Germany is considering easing some of Europe’s strictest Sunday-opening rules as politicians and business groups argue that the traditional weekly shutdown no longer reflects modern working patterns, online shopping or the economic difficulties facing city centres. The debate intensified in July after the coalition government announced limited reforms for bakeries, confectioneries and public libraries, while senior politicians and retail representatives called for wider changes covering shops and department stores.
Most German supermarkets, fashion outlets, shopping centres and other retailers currently remain closed on Sundays and public holidays. Exceptions include pharmacies providing emergency service, petrol stations and some shops at airports and major railway stations. Restaurants, cafés, museums and entertainment venues may also operate. Municipalities can authorise a limited number of special shopping Sundays, known as verkaufsoffene Sonntage, usually when connected to a festival, fair or another public event.
The restriction has deep historical roots. Sunday was protected as a day of rest and “spiritual elevation” under Article 139 of Germany’s 1919 Weimar Constitution. That protection was incorporated into the Basic Law of 1949 through Article 140 and remains constitutionally binding. Germany’s federal Shop Closing Act, introduced in its present form in 1956, reinforced the general closure of stores on Sundays and Christian holidays. Responsibility for most shop-opening regulations was transferred to the 16 federal states in 2006, creating regional differences but preserving the general Sunday principle.
Germany’s Constitutional Court has repeatedly upheld that protection. In 2009, it struck down a Berlin rule allowing stores to open on all four Sundays of Advent, finding that commercial activity should remain an exception rather than become the normal character of the day. The court has also ruled that the basic prohibition on Sunday and holiday opening is compatible with the constitution.
The immediate government proposal is narrower than a general opening of retail businesses. From January 1, 2027, employees in bakeries and confectioneries could be permitted to work for as many as eight hours on Sundays and public holidays, compared with the current limit of three hours for producing and delivering goods. Public libraries could employ staff for up to six hours, giving working people and families greater access to cultural and educational facilities on their day off.
However, changing the federal Working Hours Act would not automatically allow every bakery or shop to remain open longer. Individual states would also have to adjust their shop-opening legislation. Consequently, implementation could differ between Berlin, Bavaria, Hesse and other regions. The government has formally supported Sunday opening for public libraries, describing them as community meeting places comparable with museums, theatres and cultural venues.
Retail organisations want the debate to go further. German Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Peter Adrian has called for broad liberalisation and even suggested amending the constitution to settle the legal uncertainty surrounding Sunday trading. Retailers argue that physical shops are disadvantaged because consumers can purchase goods online at any hour. They say additional Sunday openings could increase sales, attract visitors, support tourism and revive city centres struggling with vacant premises and declining foot traffic.
Supporters also point to an apparent inconsistency: nurses, transport employees, restaurant workers and many others already work on Sundays, while retail employment is treated differently. Traditional bakeries say they face unfair competition from petrol stations, railway outlets and café-style bakery chains operating under other exemptions.
Trade unions and churches strongly oppose wider liberalisation. The service-sector union Verdi warns that Sunday opening could place additional pressure on retail employees, many of whom are women or part-time workers with limited control over their schedules. Opponents argue that once large chains begin opening, smaller competitors may be forced to follow, even when Sunday revenue does not cover staffing, security and energy costs. Churches maintain that a common work-free day supports families, religious observance, volunteering and social life.
The public remains divided. A July YouGov survey of 4,022 adults found that 43 percent supported more frequent Sunday opening, while 50 percent opposed it. Support had nevertheless risen from 34 percent in a similar poll the previous year.
For now, Germany is not abolishing its Sunday shopping restrictions. The bakery and library measures represent a limited relaxation scheduled for 2027, subject to legislation and state-level rules. Yet, the renewed political pressure suggests that the country’s century-old Sunday settlement is being tested by economic stagnation, changing lifestyles and digital commerce. The argument over whether Sunday should remain protected from ordinary shopping is unlikely to close soon.
