German school holidays in 2025–2026

For parents who live and work in Germany, it is crucial to mark school holidays on the calendar to organize the necessary family activities or childcare arrangements.

German school has seasonal holidays, including a long summer break, plus holidays for Christmas and Easter.

Planning ahead also means preparing financially for these holiday periods. Whether you’re organizing a family trip abroad, arranging childcare, or enrolling your children in vacation camps, managing your finances efficiently is crucial. For expat families who frequently travel between countries or maintain ties to their home country, services like These services can help manage multiple currencies and international payments without the hidden fees that banks can often charge.

To plan your upcoming vacation, learn more about the following topics:

• An overview of German school holidays

• When are the German school holidays in 2025–2026?2025–2026 school holidays in North Germany2025–2026 school holidays in Central Germany2025–2026 school holidays in South Germany

• 2025–2026 school holidays in North Germany

• 2025–2026 school holidays in Central Germany

• 2025–2026 school holidays in South Germany

• When are the German school holidays in 2026–2027?2026–2027 school holidays in North Germany2026–2027 school holidays in Central Germany2026–2027 school holidays in South Germany

• 2026–2027 school holidays in North Germany

• 2026–2027 school holidays in Central Germany

• 2026–2027 school holidays in South Germany

• When are Germany’s public holidays?

• Practical tips for expat parents in GermanyFinancial planning for school holidaysChildcare during German school holidays10 fun summer camps in Germany

• Financial planning for school holidays

• Childcare during German school holidays

• 10 fun summer camps in Germany

International School on the Rhine

The International School on the Rhine is located in the Düsseldorf, Neuss, Cologne region. It offers an excellent international education through full-day schooling in a multilingual environment. ISR offers an outstanding academic program, individual support for students, and several extra-curricular activities through a non-selective, college-preparatory education system.

An overview of German school holidays

School holidays in Germany are set at the regional level by each federal state. Each state will have holidays for the following times of the year:

• Autumn holiday (Herbstferien)

• Christmas (Weihnachtsferien)

• Easter (Osterferien)

• Summer (Sommerferien)

Schools in most states also have a winter break (Winterferien) around February. Also, a few states have a holiday of about one to two weeks for Pentecost (Pfingstferien) in May/June. There are also days off throughout the year, which varies between states.

Each state sets the exact dates for all German school holidays, although they need to fall within a certain time period.

Holiday dates at private international schools in Germany may be slightly different from public schools’ days off, although they will roughly coincide. Check with your child’s school for details.

International schools in Germany

When are the German school holidays in 2025–2026?

2025–2026 school holidays in North Germany

Holiday

Berlin

Brandenburg

Bremen

Hamburg

First day of school

8 September 2025

8 September 2025

14 August 2025

4 September 2025

Autumn holiday

20-31 October 2025

20-31 October 2025

13-24 October 2025

20-31 October 2025

Christmas holiday

22 December 2025, 2 January 2026

22 December 2025, 2 January 2026

22 December 2025, 5 January 2026

17 December 2025, 2 January 2026

Winter holiday

2-6 February 2026

2-6 February 2026

2-3 February 2026

n/a

Easter/Spring holiday

30 March 2026, 10 April 2027

30 March 2026, 10 April 2027

23 March, 7 April 2026

2-13 March 2026

Summer holiday

9 July, 21 August 2026

9 July, 21 August 2026

2 July, 12 August 2026

9 July, 19 August 2026

Lower Saxony

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Saxony-Anhalt

Schleswig-Holstein

First day of school

14 August 2025

8 September 2025

11 August 2025

8 September 2025

Autumn holiday

13-24 October 2025

20-24 October 2025

13-24 October 2025

20-30 October 2025

Christmas holiday

22 December 2025, 5 January 2026

22 December 2025, 5 January 2026

22 December 2025, 5 January 2026

19 December 2025, 6 January 2026

Winter holiday

2-3 February 2026

9-20 February 2026

2-6 February 2026

n/a

Easter/Spring holiday

23 March, 7 April 2026

30 March, 8 April 2026

30 March, 6 April 2026

26 March–10 April 2026

Summer holiday

2 July, 12 August 2026

13 July, 21 August 2026

6 July, 14 August 2026

6 July, 14 August 2026

2025–2026 school holidays in Central Germany

Holiday

Hesse

North Rhine-Westphalia

Saxony

Thuringia

First day of school

18 August 2025

27 August 2025

1 August 2025

11 August 2025

Autumn holiday

6-17 October 2025

13-24 October 2025

6-17 October 2025

6-17 October 2025

Christmas holiday

22 December 2025, 9 January 2026

22 December 2025, 6 January 2026

22 December 2025, 2 January 2026

22 December 2025, 2 January 2026

Winter holiday

n/a

n/a

9-20 February 2026

16-20 February 2026

Easter/Spring holiday

30 March, 10 April 2026

30 March, 10 April 2026

3-10 April 2026

3-16 April 2026

Summer holiday

29 June, 7 August 2026

20 July, 1 September 2026

6 July, 14 August 2026

6 July, 14 August 2026

2025–2026 school holidays in South Germany

Holiday

Baden-Württemberg

Bavaria

Rhineland-Palatinate

Saarland

First day of school

15 September 2025

16 September 2025

18 August 2025

15 August 2025

Autumn holiday

27-31 October 2025

3-7 November 2025

13-24 October 2025

13-24 October 2025

Christmas holiday

22 December 2025, 5 January 2026

22 December 2025, 5 January 2026

22 December 2025, 7 January 2026

22 December 2025, 2 January 2026

Winter/Spring holiday

n/a

16-20 February 2026

n/a

16-20 February 2026

Easter holiday

30 March, 10 April 2026

30 March, 10 April 2026

30 March, 10 April 2026

7-17 April 2026

Summer holiday

30 July, 11 September 2026

3 August, 14 September 2026

29 June, 7 August 2026

29 June, 7 August 2026

multi-currency account

Are you an expat or thinking of moving to Germany? Managing your money across borders shouldn’t be complicated. With a multi-currency account, you can hold over 40 currencies and pay with a multi-currency debit card in more than 150 countries. Whether you need to spend abroad, receive or send money home, These services can help make international money management simpler.

When are the German school holidays in 2026–2027?

2026–2027 school holidays in North Germany

Holiday

Berlin

Brandenburg

Bremen

Hamburg

First day of school

24 August 2026

24 August 2026

13 August 2026

20 August 2026

Autumn holiday

19-30 October 2026

19-30 October 2026

12–23 October 2026

19-30 October 2026

Christmas holiday

23 December 2026, 1 January 2027

23 December 2026, 1 January 2027

23 December 2026, 8 January 2027

21 December 2026, 1 January 2027

Winter holiday

1-5 February 2027

1-5 February 2027

1-2 February 2027

n/a

Easter/Spring holiday

22 March, 2 April 2027

22 March, 2 April 2027

22 March, 2 April 2027

1-12 March 2027

Summer holiday

1 July, 13 August 2027

1 July, 13 August 2027

8 July, 18 August 2027

1 July, 11 August 2027

Lower Saxony

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Saxony-Anhalt

Schleswig-Holstein

First day of school

13 August 2026

24 August 2026

17 August 2026

17 August 2026

Autumn holiday

12-23 October 2026

19-23 October 2026

19-30 October 2026

12-23 October 2026

Christmas holiday

23 December 2026, 8 January 2027

21 December 2026, 1 January 2027

21 December 2026, 1 January 2027

21 December 2026, 6 January 2027

Winter holiday

1-2 February 2027

8-19 February 2027

1-5 February 2027

n/a

Easter/Spring holiday

22 March, 2 April 2027

22-31 March 2027

22-29 March 2027

26 March, 9 April 2027

Summer holiday

8 July, 18 August 2027

5 July, 13 August 2027

12 July, 20 August 2027

5 July, 13 August 2027

2026–2027 school holidays in Central Germany

Holiday

Hesse

North Rhine-Westphalia

Saxony

Thuringia

First day of school

10 August 2026

2 September 2026

17 August 2026

17 August 2026

Autumn holiday

5-16 October 2026

19-30 October 2026

12-23 October 2026

12-23 October 2026

Christmas holiday

23 December 2026, 12 January 2027

23 December 2026, 6 January 2027

23 December 2026, 1 January 2027

23 December 2026, 1 January 2027

Winter holiday

n/a

n/a

8-19 February 2027

1-5 February 2027

Easter/Spring holiday

22 March, 2 April 2027

22 March, 2 April 2027

26 March, 2 April 2027

22 March, 2 April 2027

Summer holiday

28 June, 6 August 2027

19 July, 31 August 2027

12 July, 20 August 2027

12 July, 20 August 2027

2026–2027 school holidays in South Germany

Holiday

Baden-Württemberg

Bavaria

Rhineland-Palatinate

Saarland

First day of school

14 September 2026

15 September 2026

10 August 2026

10 August 2026

Autumn holiday

26-30 October 2026

2-6 November 2026

5-16 October 2026

5-16 October 2026

Christmas holiday

23 December 2026, 8 January 2027

24 December 2026, 8 January 2027

23 December 2026, 8 January 2027

21 December 2026, 1 January 2027

Spring/Carnival holiday

n/a

8-12 February 2027

n/a

8-12 February 2027

Easter holiday

26 March, 2 April 2027

22 March, 2 April 2027

22 March, 2 April 2027

26 March, 9 April 2027

Summer holiday

29 July, 10 September 2027

2 August, 13 September 2027

28 June, 6 August 2027

28 June, 6 August 2027

When are Germany’s public holidays?

The above dates apply to all schools each year, but there are additional days throughout the year when there may be no school. For example, students have time off for Ascension Day (Himmelfahrt) and Pentecost (Pfingsten).

You can discover more official holidays by reading our article on public holidays in Germany.

Public holidays in Germany

Practical tips for expat parents in Germany

Financial planning for school holidays

School holidays often mean additional expenses for families, from travel and accommodation to childcare and activities. For expat parents who may be traveling internationally or paying for services in different currencies, managing these expenses efficiently becomes even more important.

When planning trips abroad during school breaks:

• Create a holiday budget that accounts for currency fluctuations

• Consider the most cost-effective way to spend money abroad

• Plan ahead for international payments for activities or accommodations

Using the multi-currency account can help you manage your holiday finances. With the service, you can hold and convert money in multiple currencies and spend abroad with the multi-currency debit card.

Childcare during German school holidays

If you are a working parent, you may find yourself in the position of having to find childcare during the holidays if you can’t (or don’t want to) take time off work, and leaving the kids with relatives or friends isn’t an option.

The main options in Germany are:

• Daycare nurseries (horts): Provide out-of-hours school care for primary school children in Germany. This normally takes place after school hours, but many German horts also run holiday provision that includes a range of fun activities. They are primarily for primary school children but, in some cases, will take children up until the age of 14. You can find information about nursery provision in your area from your child’s school or your local authority. You can also search for nurseries through Kita.

• Paying for an individual carer: You could employ a childminder, nanny, babysitter, or au pair. You can find a babysitter in your area on Babysitter.de.

Prices and availability vary, so it’s advisable to book as soon as possible.

10 fun summer camps in Germany

Germany has many fun and educational summer camps for children to learn and play during the school holidays, including:

• Alpadia Language Schools

• Buntkicktgut

• Camp Adventure

• GLS German Language School Camps

• Goethe-Institut Youth Camps

• Humboldt-Institut Summer Camps

• KidsCampAmerica

• Luethi-Peterson Camps

• Outward Bound Summer Camps

• Teen Summer Camp in Berlin: Adventure & Watersports

Conclusion

Understanding the German school holiday calendar is essential for expat families to plan effectively throughout the academic year. With differences between the language communities and various holiday periods spread across the year, advance planning is key to balancing work commitments with childcare needs and family activities.

Whether you’re arranging local childcare, sending your children to vacation camps, or planning family trips abroad during these breaks, having the right financial tools in place can make the process smoother. For expat families in Germany, These services provide a solution for managing expenses across different currencies without the hidden fees that can be charged by banks.