Long Weekends in Germany 2026
Germany has 9 public holidays in 2026, creating 7 long-weekend opportunities — 5 automatic 3-day weekends and 2 bridge chances where a day or two of leave buys a longer break.
Smartest break
Take 1 leave day around New Year's Day (January 1, 2026) for 4 days off — Jan 1 – Jan 4.
| Holiday | Date | Leave to book | Days off | Your break |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thu, Jan 1 | Fri, Jan 2 | 4 | Jan 1 – Jan 4 |
| Good Friday | Fri, Apr 3 | None — automatic | 3 | Apr 3 – Apr 5 |
| Easter Monday | Mon, Apr 6 | None — automatic | 3 | Apr 4 – Apr 6 |
| Labour Day | Fri, May 1 | None — automatic | 3 | May 1 – May 3 |
| Ascension Day | Thu, May 14 | Fri, May 15 | 4 | May 14 – May 17 |
| Whit Monday | Mon, May 25 | None — automatic | 3 | May 23 – May 25 |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 | None — automatic | 3 | Dec 25 – Dec 27 |
Long weekend FAQ
- What is a bridge day?
- A bridge day ("puente" in Spanish) is a workday wedged between a public holiday and the weekend. Book it off and the holiday and weekend join into one unbroken break.
- How many long weekends does Germany have in 2026?
- Germany has 7 long-weekend opportunities in 2026: 5 that need no leave and 2 that need one or two days off.