About German Unity Day
German Unity Day — Tag der Deutschen Einheit — is the national day of Germany, observed every October 3. It marks the day in 1990 when the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) formally acceded to the Federal Republic, reuniting the country for the first time since the end of the Second World War. It is the only public holiday set by federal law rather than by individual states. This live countdown shows exactly how many days, hours and minutes remain until the next October 3 in your timezone.
The date was chosen for the legal completion of reunification rather than the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, because November 9 also marks darker anniversaries in German history and was felt to be unsuitable for celebration. Each year a different federal state hosts the central celebrations as it holds the rotating presidency of the Bundesrat, with a large public festival — the Bürgerfest — alongside an official ceremony, concerts and speeches.
German Unity Day falls on October 3 every year and does not move when it lands on a weekend. This countdown targets the next October 3 and rolls over automatically once the day passes. Whether you join the Bürgerfest in the host city or follow from abroad, bookmark the live German Unity Day countdown or add it to your own page.
Upcoming dates
| 2026 | Saturday, October 3, 2026next |
| 2027 | Sunday, October 3, 2027 |
| 2028 | Tuesday, October 3, 2028 |
| 2029 | Wednesday, October 3, 2029 |
| 2030 | Thursday, October 3, 2030 |
FAQ
When is German Unity Day?
German Unity Day is on October 3 every year. The countdown above shows the days, hours and minutes until the next one in your local timezone.
Why is German Unity Day important?
It marks the 1990 reunification of East and West Germany into a single state, making October 3 the country's national holiday and a symbol of overcoming division.
How is German Unity Day celebrated?
With a public festival called the Bürgerfest in a rotating host city, plus an official ceremony, concerts, speeches and cultural displays from across the German regions.
Why is October 3 the date instead of November 9?
October 3, 1990 was when reunification became legally effective. November 9 — the day the Wall fell — also marks the 1938 anti-Jewish pogroms, so it was considered inappropriate for a national celebration.