Vacation planning for 2026: How to secure the best bridging days!

Vacation planning for 2026: How to secure the best bridging days!

Planning for vacation in 2026 has already begun, and employees in Germany are intensively thinking about how they can organize their days off. The key factors for planning are public holidays and the possibility of creating longer periods of relaxation through clever use of vacation days. Loud ZDF today Christmas Eve 2026 falls on a Thursday, followed by Christmas Day on Friday, which motivates many employees to make the most of bridge days.

Employees can look forward to a total of four vacation days, with which they can take around 1.5 weeks off. Full-time employees in Germany have an average of 30 vacation days per year, which makes it easier to plan extended vacations. Combining public holidays with vacation is often recommended as this can lead to longer recovery times.

Nationwide holidays and important dates

In Germany there are a large number of public holidays that influence vacation. National holidays include:

• Karfreitag (beweglich)
• Ostermontag (beweglich)
• Pfingstmontag (beweglich)
• Christi Himmelfahrt (immer Donnerstag, beweglich)
• Feste Feiertage: 1. Januar, 1. Mai, 3. Oktober, 25. Dezember, 26. Dezember

The Easter period extends from Good Friday, April 3rd, to Easter Monday, April 6th. During this period, employees can have up to 16 days off with 1-2 vacation days if they plan wisely. Ascension Day on May 14th also offers the opportunity for a long weekend.

Bridge days and their use

Bridge days between public holidays and weekends are a strategic way to secure longer vacation periods. Loud Vacation Guru These days should be planned and applied for in your vacation early. It is important to note that bridging days are not automatically days off and appropriate approval from the employer is required.

Using bridging days could be more difficult in 2026 as there will be fewer of these days available overall. It is therefore advisable to use the available bridging days specifically for short vacations. Flexibility in vacation planning also allows for spontaneous time off, which is attractive for many employees.

Regional differences

The number of public holidays can vary depending on the federal state. Bavaria has the most public holidays with 13, followed by Baden-Württemberg, Brandenburg and Saarland with 12 each. In other federal states there are usually 10 or 11 public holidays. These regional differences significantly influence the planning and use of bridging days.

Finally, early consultation with colleagues and superiors is recommended in order to avoid difficulties in approving vacation requests. Overall, well-thought-out vacation planning can help you make the most of public holidays and enable longer periods of relaxation.