School holidays

Christmas break 2026/27

Exact school-holiday ranges by federal state or school group, with planning links and subscription options.

Answer

When is it?

Christmas break 2026/27 is staggered by federal state or school group. The first range is 17 December 2025 - 2 January 2026 for HH; the cards below show every group.

Upcoming date
182 days until Christmas break

Check family travel, childcare and busy travel windows early.

Exact dates

By state group

Full overview
HH

17 December 2025 - 2 January 2026

Hamburg
17 days
School year 2025/26 29% · 107 days until christmas break
SH

19 December 2025 - 6 January 2026

Schleswig-Holstein
19 days
School year 2025/26 30% · 109 days until christmas break
MV

20 December 2025 - 3 January 2026

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
15 days
School year 2025/26 30% · 110 days until christmas break
BE, BB, SL, and SN

22 December 2025 - 2 January 2026

Berlin Brandenburg Saarland Sachsen
12 days
School year 2025/26 31% · 112 days until christmas break
BW, BY, HB, NI, and ST

22 December 2025 - 5 January 2026

Baden-Württemberg Bayern Bremen Niedersachsen Sachsen-Anhalt
15 days
School year 2025/26 31% · 112 days until christmas break
HE

22 December 2025 - 10 January 2026

Hessen
20 days
School year 2025/26 31% · 112 days until christmas break
NW

22 December 2025 - 6 January 2026

Nordrhein-Westfalen
16 days
School year 2025/26 31% · 112 days until christmas break
RP

22 December 2025 - 7 January 2026

Rheinland-Pfalz
17 days
School year 2025/26 31% · 112 days until christmas break
TH

22 December 2025 - 3 January 2026

Thüringen
13 days
School year 2025/26 31% · 112 days until christmas break
HH

21 December 2026 - 1 January 2027

Hamburg
12 days
School year 2026/27 30% · 111 days until christmas break
MV and ST

21 December 2026 - 2 January 2027

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Sachsen-Anhalt
13 days
School year 2026/27 30% · 111 days until christmas break
SH

21 December 2026 - 6 January 2027

Schleswig-Holstein
17 days
School year 2026/27 30% · 111 days until christmas break
SL

21 December 2026 - 31 December 2026

Saarland
11 days
School year 2026/27 30% · 111 days until christmas break
BE, BB, SN, and TH

23 December 2026 - 2 January 2027

Berlin Brandenburg Sachsen Thüringen
11 days
School year 2026/27 31% · 113 days until christmas break
BW, HB, and NI

23 December 2026 - 9 January 2027

Baden-Württemberg Bremen Niedersachsen
18 days
School year 2026/27 31% · 113 days until christmas break
HE

23 December 2026 - 12 January 2027

Hessen
21 days
School year 2026/27 31% · 113 days until christmas break
NW

23 December 2026 - 6 January 2027

Nordrhein-Westfalen
15 days
School year 2026/27 31% · 113 days until christmas break
RP

23 December 2026 - 8 January 2027

Rheinland-Pfalz
17 days
School year 2026/27 31% · 113 days until christmas break
BY

24 December 2026 - 8 January 2027

Bayern
16 days
School year 2026/27 31% · 114 days until christmas break
Data basis

Official KMK dates, grouped by state

The displayed date rows are grouped from official KMK school-holiday data. Movable school-free days, local arrangements and school-specific deviations are still separate checks.

KMK school-holiday regulation KMK holiday calendar
What to do next

Use the date, then plan around it

Christmas break belongs next to Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day and Epiphany where relevant.

Families

Childcare first

School-free weekdays still need childcare or approved leave.

Work

Not automatically off

School holidays do not replace employment leave rules.

Travel

Expect demand peaks

Starts and ends can affect traffic, booking windows and family destinations.

FAQ

Common questions about christmas break

Short answers about state differences, work leave and planning.

Are christmas break dates the same in every federal state?

No. Christmas break dates differ by federal state or school group. The table on this page shows the exact range for each group.

Do christmas break mean parents are automatically off work?

No. Christmas break affect school schedules and childcare planning, but work leave still depends on employment rules and approved vacation days.

How should I plan around christmas break?

Christmas break belongs next to Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day and Epiphany where relevant. Use the planner for public holidays, calendar weeks for project timing and the calendar subscription for ongoing updates.