Public Holidays in Switzerland
Statutory public holidays in Switzerland, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Switzerland at a glance
Switzerland has one nationwide public holiday, Swiss National Day on 1 August; everything else is set by the cantons, so the calendar varies sharply by region.
Several cantonal dates are Catholic feast days that move with Easter, and many close for local saints’ days.
Switzerland public holidays 2026
Switzerland has 4 public holidays in 2026 – the statutory days off. The table below lists those public holidays; observances and other non-statutory dates are not part of the total.
| Holiday | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | National |
| Ascension Day | May 14Thu | National |
| National Day | Aug 1Sat | National |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25Fri | National |
Showing 4 of 4 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Switzerland
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Switzerland.
Bern
A capital of arcaded sandstone streets and a river loop below the old town.
Zurich
A financial city on a lake, with a medieval core and swimming in the river.
Geneva
A lakeside city of diplomacy, watchmaking and the Jet d'Eau.
Lucerne
A city on Lake Lucerne with a covered bridge and a mountain gateway.
Basel
A city on the Rhine with a cathedral, museums and a Carnival tradition.
Zermatt
A car-free resort village beneath the Matterhorn.
Top attractions in Switzerland
The places that draw most visitors to Switzerland.
Matterhorn
The most photographed mountain in the world, a pyramid above Zermatt.
Jungfrau-Aletsch
A glaciated alpine region holding the largest glacier in the Alps.
Lake Geneva
A crescent lake ringed by vineyard terraces, castles and cities.
Old City of Bern
A medieval arcaded centre on a bend of the Aare, largely unchanged.
Chillon Castle
A lakeside castle at the eastern end of Lake Geneva.
Lucerne Chapel Bridge
A covered wooden bridge with painted gable panels, rebuilt after fire.
Festivals, food and getting around Switzerland
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
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🎉
New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
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🎉
Berchtold Day
Falls on Jan 2
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🎉
Epiphany
Falls on Jan 6
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🎉
Valentine's Day
Falls on Feb 14
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🎉
Republic Day
Falls on Mar 1
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Saint Joseph's Day
Falls on Mar 19
Food & drink
Getting around
Switzerland's rail is famously punctual; mountain railways, funiculars and postal buses reach almost every valley.
Travelling around Switzerland’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Switzerland tighten around major holidays; reserve early for the busiest weeks.
Check opening hours
Museums, banks and government offices usually close on statutory holidays, and often on the nearest Monday.
Carry local currency
Small vendors and rural businesses frequently take cash only, especially on holidays when banks are shut.
Expect crowded transport
Long weekends produce the year's heaviest road, rail and air traffic. Build in extra travel time.
Confirm the official list
Switzerland's holiday dates are confirmed by government announcement; check the year page for the final arrangement.
Plan the long weekends
Pairing a holiday with adjacent weekends gives the longest breaks of the year — and the busiest.
Switzerland public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Switzerland have?
Switzerland has 4 public holidays in 2026, counting every date typed National, Substitute or Bank in our calendar. Observances, religious dates and regional holidays are listed separately and left out of the total, because they are not days off across the whole country.
Where can I find the full 2026 list?
The complete 2026 calendar for Switzerland is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Switzerland's public holidays paid?
Statutory national holidays are generally paid leave for employees. Observances and commemorative days are usually not.
Do holidays move if they fall on a weekend?
Where a holiday falls on a weekend, Switzerland typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Switzerland?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Switzerland?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Switzerland
School term dates in Switzerland
School calendar data last updated 10 Sep 2026. Dates come from education ministries and local education authorities; always re-check with the school before booking travel.