School holidays in Germany 2026

How school holidays work in Germany

There is no single holiday calendar for every school in Germany. Dates depend on the federal state and sometimes on the area or type of school. When planning, use the calendar for the state where the school is located, even if your family lives in a neighbouring state.

Summer holiday periods are coordinated between the states through the Kultusministerkonferenz (KMK). The states set the other school holidays. This explains why one family may already be on holiday while another still has school.

Why holiday names differ

Winterferien, Frühjahrsferien and Halbjahrsferien do not always refer to the same kind of break. Some states have winter holidays, others a spring break or a short break between school half-years. Some states have no separate winter holiday period.

The tables show the German name alongside the dates for these periods. Spring holidays should not automatically be treated as Easter holidays: check the official calendar for the relevant state.

How long are school holidays?

The length depends on the season and the state. When planning a trip, consider the entire date range, including weekends within it. The number of calendar days and the number of school days off are different things.

Each seasonal holiday page shows its duration and calendar. Christmas holidays are listed under the year in which they start: a break running from December 2026 to January 2027 belongs to the 2026 schedule.

When does the school year start and end?

The first day of classes depends on the state and the school. The legal start of the school year, the return to classes after summer and a first-grader’s first day at school are different dates.

Do not automatically assume that classes resume the day after the holidays end: weekends or other days off may fall in between. Check the published return-to-school date. For first-graders, check the Einschulung date separately.

School half-years and the last day of classes

The school year is divided into half-years, but not every state has a break between them. Report-card dates and the last school day before summer holidays depend on the school calendar. Check these separately from the official boundaries of the school year.

Additional days off school

Alongside seasonal holidays, there are individual days without classes. Some apply across the state; others are decided locally. Bewegliche Ferientage may differ between schools or school districts.

Public holidays are a separate category. They are not automatically added to the school holidays in the tables above. The overall calendar helps with planning, but check local arrangements against your school’s announcements.