Dusseldorf school holidays 2026

German public holidays in NRW 2026

Public holidays in Germany are set largely at state level, so North Rhine-Westphalia has a few that other states do not, including Corpus Christi and All Saints' Day. Every Dusseldorf school closes on the dates below.

Dusseldorf and the wider Rhineland also keep a strong Carnival tradition. Rose Monday in February is not a statutory public holiday, but many schools and businesses across the region close or run a half day, so check your school's calendar for it.

NRW term dates 2025-26 and 2026-27

North Rhine-Westphalia sets a single holiday order for all state schools, published years ahead. Unlike the UK, the German year has no week-long February or May half terms; instead it is built around the breaks below, with individual schools allocated three flexible days each year that are often used around Carnival. The confirmed dates for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years are:

The Whitsun break in NRW is a single day attached to the Whit Monday public holiday rather than a full week. The new school year begins the day after the summer break ends, so the 2026-27 year opens on 2 September 2026.

International school term dates

Dusseldorf has a large expatriate community, anchored by one of Europe's biggest Japanese populations and a strong corporate base, and the international school market reflects that. The International School of Dusseldorf, the Japanese International School and the bilingual and IB schools across the city set their own term dates aligned to their curriculum, but most broadly track the NRW autumn, Christmas, Easter and summer breaks so that families can plan around a single regional rhythm.

The main differences from the state calendar are at the edges. International schools often take a longer Christmas break and a one-week half term in autumn that lines up with the NRW Herbstferien, and they finish the year a little before the state summer break begins. All of them still close on the German public holidays in the table above. To weigh the curricula on offer read the curriculum guide, and for the country-level context see the Germany country guide.

Planning the year

Three practical notes for Dusseldorf families. First, because German summer dates are staggered by state, the NRW summer in July and August is a good time to travel within Germany, as the autobahns and resorts are busier on the weeks other states are off; the rolling schedule spreads the load. Second, the Rhineland Carnival in February is a genuine event in Dusseldorf, and the flexible school days often cluster around Rose Monday, so plan childcare for that week. Third, the German Abitur exams run from spring into early summer, so keep family travel out of that window if you have a child in an exam year. To compare neighbourhoods return to the Dusseldorf city guide.

Common questions

When do schools break up in Dusseldorf for summer 2026? State schools on the NRW calendar break up on 20 July 2026, with the summer holiday running to 1 September 2026.

How long is the summer holiday in Dusseldorf? The NRW summer break is about six weeks, from 20 July to 1 September 2026. German summer holidays are staggered by state.

When are the autumn holidays in Dusseldorf in 2026? The autumn break (Herbstferien) runs from 17 to 31 October 2026. The earlier 2025 autumn break ran 13 to 25 October 2025.

When does the 2026 to 2027 school year start in Dusseldorf? Classes resume after the summer break on 2 September 2026, with the autumn break following in mid October.

Do international schools in Dusseldorf follow the German calendar? Partly. They broadly track the NRW breaks but set their own exact term dates and observe German public holidays.

Related guides

• Dusseldorf city guide
• Germany country guide
• London school holidays 2026