Public holidays and vacations in Switzerland 2026

Complete calendar of federal and cantonal public holidays to plan your year

The public holiday system in Switzerland is unique: there is only one federal public holiday (August 1), with all others determined at the cantonal level. This means that your vacation schedule depends directly on your canton of residence and work. Expatriates are often surprised by this complexity, especially since school holidays also vary from one canton to another. This guide helps you understand the system and plan for your 2026.

Federal holiday

The Swiss National Day of August 1 is the only public holiday applicable throughout Switzerland. It commemorates the Federal Pact of 1291 between the cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden. In 2026, August 1 falls on a Saturday — meaning most employees don't get an extra day off unless collectively agreed otherwise.

All other public holidays are determined by the cantons. Certain days such as Christmas (December 25) and New Year (January 1) are recognized by all cantons, but this remains a cantonal decision, not federal.

Cantonal public holidays 2026

The number of public holidays varies from 7 to 15 depending on the canton. Here is the calendar for the main cantons where expatriates are settling.

Public holiday	Date 2026	GE	VD	ZH	BE	BS	ZG	TI
New Year	January 1	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui
January 2	January 2	Non	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui	Non	Non
Good Friday	April 3	Non	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui	Non
Easter Monday	April 6	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui
Ascent	May 14	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui
Pentecost Monday	May 25	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui
National holiday	August 1 (Sat.)	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui
Geneva fast	September 10	Oui	Non	Non	Non	Non	Non	Non
Fasting Monday	September 21	Non	Oui	Non	Non	Non	Non	Non
Christmas	December 25	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui
St. Stephen's Day	December 26	Non	Non	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui	Oui
Restoration of the Republic (GE)	December 31	Oui	Non	Non	Non	Non	Non	Non

School holidays by canton

School holidays vary considerably from one canton to another and even from one municipality to another. In 2026, here are the main periods to remember.

Period	Geneva	Vaud	Zurich	Bern
February vacation	Feb. 16–20	Feb. 16–27	Feb. 9–20	Feb. 2–13
Easter holidays	March 30–April 17	April 6–17	April 6–17	March 30–April 10
Summer vacation	June 27–August 24	July 4–August 17	July 18–August 17	July 4–August 10
Autumn vacation	Oct. 19–30	Oct. 12–23	Oct. 5–16	Oct. 19–30
Christmas vacation	Dec. 19–Jan. 4	Dec. 22–Jan. 4	Dec. 19–Jan. 2	Dec. 20–Jan. 4

Strategic bridges and days off

In 2026, several public holidays fall conveniently to create long weekends. Ascension (Thursday May 14) allows a 4-day bridge by laying down on Friday May 15. Pentecost Monday (May 25) naturally offers a 3-day weekend.

Tip: Many companies close between Christmas and New Year. Some employers deduct these days from the vacation balance, others offer them. Swiss law provides for a minimum of 4 weeks of vacation per year (5 weeks up to 20 years old).

Plan your vacation

The federalist system means that school holidays are not synchronized between the cantons. This has an advantage: Swiss tourist destinations are less saturated if you can travel outside of your canton's holidays. Flight and hotel prices drop significantly outside of peak periods.

If you have children at school, note that unauthorized absences during school periods are punishable in certain cantons (notably Zurich and Bern). Plan your trips during your municipality's official holiday periods.

Differences with other countries

Compared to France (11 national public holidays), Switzerland has a variable number depending on the canton: Geneva has 9, Zurich 9, Ticino up to 14. Cantonal public holidays are added to the minimum vacation entitlement — a point to check when negotiating your contract.

Useful Guides

Guide Finding an Apartment in Switzerland Guide Preparing Your Rental Application in Switzerland Guide Rental Deposit in Switzerland Guide Health Insurance in Switzerland

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my employer refuse my vacation dates?

The employer has the right to set vacation dates taking into account the interests of the company, but he must also take your wishes into consideration. At least two consecutive weeks must be able to be taken at once. In practice, dates are generally negotiated. In the event of a conflict, it is the employer who decides, but he cannot impose your vacation on you with too short notice.

Do public holidays count for part-time employees?

Yes, part-time employees are entitled to public holidays in proportion to their activity rate. If a holiday falls on a day you do not normally work, you are generally not entitled to compensation unless otherwise provided in your contract or collective agreement.

Is Christmas a public holiday throughout Switzerland?

December 25 is recognized as a public holiday in all cantons, but this decision falls under cantonal law, not federal law. December 26 (Saint-Étienne) is a public holiday only in certain cantons (Zurich, Bern, Basel, Ticino, etc.), but not in Geneva or in the canton of Vaud. Check the calendar for your canton of work.