Why are there no Bundesliga or Bundesliga 2 games on 1 May 2026?
With both the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 campaigns nearing their conclusion and still a huge amount to play for, fans may be disappointed to see that there’ll be no Matchday 32 action taking place on Friday 1 May, but there’s a very simple reason for that.
This coming Friday is a public holiday in Germany known as ‘Tag der Arbeit', or Labour Day. This holiday originates from the end of the 19th century, when German workers followed the example of those in the US in striking for better working conditions.
Since then, the labour movement has been celebrated annually, but it only became a recognised public holiday in Germany at the end of the Second World War. The day celebrates previous fights for better working conditions, as well as underlining the need to keep fighting for improved work place conditions.
It’s customary for people to celebrate on the night of 30 April into 1 May, with Maypoles (a tall wooden pole) being decorated with colourful ribbons part of the holiday traditions.
It won’t just be the footballers taking a break though, as the majority of workers across various industries will be given the day off.
Next season will see Labour Day cause more of a disruption to the Bundesliga schedule, however. That is because there will be no games at all played on the first weekend of May, since Labour Day (1 May 2027) falls on a Saturday and it has been agreed with the government not to hold any fixtures that weekend.
