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Holiday dates for all 16 states, three school years ahead

Each German state sets its own school holidays, and the summer break moves from year to year. Summer lasts six weeks, and the education ministers fix it years ahead in a rota that lets the states take turns to start early or late. All holidays in a school year add up to 75 working days, Saturdays included.
Written by
Janine El-Saghir
Reviewed by
Erkan Boga

School holidays in Germany: at a glance
  • Every state has its own dates. The education ministers fix the summer holidays years ahead, the states set the rest.
  • Summer lasts six weeks and moves by state between mid-June and mid-September, so the states take turns to start early or late.
  • 75 days off per school year in total, counted in working days with Saturdays included.

School holidays decide when families in Germany can travel, and the dates differ by state. Find your state in the row, then book. Planning your own days off alongside: the vacation days calculator shows your entitlement, and the working days calculator counts the working days between two dates with the public holidays of your state. The rules on taking vacation as an employee: vacation days in Germany.

School holidays 2026/2027

School holidays in the German states, school year 2026/2027
State Autumn 2026 Christmas Winter 2027 Easter and spring 2027 Ascension and Whitsun 2027 Summer 2027
Baden-Württemberg 26–30 Oct, 31 Oct 23 Dec–9 Jan none 25 Mar, 30 Mar–3 Apr 18–29 May 29 Jul–11 Sep
Bavaria 2–6 Nov 24 Dec–8 Jan none 8–12 Feb, 22 Mar–2 Apr 18–28 May 2 Aug–13 Sep
Berlin 19–31 Oct 23 Dec–2 Jan 1–6 Feb 22 Mar–2 Apr 7 May, 18–19 May 1 Jul–14 Aug
Brandenburg 19–30 Oct 23 Dec–2 Jan 1–6 Feb 22 Mar–3 Apr 18 May 1 Jul–14 Aug
Bremen 12–24 Oct 23 Dec–9 Jan 1–2 Feb 22 Mar–3 Apr 7 May, 18 May 8 Jul–18 Aug
Hamburg 19–30 Oct 21 Dec–1 Jan 29 Jan 1–12 Mar 7–14 May 1 Jul–11 Aug
Hesse 5–17 Oct 23 Dec–12 Jan none 22 Mar–2 Apr none 28 Jun–6 Aug
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 15–24 Oct 21 Dec–2 Jan 8–19 Feb 24 Mar–2 Apr 7 May, 14–18 May 5 Jul–14 Aug
Lower Saxony 12–24 Oct 23 Dec–9 Jan 1–2 Feb 22 Mar–3 Apr 7 May, 18 May 8 Jul–18 Aug
North Rhine-Westphalia 17–31 Oct 23 Dec–6 Jan none 22 Mar–3 Apr 18 May 19 Jul–31 Aug
Rhineland-Palatinate 5–16 Oct 23 Dec–8 Jan none 22 Mar–2 Apr none 28 Jun–6 Aug
Saarland 5–16 Oct 21–31 Dec 8–12 Feb 30 Mar–9 Apr none 28 Jun–6 Aug
Saxony 12–24 Oct 23 Dec–2 Jan 8–19 Feb 26 Mar–2 Apr 7 May, 15–18 May 10 Jul–20 Aug
Saxony-Anhalt 19–30 Oct 21 Dec–2 Jan 1–6 Feb 22–27 Mar 15–22 May 10 Jul–20 Aug
Schleswig-Holstein 12–24 Oct 21 Dec–6 Jan none 30 Mar–10 Apr 7 May 3 Jul–14 Aug
Thuringia 12–24 Oct 23 Dec–2 Jan 1–6 Feb 22 Mar–3 Apr 7 May 10 Jul–20 Aug
First and last day of each holiday. Dates in italics are days without school or lessons, marked separately by the KMK (schul- und unterrichtsfreie Tage). Source: Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education (KMK), school holidays in the German states, as of 9 October 2025, retrieved 8 November 2026.

School holidays 2027/2028

School holidays in the German states, school year 2027/2028
State Autumn 2027 Christmas Winter 2028 Easter and spring 2028 Ascension and Whitsun 2028 Summer 2028
Baden-Württemberg 2–6 Nov 23 Dec–8 Jan none 13 Apr, 18–22 Apr 6–17 Jun 27 Jul–9 Sep
Bavaria 2–5 Nov 24 Dec–7 Jan none 28 Feb–3 Mar, 10–21 Apr 6–16 Jun 31 Jul–11 Sep
Berlin 11–23 Oct 22–31 Dec 31 Jan–5 Feb 10–22 Apr 26 May, 1–2 Jun 1 Jul–12 Aug
Brandenburg 11–23 Oct 23–31 Dec 31 Jan–5 Feb 10–22 Apr none 29 Jun–12 Aug
Bremen 18–30 Oct 23 Dec–8 Jan 31 Jan–1 Feb 10–22 Apr 26 May, 6 Jun 20 Jul–30 Aug
Hamburg 11–22 Oct 20–31 Dec 28 Jan 6–17 Mar 22–26 May 3 Jul–11 Aug
Hesse 4–16 Oct 23 Dec–11 Jan none 3–14 Apr none 3 Jul–11 Aug
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 14–23 Oct 22 Dec–4 Jan 5–17 Feb, 18 Feb 12–21 Apr 26 May, 2–6 Jun 26 Jun–5 Aug
Lower Saxony 16–30 Oct 23 Dec–8 Jan 31 Jan–1 Feb 10–22 Apr 26 May, 6 Jun 20 Jul–30 Aug
North Rhine-Westphalia 23 Oct–6 Nov 24 Dec–8 Jan none 10–22 Apr none 10 Jul–22 Aug
Rhineland-Palatinate 4–15 Oct 23 Dec–7 Jan none 10–21 Apr none 3 Jul–11 Aug
Saarland 4–15 Oct 20–31 Dec 21–29 Feb 12–21 Apr none 3 Jul–11 Aug
Saxony 11–23 Oct 23 Dec–1 Jan 14–26 Feb 14–22 Apr 26 May 22 Jul–1 Sep
Saxony-Anhalt 18–23 Oct 20–31 Dec 7–12 Feb 10–22 Apr 3–10 Jun 22 Jul–1 Sep
Schleswig-Holstein 11–23 Oct 23 Dec–8 Jan none 3–15 Apr 26 May 24 Jun–4 Aug
Thuringia 9–23 Oct 23–31 Dec 7–12 Feb 3–15 Apr 26 May 22 Jul–1 Sep
First and last day of each holiday. Dates in italics are days without school or lessons, marked separately by the KMK (schul- und unterrichtsfreie Tage). Source: Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education (KMK), school holidays in the German states, as of 9 October 2025, retrieved 8 November 2026.

School holidays 2028/2029

School holidays in the German states, school year 2028/2029
State Autumn 2028 Christmas Winter 2029 Easter and spring 2029 Ascension and Whitsun 2029 Summer 2029
Baden-Württemberg 30 Oct–3 Nov 23 Dec–5 Jan none 26 Mar–7 Apr 22 May–1 Jun 26 Jul–8 Sep
Bavaria 30 Oct–3 Nov 23 Dec–5 Jan none 12–16 Feb, 26 Mar–6 Apr 22 May–1 Jun 30 Jul–10 Sep
Berlin 2–14 Oct 22 Dec–2 Jan 29 Jan–3 Feb, 9 Mar 26 Mar–6 Apr, 30 Apr 11 May, 22–25 May 1 Jul–11 Aug
Brandenburg 2–14 Oct 22 Dec–2 Jan 29 Jan–3 Feb 26 Mar–6 Apr 22 May 28 Jun–11 Aug
Bremen 2 Oct, 23 Oct–4 Nov 27 Dec–6 Jan 1–2 Feb 19 Mar–3 Apr, 30 Apr 11 May, 22 May 19 Jul–29 Aug
Hamburg 2–13 Oct, 30 Oct 18–29 Dec 2 Feb 5–16 Mar 11–18 May 2 Jul–10 Aug
Hesse 9–20 Oct 27 Dec–12 Jan none 29 Mar–13 Apr none 16 Jul–24 Aug
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 2 Oct, 23–28 Oct, 30 Oct 22 Dec–2 Jan 5–16 Feb 9 Mar, 28 Mar–6 Apr, 30 Apr 11 May, 18–22 May 18 Jun–28 Jul
Lower Saxony 2 Oct, 23 Oct–4 Nov 27 Dec–6 Jan 1–2 Feb 19 Mar–3 Apr, 30 Apr 11 May, 22 May 19 Jul–29 Aug
North Rhine-Westphalia 23 Oct–4 Nov 21 Dec–5 Jan none 26 Mar–7 Apr 22 May 2 Jul–14 Aug
Rhineland-Palatinate 9–20 Oct 21 Dec–8 Jan none 26 Mar–6 Apr none 16 Jul–24 Aug
Saarland 9–20 Oct 20 Dec–2 Jan 12–16 Feb 26 Mar–6 Apr 22–25 May 16 Jul–24 Aug
Saxony 23 Oct–3 Nov 23 Dec–3 Jan 5–16 Feb 29 Mar–6 Apr 11 May, 19–22 May 21 Jul–31 Aug
Saxony-Anhalt 2 Oct, 30 Oct–3 Nov 21 Dec–2 Jan 5–10 Feb 26–31 Mar 30 Apr, 11–25 May 21 Jul–31 Aug
Schleswig-Holstein 16–30 Oct 21 Dec–5 Jan none 23 Mar–6 Apr 11 May 23 Jun–3 Aug
Thuringia 23 Oct–3 Nov 23 Dec–5 Jan 12–17 Feb 26 Mar–7 Apr 11 May 21 Jul–31 Aug
First and last day of each holiday. Dates in italics are days without school or lessons, marked separately by the KMK (schul- und unterrichtsfreie Tage). Source: Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education (KMK), school holidays in the German states, as of 9 October 2025, retrieved 8 November 2026.

Summer holidays until 2030

Summer holidays in the German states, 2027 to 2030
State 2027 2028 2029 2030
Baden-Württemberg 29 Jul–11 Sep 27 Jul–9 Sep 26 Jul–8 Sep 25 Jul–7 Sep
Bavaria 2 Aug–13 Sep 31 Jul–11 Sep 30 Jul–10 Sep 29 Jul–9 Sep
Berlin 1 Jul–14 Aug 1 Jul–12 Aug 1 Jul–11 Aug 4 Jul–17 Aug
Brandenburg 1 Jul–14 Aug 29 Jun–12 Aug 28 Jun–11 Aug 4 Jul–17 Aug
Bremen 8 Jul–18 Aug 20 Jul–30 Aug 19 Jul–29 Aug 11 Jul–21 Aug
Hamburg 1 Jul–11 Aug 3 Jul–11 Aug 2 Jul–10 Aug 4 Jul–14 Aug
Hesse 28 Jun–6 Aug 3 Jul–11 Aug 16 Jul–24 Aug 22 Jul–30 Aug
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 5 Jul–14 Aug 26 Jun–5 Aug 18 Jun–28 Jul 1 Jul–10 Aug
Lower Saxony 8 Jul–18 Aug 20 Jul–30 Aug 19 Jul–29 Aug 11 Jul–21 Aug
North Rhine-Westphalia 19 Jul–31 Aug 10 Jul–22 Aug 2 Jul–14 Aug 24 Jun–6 Aug
Rhineland-Palatinate 28 Jun–6 Aug 3 Jul–11 Aug 16 Jul–24 Aug 22 Jul–30 Aug
Saarland 28 Jun–6 Aug 3 Jul–11 Aug 16 Jul–24 Aug 22 Jul–30 Aug
Saxony 10 Jul–20 Aug 22 Jul–1 Sep 21 Jul–31 Aug 13 Jul–23 Aug
Saxony-Anhalt 10 Jul–20 Aug 22 Jul–1 Sep 21 Jul–31 Aug 13 Jul–23 Aug
Schleswig-Holstein 3 Jul–14 Aug 24 Jun–4 Aug 23 Jun–3 Aug 8 Jul–17 Aug
Thuringia 10 Jul–20 Aug 22 Jul–1 Sep 21 Jul–31 Aug 13 Jul–23 Aug
2027 to 2029 from the KMK holiday tables (as of 9 October 2025), 2030 from the long-term summer holiday plan of December 2021. States whose six weeks end midweek may extend to the weekend, so 2030 can still shift by a few days. Retrieved 8 November 2026.

How the dates are set

The school year runs from 1 August to 31 July. The education ministers of the 16 states agree the summer holidays for several years at once, in a rota that lets each group of states start early in some years and late in others. The other holidays, at Easter and Christmas in particular, each state decides on its own and reports to the ministers’ secretariat, which publishes the overview used here. All holidays in a school year add up to 75 working days, Saturdays included.

These 75 days include movable days off: many states give schools one to six of them. Ask your school when they fall. The North Sea islands of Schleswig-Holstein (Sylt, Föhr, Amrum, Helgoland and the Halligen) have their own summer and autumn dates, and Lower Saxony’s North Sea islands have special rules as well.

Planning trips around school

Compulsory schooling means attending every lesson, and the head teacher checks attendance and can act on absences. So talk to the school before you book a trip that starts before the holidays. For working parents, the legal right to all-day care for primary school children, starting with the first graders of 2026/2027, also covers the school holidays. State law can allow care centers to close for up to four weeks a year during the holidays, so ask when yours does.

Bottom line

Put your state’s dates into your calendar for the next three school years and ask the school for its movable days. For trips outside the holidays, talk to the school before you book.

Part of education in Germany. Also: school enrollment · Kita.

Frequently Asked Questions

The states are split into five groups of about the same population, and the groups take turns to start their summer early or late. The window from mid-June to mid-September has educational, organizational and climatic reasons. The education ministers fix this rota years ahead, currently up to 2030.

No. The tables list school holidays only. Public holidays are a separate list, and the national ones are kept by the Federal Ministry of the Interior.

The KMK tables list the holidays each state sets. Private and international schools may differ, so check the school’s own calendar before you book.

Sources (as of 8 November 2026)

Sources (as of 8 November 2026)

  1. Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education (KMK), holiday calendar 2026/2027 and holiday tables for the school years 2026/2027, 2027/2028 and 2028/2029 (as of 9 October 2025, in German).
  2. KMK, long-term summer holiday plan 2025 to 2030 (decision of 9 December 2021, in German) and holiday rules.
  3. KMK, agreement of the states on the common basic structure of the school system (2020, in German): school year, 75 days of holidays, summer window.
  4. Eurydice, European Commission, Germany: organisation of primary education (rota of the summer holidays) and organisation of the education system (attendance).
  5. Social Code Book VIII (SGB VIII), section 24: all-day care for primary school children, including holidays (in German).
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About the authors
Janine El-Saghir Janine El Saghir is an editor at How-to-Germany.com, where she specializes in the practical aspects of daily life and integration for expatriates. With years of...
Erkan Boga Erkan Boga is the founder and CEO of qmedia GmbH, the publishing house behind How-to-Germany.com. He established the platform with the clear vision of creating... Read more