Here is a list of school holiday dates in Germany for the academic year, sorted by state.
German school holidays From the short winter break to the long summer break, this system provides students, teachers and parents with a variety of opportunities for rest, recreation and learning outside the classroom.
How many school holidays are there in Germany?
School holidays are an integral part of the German education system, reflecting the country's cultural and historical diversity and striving to achieve a balance between learning and rest.
German school holidays vary from state to state in number and distribution throughout the year, but they usually include the following periods:
- Winter break (Winterferien): Usually at the end of January or beginning of February and lasts for a week.
- Easter holiday (Osterferien): It takes place in the spring, usually in April, and lasts for two weeks.
- Pentecost holiday (Pfingstferien): lasts from a few days to two weeks, and is held in May or June, but is not present in all states.
- Summer break (Sommerferien): The longest break of the year, lasting approximately 6 weeks during July and August.
- Autumn break (Herbstferien): Usually takes place in October and lasts for one to two weeks.
- Christmas holidays (Weihnachtsferien): starts in late December and lasts until early January, for two weeks.
In general, school holidays in Germany can range from about 12 to 16 weeks per year, depending on the state and the type of holiday.
School holidays in Baden-Württemberg
- Winter break: none
- Easter Holiday: 14.04 – 26.04
- Pentecost Holiday: 10.06 – 20.06
- Summer vacation: 31.07 – 13.09
- Autumn break: 27.10 – 30.10+31.10*
- Christmas Holiday: 22.12 – 05.01
School holidays in Bavaria
- Winter break: 03.03 – 07.03
- Easter Holiday: 14.04 – 25.04
- Pentecost Holiday: 10.06 – 20.06
- Summer vacation: 01.08 – 15.09
- Autumn break: 03.11 – 07.11+19.11
- Christmas Holiday: 22.12 – 05.01
School holidays in Berlin
- Winter break: 03.02 – 08.02
- Easter Holiday: 14.04 – 25.04+02.05+30.05*
- Pentecost Holiday: 10.06
- Summer vacation: 24.07 – 06.09
- Autumn break: 20.10 – 01.11
- Christmas Holiday: 22.12 – 02.01
School holidays in Brandenburg
- Winter break: 03.02 – 08.02
- Easter Holiday: 14.04 – 25.04+02.05+30.05*
- Pentecost Holiday: 10.06
- Summer vacation: 24.07 – 06.09
- Autumn break: 20.10 – 01.11
- Christmas Holiday: 22.12 – 02.01
School holidays in Bremen
- Winter break: 03.02 – 04.02*
- Easter Holiday: 07.04 – 19.04
- Pentecost Holiday: 30.04+02.05+30.05+10.06*
- Summer vacation: 03.07 – 13.08
- Autumn break: 13.10 – 25.10
- Christmas Holiday: 22.12 – 05.01
School holidays in Hamburg
- Winter break: 31.01*
- Easter Holiday: 10.03 – 21.03*
- Pentecost Holiday: 02.05+26.05 – 30.05*
- Summer vacation: 24.07 – 03.09
- Autumn break: 20.10 – 31.10
- Christmas Holiday: 17.12 – 02.01
School holidays in Hesse
- Winter break: -
- Easter Holiday: 07.04 – 21.04
- Pentecost Holiday: -
- Summer vacation: 07.07 – 15.08
- Autumn break: 06.10 – 18.10
- Christmas Holiday: 22.12 – 10.01
School holidays in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- Winter break: 03.02 – 14.02*
- Easter Holiday: 14.04 – 23.04+30.05*
- Pentecost Holiday: 06.06 – 10.06*
- Summer vacation: 28.07 – 06.09*
- Autumn break: 02.10+20.10 – 25.10+03.11*
- Christmas Holiday: 22.12 – 05.01
School holidays in Lower Saxony
- Winter break: 03.02 – 04.02
- Easter Holiday: 07.04 – 19.04+30.04*
- Pentecost Holiday: 02.05+30.05+10.06*
- Summer vacation: 03.07 – 13.08
- Autumn break: 13.10 – 25.10
- Christmas Holiday: 22.12 – 05.01
School holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia
- Winter break: -
- Easter Holiday: 14.04 – 26.04
- Pentecost Holiday: 10.06
- Summer vacation: 14.07 – 26.08
- Autumn break: 13.10 – 25.10
- Christmas Holiday: 22.12 – 06.01
School holidays in Rhineland-Palatinate
- Winter break: -
- Easter Holiday: 14.04 – 25.04
- Pentecost Holiday: -
- Summer vacation: 07.07 – 15.08
- Autumn break: 13.10 – 24.10
- Christmas Holiday: 22.12 – 07.01
School holidays in Saarland
- Winter break: 24.02 – 04.03
- Easter Holiday: 14.04 – 25.04
- Pentecost Holiday: -
- Summer vacation: 07.07 – 14.08
- Autumn break: 13.10 – 24.10
- Christmas Holiday: 22.12 – 02.01
School holidays in Saxony
- Winter break: 17.02 – 01.03
- Easter Holiday: 18.04 – 25.04+30.05*
- Pentecost Holiday: -
- Summer vacation: 28.06 – 08.08
- Autumn break: 06.10 – 18.10
- Christmas Holiday: 22.12 – 02.01
School holidays in Saxony-Anhalt
- Winter break: 27.01 – 31.01
- Easter Holiday: 07.04 – 19.04
- Pentecost Holiday: 30.05*
- Summer vacation: 28.06 – 08.08
- Autumn break: 13.10 – 25.10
- Christmas Holiday: 22.12 – 05.01
School holidays in Schleswig-Holstein
- Winter break: -
- Easter Holiday: 11.04 – 25.04*
- Pentecost Holiday: 30.05*
- Summer vacation: 28.07 – 06.09*
- Autumn break: 20.10 – 30.10*
- Christmas Holiday: 19.12 – 06.01
School holidays in Thuringia
- Winter break: 03.02 – 08.02
- Easter Holiday: 07.04 – 19.04
- Pentecost Holiday: 30.05*
- Summer vacation: 28.06 – 08.08
- Autumn break: 06.10 – 18.10
- Christmas holiday: 22.12 – 03.01.
Unlike many other countries, Germany has a unique system for distributing school holidays, which varies from state to state within the country's federal system. This diversity in holiday dates and lengths not only reflects the administrative autonomy of the German states, but also serves various educational, social and economic goals.
