, Düsseldorf, Bonn), most employers give employees the day off, and schools are closed. Schoolchildren often have extra days off during Carnival Week (for this purpose, schools use the flexible school holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia).

Interesting facts! Cologne Carnival 2026 in numbers:

• Participants of the procession: About 11,500 people.
• Spectators: more than 1 million people (the total population of Cologne is about 1,150,000 people).
• Rain of sweets: About 300 tons of sweets, 700,000 chocolate bars and 300,000 bouquets of flowers flew from carts into the crowd.
• Economic impact: turnover amounted to approximately 850 million euros (food and beverages only).

Patron Saint’s Day

In North Rhine-Westphalia, every major city has a patron’s day (and Cologne even has two!). There’s no official holiday on these days, but many employers give employees the day off. The law regulating school holidays stipulates that one flexible non-school day must coincide with a local holiday. In most cases, schools are closed on the patron’s day.

Patron Saint Days in Major Cities of North Rhine-Westphalia

Kirmes

This holiday can be described as a mixture of folk festivals, a fair, and a religious celebration. It is usually timed to coincide with the patron saint’s day and is celebrated only in a specific city. In smaller towns, it lasts 3-4 days, while in larger cities, it lasts 9-10 days. Kirmes typically begins on Friday and ends a week later on Sunday. It’s not an official holiday, so most of the activity takes place in the evenings and on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays).

Kirmes typically features “Women’s Day” and “Family Day,” which typically follow one another. On these days, women and parents with children receive additional discounts or pleasant bonuses (for example, two attraction tickets for the price of one). Quiet hours are also often instituted in the morning to avoid distracting residents from their studies and work, and to allow staff time to rest.

INTERESTING FACT! In recent years, environmental awareness has been gaining momentum. Many rides are solar-powered, and plastic is gradually being phased out.

Exceptions to the rule are days of sorrow and mourning

In North Rhine-Westphalia, there are two days that are not public holidays, but are designated “Quiet Days.” On these days, the same restrictions on noisy events apply as on official public holidays. Below are their dates for 2026:

In this publication, De-Sf.Info explored the topic of public holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia in 2026. We provided the exact dates of all official holidays, days of mourning, and days of mourning. We also discussed the specifics of celebrating local and unofficial holidays. Don’t forget to share this publication with your friends!