Swiss public holidays 2026: a canton-by-canton guide🇨🇭
Bank holidays in Switzerland are the perfect excuse to explore more—whether you’re visiting for the first time or already lucky enough to live there. To make planning easier, we’ve put together a full list of 2026 public holidays, sorted by canton.
Types of bank holidays in Switzerland 📅
Switzerland is divided into 26 cantons, which are similar to states or provinces in other countries. Each canton has a high degree of autonomy, with its own separate government, courts, and of course, public holidays.
If you’re planning a trip soon and wish to make the most out of these national or regional holidays,
we’ve compiled a list to make life easier for you!
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National Public Holidays (observed in all cantons)
- New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
- Ascension Day: Thursday, May 14
- Swiss National Day: Saturday, August 1
- Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
📌 Tip: If a holiday falls on a Thursday, consider taking Friday off for a 4-day getaway.
Cantonal Public Holidays (in addition to the national public holidays)
Unlike the bank holidays mentioned above which apply at a national level, the cantonal public holidays differ depending on the cantons where they are taking place. With some smart planning, you can enjoy long weekends and plan a city trip to Switzerland around these dates to make the most of it.
📍 Aargau (AG)
- Berchtold’s Day: Friday, January 2
- Good Friday: April 3
- Easter Monday: April 6
- Whit Monday: May 25
- Corpus Christi: Thursday, June 4
- Assumption Day: Saturday, August 15
- All Saints’ Day: Sunday, November 1
- Immaculate Conception: Tuesday, December 8
- St. Stephen’s Day: Saturday, December 26
🇨🇭Appenzell Innerrhoden (AI)
- Good Friday: April 3
- Easter Monday: April 6
- Whit Monday: May 25
- Corpus Christi: Thursday, June 4
- Assumption Day: Saturday, August 15
- St. Maurice Day: Tuesday, September 22
- All Saints’ Day: Sunday, November 1
- Immaculate Conception: Tuesday, December 8
- St. Stephen’s Day: Saturday, December 26
📍 Appenzell Ausserrhoden (AR)
- Good Friday: April 3
- Easter Monday: April 6
- Whit Monday: May 25
- St. Stephen’s Day: Saturday, December 26
🇨🇭 Basel-Landschaft (BL)
- Good Friday: April 3
- Easter Monday: April 6
- Labour Day: Friday, May 1
- Whit Monday: May 25
- St. Stephen’s Day: Saturday, December 26
📍 Basel-Stadt (BS)
- Good Friday: April 3
- Easter Monday: April 6
- Labour Day: Friday, May 1
- Whit Monday: May 25
- St. Stephen’s Day: Saturday, December 26
🇨🇭 Bern (BE)
- Berchtold’s Day: Friday, January 2
- Good Friday: April 3
- Easter Monday: April 6
- Whit Monday: May 25
- St. Stephen’s Day: Saturday, December 26
📍 Fribourg (FR)
- Berchtold’s Day: Friday, January 2
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3
- Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
- Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
- Corpus Christi: Thursday, June 4
- Assumption Day: Saturday, August 15
- All Saints’ Day: Sunday, November 1
- Immaculate Conception: Tuesday, December 8
- St. Stephen’s Day: Saturday, December 26
🇨🇭 Geneva (GE)
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- Good Friday: Friday, April 3
- Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
- Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
- Jeûne genevois: Thursday, September 10
- Restoration Day: Thursday, December 31
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📍 Glarus (GL)
- Berchtold’s Day: Friday, January 2
- Näfelser Fahrt: Thursday, April 9
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3
- Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
- Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
- All Saints’ Day: Sunday, November 1
- Christmas Eve: Thursday, December 24
- St. Stephen’s Day: Saturday, December 26
- New Year’s Eve: Thursday, December 31
🇨🇭 Graubünden (GR)
- Epiphany: Tuesday, January 6
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3
- Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
- Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
- Immaculate Conception: Tuesday, December 8
- St. Stephen’s Day: Saturday, December 26
📍 Jura (JU)
- Berchtold’s Day: Friday, January 2
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3
- Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
- Labour Day: Friday, May 1
- Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
- Corpus Christi: Thursday, June 4
- Jura Independence Day: Tuesday, June 23
- Assumption Day: Saturday, August 15
- All Saints’ Day: Sunday, November 1
🇨🇭 Lucerne (LU)
- Berchtold’s Day: Friday, January 2
- Epiphany: Tuesday, January 6
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3
- Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
- Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
- Corpus Christi: Thursday, June 4
- Assumption Day: Saturday, August 15
- All Saints’ Day: Sunday, November 1
- Immaculate Conception: Tuesday, December 8
- St. Stephen’s Day: Saturday, December 26
📍 Neuchâtel (NE)
- Berchtold’s Day: Friday, January 2
- Republic Day: Sunday, March 1
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3
- Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
- Labour Day: Friday, May 1
- Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
- St. Stephen’s Day: Saturday, December 26
🇨🇭 Nidwalden (NW)
- St. Joseph’s Day: Thursday, March 19
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3
- Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
- Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
- Corpus Christi: Thursday, June 4
- Assumption Day: Saturday, August 15
- All Saints’ Day: Sunday, November 1
- Immaculate Conception: Tuesday, December 8
- St. Stephen’s Day: Saturday, December 26
📍 Obwalden (OW)
- Berchtold’s Day: Friday, January 2
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3
- Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
- Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
- Corpus Christi: Thursday, June 4
- Assumption Day: Saturday, August 15
- St. Nicholas of Flüe Day: Friday, September 25
- All Saints’ Day: Sunday, November 1
- Immaculate Conception: Tuesday, December 8
- St. Stephen’s Day: Saturday, December 26
🇨🇭 St. Gallen (SG)
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3
- Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
- Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
- All Saints’ Day: Sunday, November 1
- St. Stephen’s Day: Saturday, December 26
📍 Schaffhausen (SH)
- Berchtold’s Day: Friday, January 2
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3
- Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
- Labour Day: Friday, May 1
- Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
- St. Stephen’s Day: Saturday, December 26
🇨🇭 Schwyz (SZ)
- Epiphany: Tuesday, January 6
- St. Joseph’s Day: Thursday, March 19
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3
- Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
- Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
- Corpus Christi: Thursday, June 4
- Assumption Day: Saturday, August 15
- All Saints’ Day: Sunday, November 1
- Immaculate Conception: Tuesday, December 8
- St. Stephen’s Day: Saturday, December 26
📍 Solothurn (SO)
- Berchtold’s Day: Friday, January 2
- St. Joseph’s Day: Thursday, March 19
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3
- Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
- Labour Day: Friday, May 1
- Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
- Corpus Christi: Thursday, June 4
- Assumption Day: Saturday, August 15
- All Saints’ Day: Sunday, November 1
- St. Stephen’s Day: Saturday, December 26
🇨🇭 Thurgau (TG)
- Berchtold’s Day: Friday, January 2
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3
- Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
- Labour Day: Friday, May 1
- Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
- St. Stephen’s Day: Saturday, December 26
📍 Ticino (TI)
- Epiphany: Tuesday, January 6
- St. Joseph’s Day: Thursday, March 19
- Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
- Labour Day: Friday, May 1
- Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
- Corpus Christi: Thursday, June 4
- St. Peter and Paul: Monday, June 29
- Assumption Day: Saturday, August 15
- All Saints’ Day: Sunday, November 1
- Immaculate Conception: Tuesday, December 8
- St. Stephen’s Day: Saturday, December 26
🇨🇭 Uri (UR)
- Epiphany: Tuesday, January 6
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3
- Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
- Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
- Corpus Christi: Thursday, June 4
- Assumption Day: Saturday, August 15
- All Saints’ Day: Sunday, November 1
- Immaculate Conception: Tuesday, December 8
- St. Stephen’s Day: Saturday, December 26
📍 Valais (VS)
- St. Joseph’s Day: Thursday, March 19
- Corpus Christi: Thursday, June 4
- Assumption Day: Saturday, August 15
- All Saints’ Day: Sunday, November 1
- Immaculate Conception: Tuesday, December 8
🇨🇭 Vaud (VD)
- Berchtold’s Day: Friday, January 2
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3
- Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
- Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
- Federal Fast Monday: Monday, September 21
📍 Zug (ZG)
- Berchtold’s Day: Friday, January 2
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3
- Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
- Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
- Corpus Christi: Thursday, June 4
- Assumption Day: Saturday, August 15
- All Saints’ Day: Sunday, November 1
- Immaculate Conception: Tuesday, December 8
- St. Stephen’s Day: Saturday, December 26
🇨🇭 Zurich (ZH)
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- Berchtold’s Day: Friday, January 2
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3
- Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
- Labour Day: Friday, May 1
- Whit Monday: Monday, May 25
- St. Stephen’s Day: Saturday, December 26
Summin’ up… ✍️
Whether you’re planning a winter getaway, a springtime hike in the Alps, or a festive Christmas in Switzerland, knowing the public holidays can help you make the most of your trip.
MEININGER tip: Since bank holidays in Switzerland differ by canton, it’s always a good idea to double-check local calendars before booking to avoid any surprises.
Planning a cross-border getaway? Check out the bank holidays in Austria to see how they align with Switzerland’s and make the most of your days off!
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Zurich Greencity with kids
🛎️ Where to stay in Switzerland?
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Bank holidays in Switzerland 2026: FAQs
How many national public holidays are there in Switzerland in 2026?
There are four national public holidays in Switzerland that are observed across all 26 cantons in 2026: New Year's Day (January 1), Ascension Day (May 14), Swiss National Day (August 1), and Christmas Day (December 25).
Are shops and services closed during public holidays in Switzerland?
Most shops, supermarkets, and public services are closed on bank holidays in Switzerland, especially on national holidays and major regional celebrations like Christmas and Easter.
Is Christmas a public holiday in all of Switzerland?
Yes, Christmas in Switzerland—celebrated on December 25—is a public holiday in all cantons. Many cantons also observe St. Stephen’s Day (December 26) as an additional day off.
Are there any special holidays unique to specific cantons?
Definitely! Cantons like Geneva have Jeûne Genevois (September 10), while Glarus celebrates Näfelser Fahrt (April 9). These public holidays in Switzerland are not observed nationwide.
Which cantons have the most public holidays in Switzerland?
Cantons such as Valais, Jura, and Lucerne typically observe more Swiss public holidays, including both Catholic feast days and national observances.
When is Swiss National Day in 2026, and is it a day off?
Swiss National Day falls on Saturday, August 1, 2026. It’s a public holiday in Switzerland observed by all cantons, and most businesses and public offices will be closed.
Are public holidays good times to travel in Switzerland?
Yes and no! Holidays in Switzerland can be great for cultural experiences, but some attractions or shops may be closed. It’s smart to plan ahead, especially around major bank holidays like Easter or Christmas.
Do all cantons observe Labour Day as a holiday?
No, Labour Day (May 1) is not a universal public holiday in Switzerland. It's observed in some cantons like Zurich, Basel, and Neuchâtel, but not in others like Lucerne or Uri.
Where can I stay during public holidays in Switzerland?
If you're traveling over a holiday weekend, consider booking a stay with MEININGER Hotels—we offer central, clean, and affordable accommodation in top Swiss cities like Zurich and Geneva, making it easy to enjoy your holidays in Switzerland stress-free.
