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Holidays & Celebrations

Public holidays in Switzerland in 2025

Find out when Switzerland’s public holidays are in 2024, 2025, and 2026, as well as other important dates to note on your calendar.

Switzerland holidays
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Updated 11-2-2025

Whether you’re living in Switzerland or just visiting, it’s important to note the dates of Switzerland’s public holidays (French: feiertagun, German: jour férié) and important dates. This is because, on some of these dates, businesses and public institutions will close or have reduced hours.

To ensure you don’t miss out on anything important, here are all of Switzerland’s public holidays as well as the most important dates for your calendar.

An overview of public holidays in Switzerland

The most important holiday in Switzerland is Swiss National Day on 1 August. This is also technically the only official federal holiday in the country.

While some Swiss vacations are observed across the nation, other festivities are only marked in specific regions. Many of these celebrations are based on religion and are usually only held in the cantons where Christianity is observed. This means that not all cantons across Switzerland have the same public holidays. It varies from nine to 15 days each year.

Four women dressed individually in yellow, orange, red, and green ballroom dresses carry balloons as part of Lucerne's carnival celebrations
Carnival celebrations in Lucerne, Switzerland (Photo: Ronald Patrick/Getty Images)

If a Swiss national holiday falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday, workers may take either the Monday or Friday off to create a long weekend. What’s more, some cantons and organizations may allocate a weekday off if the public holiday falls on a weekend.

Some also coincide with Switzerland’s festivals, which is a great opportunity to travel and experience the country’s traditional culture.

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When are Switzerlands’ public holidays in 2025?

These holidays are celebrated nationally throughout Switzerland:

DateWeekdayPublic holiday
1 January 2025WedNew Year’s Day
29 May 2025ThuAscension Day
1 August 2025FriNational Day
25 December 2025ThuChristmas Day
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Local (religious) holidays in 2025

Some (religious) holidays are only observed in certain cantons in Switzerland:

DatesWeekdayHolidayWhere celebrated
2 January 2025ThuBerchtold’s DayAargau, Bern, Fribourg, Glarus, Jura, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Obwalden, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, Thurgau, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
6 January 2025MonEpiphanyGraubünden, Lucerne, Schwyz, Ticino, Uri
27 February 2025ThuCarnaval Thusday (half day)Schwyz
19 March 2025WedSt Joseph’s DayNidwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri, Valais
18 April 2025FriGood FridayAll cantons except Ticino and Valais (though stores are closed in Valais)
21 April 2025MonEaster MondayAll cantons except Valais
9 June 2025MonWhit MondayAll cantons except Valais
19 June 2025ThuCorpus ChristiAargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Grisons, Jura, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Zug
29 June 2025SunSaints Peter and PaulTicino, and some areas of Graubünden and Lucerne
15 August 2025FriAssumption of MaryAppenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Jura, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Zug
21 September 2025MonLundi du JeûneVaud, and an unofficial holiday in Neuchâtel when stores are closed
22 September 2025MonSaint Mauritius DayAppenzell Innerrhoden (except Oberegg District)
25 September 2025ThuSaint Nicholas of FlüeObwalden
2 October 2025ThuSchutzengelfestLucerne
1 November 2025SatAll Saints’ DayAargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Glarus, Jura, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, St Gallen, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Zug
8 December 2025MonImmaculate ConceptionAargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Graubünden, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Zug
26 December 2025FriSaint Stephen’s DayAll except Geneva, Jura, Valais, and Vaud

Local (cultural) holidays in 2025

Date(s)Weekday(s)HolidayWhere celebrated
1 March 2025SatRepublic Day – commemorates the declaration of the Republic in 1848Neuchâtel
4 April 2025FriNäfels Ride – commemorating the battle of Näfels in 1388Glarus
21 April 2025MonSechseläuten – “The six o’clock ringing of the bells”Zurich
1 May 2025ThuLabor Day / May DayBasel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Jura, Neuchâtel, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Zurich
23 June 2025MonJura Independence DayJura
11 September 2025ThuJeûne GenevoisGeneva
13–15 September 2025Sat–MonKnabenschiessenZurich
12 December 2025FriL’EscaladeGeneva
31 December 2025WedRestoration DayGeneva

Other important dates in 2025

Alongside the official holidays, it’s a good idea to mark the following dates in your calendar. These occasions are observed across Switzerland:

Date(s)WeekdayOccasion
27 February – 4 March 2025Fri–SunCarnival
11 May 2025SunMother’s Day
1 June 2025SunFather’s Day
21 September 2025SunSwiss Federal Fast
31 December 2025WedNew Year’s Eve
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When are Switzerlands’ public holidays in 2026?

DateWeekdayPublic holiday
1 January 2026ThuNew Year’s Day
14 May 2026ThuAscension Day
1 August 2026SatNational Day
25 December 2026FriChristmas Day

Local (religious) holidays in 2026

DatesWeekdayHolidayWhere celebrated
2 January 2026FriBerchtold’s DayAargau, Bern, Fribourg, Glarus, Jura, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Obwalden, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, Thurgau, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
6 January 2026TueEpiphanyGraubünden, Lucerne, Schwyz, Ticino, Uri
12 February 2026ThuCarnaval Thursday (half day)Schwyz
19 March 2026ThuSt Joseph’s DayNidwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri, Valais
3 April 2026FriGood FridayAll cantons except Ticino and Valais (though stores are closed in Valais)
6 April 2026MonEaster MondayAll cantons except Valais
25 May 2026MonWhit MondayAll cantons except Valais
4 June 2026ThuCorpus ChristiAargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Grisons, Jura, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Zug
29 June 2026MonSaints Peter and PaulTicino, and some areas of Graubünden and Lucerne
15 August 2026SatAssumption of MaryAppenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Jura, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Zug
20 September 2026MonLundi du JeûneVaud, and an unofficial holiday in Neuchâtel when stores are closed
22 September 2026TueSaint Mauritius DayAppenzell Innerrhoden (except Oberegg District)
25 September 2026FriSaint Nicholas of FlüeObwalden
2 October 2026FriSchutzengelfestLucerne
1 November 2026SunAll Saints’ DayAargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Glarus, Jura, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, St Gallen, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Zug
8 December 2026TueImmaculate ConceptionAargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Graubünden, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Zug
26 December 2026SatSaint Stephen’s DayAll except Geneva, Jura, Valais, and Vaud

Local (cultural) holidays in 2026

Date(s)Weekday(s)HolidayWhere celebrated
1 March 2026SunRepublic Day – commemorates the declaration of the Republic in 1848Neuchâtel
4 April 2026SatNäfels Ride – commemorating the battle of Näfels in 1388Glarus
20 April 2026MonSechseläuten – “The six o’clock ringing of the bells”Zurich
1 May 2026FriLabor Day / May DayBasel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Jura, Neuchâtel, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Zurich
23 June 2026TueJura Independence DayJura
10 September 2026ThuJeûne GenevoisGeneva
12–14 September 2026Sat–MonKnabenschiessenZurich
12 December 2026SatL’EscaladeGeneva
31 December 2026ThuRestoration DayGeneva

Other important dates in 2026

Date(s)WeekdayOccasion
12–17 February 2026Thu–TueCarnival
10 May 2026SunMother’s Day
7 June 2026SunFather’s Day
20 September 2026SunSwiss Federal Fast
31 December 2026ThuNew Year’s Eve

When were Switzerland’s public holidays in 2024?

DateWeekdayPublic holiday
1 January 2024MonNew Year’s Day
9 May 2024ThuAscension Day
1 August 2024ThuNational Day
25 December 2024WedChristmas Day

Local (religious) holidays in 2024

DatesWeekdayHolidayWhere celebrated
2 January 2024TueBerchtold’s DayAargau, Bern, Fribourg, Glarus, Jura, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Obwalden, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, Thurgau, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
6 January 2024SatEpiphanyGraubünden, Lucerne, Schwyz, Ticino, Uri
8 February 2024ThuCarnaval Thursday (half day)Schwyz
19 March 2024TueSt Joseph’s DayNidwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri, Valais
29 March 2024FriGood FridayAll cantons except Ticino and Valais (though stores are closed in Valais)
1 April 2024MonEaster MondayAll cantons except Valais
20 May 2024MonWhit MondayAll cantons except Valais
30 May 2024ThuCorpus ChristiAargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Grisons, Jura, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Zug
29 June 2024SatSaints Peter and PaulTicino, and some areas of Graubünden and Lucerne
15 August 2024ThuAssumption of MaryAppenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Jura, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Zug
16 September 2024MonLundi du JeûneVaud, and an unofficial holiday in Neuchâtel when stores are closed
22 September 2024SunSaint Mauritius DayAppenzell Innerrhoden (except Oberegg District)
25 September 2024WedSaint Nicholas of FlüeObwalden
2 October 2024WedSchutzengelfestLucerne
1 November 2024FriAll Saints’ DayAargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Glarus, Jura, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, St Gallen, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Zug
8 December 2024SunImmaculate ConceptionAargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Graubünden, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Zug
26 December 2024ThuSaint Stephen’s DayAll except Geneva, Jura, Valais, and Vaud

Local (cultural) holidays in 2024

Date(s)Weekday(s)HolidayWhere celebrated
1 March 2024FriRepublic Day – commemorates the declaration of the Republic in 1848Neuchâtel
4 April 2024ThuNäfels Ride – commemorating the battle of Näfels in 1388Glarus
15 April 2024MonSechseläuten – “The six o’clock ringing of the bells”Zurich
1 May 2024WedLabor Day / May DayBasel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Jura, Neuchâtel, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Zurich
23 June 2024SunJura Independence DayJura
5 September 2024ThuJeûne GenevoisGeneva
7–9 September 2024Sat–MonKnabenschiessenZurich
12 December 2024ThuL’EscaladeGeneva
31 December 2024TueRestoration DayGeneva

Other important dates in 2024

Date(s)WeekdayOccasion
16–18 February 2024Fri–SunCarnival
12 May 2024SunMother’s Day
2 June 2024SunFather’s Day
15 September 2024SunSwiss Federal Fast
31 December 2024TueNew Year’s Eve

When are the school holidays in Switzerland?

Many of the Swiss school holidays also align with the country’s public holidays. It’s also a great opportunity to explore Switzerland’s culture and landscape with your children.

To find out when they are, read about school holidays in Switzerland.

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Education

School holidays in Switzerland

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Author

Stephen Maunder

About the author

An award-winning finance writer and editor, Stephen has been writing for Expatica since 2016, covering a range of financial topics across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Over a decade in journalism, he’s worked for breaking news broadcasters, industry publications, and national magazines.

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