School holidays Nordrhein-Westfalen 2026
Overview of all school holidays in Nordrhein-Westfalen (Germany) for 2026.
| Holiday period | Period | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Osterferien | 30.03.2026 - 11.04.2026 | 13 days |
| Pfingstferien | 26.05.2026 - 26.05.2026 | 1 days |
| Sommerferien | 13.07.2026 - 25.08.2026 | 44 days |
| Herbstferien | 12.10.2026 - 24.10.2026 | 13 days |
| Weihnachtsferien | 23.12.2026 - 06.01.2027 | 15 days |
School holidays 2026 in Nordrhein-Westfalen
2026 includes 5 school holiday periods in Nordrhein-Westfalen, totaling 86 holiday days. These breaks are important recovery time for students and teachers.
This overview helps families coordinate travel and planning. The table above shows the exact period and duration for each holiday block.
Good to know about school holidays in Germany
- Regional responsibility: School holiday dates are set individually by each state or canton.
- Flexible school days: Some regions have additional movable days defined at school level.
- Staggered summer breaks: Summer holiday windows are offset between regions to reduce travel congestion.
Comparison pages for Nordrhein-Westfalen
Compare Nordrhein-Westfalen directly with other German states for your vacation planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Specific Questions
How many school holiday days does Nordrhein-Westfalen have in 2026?
Nordrhein-Westfalen has a total of 86 school holiday days in 2026, distributed across 5 holiday periods.
When are the summer holidays 2026 in Nordrhein-Westfalen?
The summer holidays 2026 in Nordrhein-Westfalen are from 13.07.2026 to 25.08.2026.
General Questions
Why are school holidays different in each federal state?
In Germany, educational sovereignty lies with the federal states. Therefore, each state sets its own holiday dates (except for the summer holidays, which are coordinated). This leads to the different schedules.
What are "flexible holidays" (bewegliche Ferientage)?
Flexible holidays are additional days off, the scheduling of which can often be decided by the individual schools or municipalities themselves. They are often used to create bridge days after public holidays like Ascension Day.
Why are the summer holidays staggered between the states?
The summer holidays are planned and staggered long-term by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (Kultusministerkonferenz). The main goal is to ease travel traffic to avoid traffic jams on highways and overcrowding in holiday regions.
Are the holiday dates listed here binding?
Our data is carefully researched but provided without guarantee. Only the information from the responsible state ministries of education and your child's specific school is binding. There may be local variations, especially with flexible holidays.
Do these dates also apply to vocational schools?
Holiday dates for vocational schools may differ from those for general education schools. Please inquire directly with the responsible vocational school or the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).
Technical Questions
Where does the school holiday data come from?
The data is based on the official publications of the ministries of education of the German federal states, as well as the corresponding educational authorities in Austria and Switzerland. We regularly check this data.
How are the holiday dates for future years determined?
The holiday dates, especially the summer holidays, are determined and published many years in advance by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK). The other holidays are usually announced by the states for the next one to two school years.
Last updated: 18/02/2026
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