Munich School Holidays 2026

Bavaria public holidays 2026

Every school in Munich closes on Bavarian public holidays. Bavaria observes the most public holidays of any German state, adding several Catholic feast days. The confirmed 2026 dates are below.

Assumption of Mary is a public holiday only in municipalities with a Catholic majority, which includes Munich. Where a holiday falls on a weekday in term time it gives a one-day break, and a Thursday holiday such as Corpus Christi often prompts a Brueckentag, a bridging day, on the Friday.

Bavarian term and holiday dates 2026

The German school year runs as one continuous year from mid September to late July, divided into two half-years with reports in February rather than into separate terms. Teaching is broken by fixed holiday windows. The binding 2026 Bavarian dates are below.

The 2025-26 school year ends as the summer holiday begins on 3 August 2026, and the 2026-27 year starts on 15 September 2026, the day after the summer break ends. Germany's national framework, and how the federal states differ, is set out in our Germany country guide.

International school term dates

Expat families in Munich choose between the well-regarded Bavarian state system and a cluster of international schools. The international sector does not follow the state holiday windows exactly:

• IB and British schools (Bavarian International School, Munich International School, BIS and similar) run a northern-hemisphere year from late August to mid or late June, with October, Christmas, February and Easter breaks.
• Bilingual and immersion schools often align more closely with the Bavarian holiday windows so that German-stream and international-stream families share the same breaks.
• All schools observe the Bavarian public holidays, so Whit Monday, Corpus Christi and Assumption close every school in the city.

The biggest practical difference is the summer. International schools finish in late June and restart in late August, a longer and earlier summer than the Bavarian six-week August break. That earlier finish aligns better with families travelling to England or North America. For the curriculum landscape, see our curriculum guides.

Planning the year

Three practical notes for Munich. First, the late Bavarian summer that starts in August means flights and Alpine or Mediterranean accommodation peak in August rather than July, so plan accordingly. Second, international school fees are billed by term or semester, so the late-August restart is when the larger invoice falls; our international school fees in Munich guide covers the tiers and timing. Third, the two-week Whitsun break in late May or early June is a genuinely Bavarian advantage and a quieter window for travel than the August peak. The Abitur and IB exam seasons run from late April through May, so the weeks before Whitsun are exam-heavy for senior students.

Common questions

When do schools break up in Munich? Bavarian state schools break for summer on 3 August 2026. Earlier breaks fall at Carnival in February, Easter from late March, and Whitsun from late May.

How long is the summer holiday in Munich? The Bavarian summer is six weeks, from 3 August to 14 September 2026, the shortest in Germany. International schools take eight to ten weeks from late June.

When does the 2026 to 2027 school year start in Munich? Bavarian state schools start on 15 September 2026. International schools start in late August.

Why does Bavaria have a Whitsun break? Bavaria gives a two-week Pfingstferien from 26 May to 5 June 2026 that most other states do not, reflecting the region's Catholic calendar.

Related guides

• Munich city guide
• International school fees in Munich
• Germany country guide