The school system in Switzerland traditionally has five school holidays throughout the year. These holidays are determined by where you live and can vary by weeks.
Swiss holiday structure
The school holidays are a fundamental part of education for your children, with holidays being offered from primary schools to secondary and higher education. The holidays’ structure that Switzerland uses is:
- October break (early October, one week)
- Christmas holidays (mid-December to early January, two to three weeks)
- Ski week (early February, two weeks)
- Easter holidays (Easter time, one week)
- Summer holidays (June to August, 6-8 weeks)
These are in addition to Swiss national & regional holidays.
School holidays by canton in Switzerland
The responsibility of planning for school holidays is given to the county (canton). Traditionally, holiday dates were determined by the timings of the harvest so that young people could help with work and support the family. Now, each canton staggers its holidays so that not all school children are on holiday at once, to ease crowding and ease the pressure on public transport.
Can I take my child out of school outside of holiday time?
Taking your child out of school, or truancy, is not recommended in Switzerland. This is in order to ensure that your child does not fall behind with their education. If you would like to take your child out of school, you must contact your school beforehand, specifying the circumstances behind taking your child out of school and why it is essential.
Leeway is typically given for half days and for significant family events or emergencies. Taking your child out of school has harsh penalties if absences are unexplained, with most cantons administering a fine of 300 to 2.000 Swiss francs for each day the child misses.
Cantonal school holidays in Switzerland
The details of each cantonal school holiday are below, extending to the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school terms.
Aargau school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: Varies by school
- Spring holiday: April 8 - April 21
- Summer holiday: July 22 - August 9
- Autumn holiday: September 30 - October 11
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 3, 2025
Aargau school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: Varies by school
- Spring holiday: April 5 - April 20
- Summer holiday: July 19 - August 10
- Autumn holiday: September 27 - October 12
- Christmas holiday: December 20 - January 4, 2026
Appenzell Innerrhoden school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: February 9 - February 18
- Spring holiday: April 6 - April 21
- Summer holiday: June 29 - August 11
- Autumn holiday: October 5 - October 20
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 5, 2025
Appenzell Innerrhoden school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: February 28 - March 9
- Spring holiday: April 5 - April 21
- Summer holiday: July 5 - August 17
- Autumn holiday: October 4 - October 19
- Christmas holiday: December 20 - January 4, 2026
Appenzell Ausserrhoden school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: Varies by school
- Spring holiday: April 6 - April 21
- Summer holiday: July 6 - August 11
- Autumn holiday: October 5 - October 20
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 5, 2025
Appenzell Ausserrhoden school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: Varies by school
- Spring holiday: April 5 - April 21
- Summer holiday: July 5 - August 10
- Autumn holiday: October 4 - October 19
- Christmas holiday: December 20 - January 4, 2026
Canton Bern (German) school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: Varies by school
- Spring holiday: April 6 - April 21
- Summer holiday: July 6 - August 11
- Autumn holiday: September 21 - October 13
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 5, 2025
Canton Bern (German) school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: Varies by school
- Spring holiday: April 5 - April 21
- Summer holiday: July 5 - August 10
- Autumn holiday: September 20 - October 12
- Christmas holiday: December 20 - January 4, 2026
Canton Bern (French) school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: Varies by school
- Spring holiday: March 29 - April 14
- Summer holiday: July 6 - August 18
- Autumn holiday: October 5 - October 20
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 5, 2025
Canton Bern (French) school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: Varies by school
- Spring holiday: April 12 - April 27
- Summer holiday: July 5 - August 17
- Autumn holiday: October 4 - October 19
- Christmas holiday: December 20 - January 4, 2026
Basel Land school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: February 10 - February 25
- Spring holiday: March 23 - April 7
- Summer holiday: June 29 - August 11
- Autumn holiday: September 28 - October 13
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 5, 2025
Basel Land school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: March 1 - March 16
- Spring holiday: April 12 - April 27
- Summer holiday: June 28 - August 10
- Autumn holiday: September 27 - October 12
- Christmas holiday: December 20 - January 4, 2026
Basel Stadt school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: February 10 - February 25
- Spring holiday: March 23 - April 7
- Summer holiday: June 29 - August 11
- Autumn holiday: September 28 - October 13
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 5, 2025
Basel Stadt school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: March 1 - March 16
- Spring holiday: April 12 - April 27
- Summer holiday: June 28 - August 10
- Autumn holiday: September 27 - October 12
- Christmas holiday: December 20 - January 4, 2026
Liechtenstein school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: February 10 - February 18
- Spring holiday: March 28 - April 14
- Summer holiday: July 6 - August 18
- Autumn holiday: October 5 - October 20
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 6, 2025
Liechtenstein school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: March 1 - March 9
- Spring holiday: April 17 - May 4
- Summer holiday: July 5 - August 17
- Autumn holiday: October 4 - October 19
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 6, 2026
Fribourg / Freiburg school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: February 10 - February 18
- Spring holiday: March 29 - April 14
- Summer holiday: July 6 - August 21 (Primary) June 29 - August 21 (Secondary)
- Autumn holiday: October 12 - October 27
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 5, 2025
Fribourg / Freiburg school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: March 1 - March 9
- Spring holiday: April 18 - May 4
- Summer holiday: July 5 - TBA (Primary) June 28 - TBA (Secondary)
- Autumn holiday: TBA
- Christmas holiday: TBA
Geneva school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: February 17 - February 25
- Spring holiday: March 29 - April 14
- Summer holiday: June 29 - August 18
- Autumn holiday: October 19 - October 27
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 5, 2025
Geneva school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: February 22 - March 2
- Spring holiday: April 18 - May 4
- Summer holiday: June 28 - August 17
- Autumn holiday: October 18 - October 26
- Christmas holiday: December 20 - January 4, 2026
Glarus school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: January 27 - February 4
- Spring holiday: March 29 - April 14
- Summer holiday: June 29 - August 11
- Autumn holiday: October 5 - October 20
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 5, 2025
Glarus school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: January 25 - February 2
- Spring holiday: April 3 - April 21
- Summer holiday: June 28 - August 10
- Autumn holiday: October 4 - October 19
- Christmas holiday: December 20 - January 4, 2026
Graubünden / Grisons school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: February 24 - March 3
- Spring holiday: April 20 - May 5
- Summer holiday: June 29 - August 11
- Autumn holiday: October 5 - October 20
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 5, 2025
Graubünden / Grisons school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: February 22 - March 2
- Spring holiday: April 19 - May 4
- Summer holiday: June 28 - August 10
- Autumn holiday: October 4 - October 19
- Christmas holiday: December 20 - January 4, 2026
Jura school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: February 17 - February 25
- Spring holiday: March 29 - April 14
- Summer holiday: July 6 - August 18
- Autumn holiday: October 12 - October 27
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 5, 2025
Jura school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: February 22 - March 2
- Spring holiday: April 18 - May 4
- Summer holiday: July 5 - August 17
- Autumn holiday: October 4 - October 19
- Christmas holiday: December 20 - January 4, 2026
Lucerne school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: February 3 - February 18
- Spring holiday: March 29 - April 14
- Summer holiday: July 6 - August 18
- Autumn holiday: September 28 - October 13
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 5, 2025
Lucerne school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: February 22 - March 9
- Spring holiday: April 18 - May 4
- Summer holiday: July 5 - August 17
- Autumn holiday: September 27 - October 12
- Christmas holiday: December 20 - January 4, 2026
Neuchâtel school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: February 24 - March 3
- Spring holiday: March 29 - April 14
- Summer holiday: July 6 - August 18
- Autumn holiday: October 5 - October 20
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 5, 2025
Neuchâtel school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: February 22 - March 2
- Spring holiday: April 12 - April 27
- Summer holiday: July 5 - August 17
- Autumn holiday: October 4 - October 19
- Christmas holiday: December 20 - January 4, 2026
Nidwalden school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: February 3 - February 18
- Spring holiday: March 29 - April 14
- Summer holiday: July 6 - August 25 (Middle school) - August 18 (Primary school)
- Autumn holiday: September 28 - October 13
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 5, 2025
Nidwalden school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: February 22 - March 9
- Spring holiday: April 18 - May 4
- Summer holiday: July 5 - August 24 (Middle school) - August 17 (Primary school)
- Autumn holiday: TBA
- Christmas holiday: TBA
Obwalden school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: February 3 - February 18
- Spring holiday: March 29 - April 14
- Summer holiday: July 6 - August 18
- Autumn holiday: September 28 - October 13
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 5, 2025
Obwalden school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: February 22 - March 9
- Spring holiday: April 18 - May 4
- Summer holiday: July 5 - August 17
- Autumn holiday: September 27 - October 12
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 7, 2026
St. Gallen school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: Varies by school
- Spring holiday: April 6 - April 21
- Summer holiday: July 6 - August 11
- Autumn holiday: September 28 - October 20
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 5, 2025
St. Gallen school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: Varies by school
- Spring holiday: April 5 - April 21
- Summer holiday: July 5 - August 10
- Autumn holiday: September 27 - October 19
- Christmas holiday: December 20 - January 4, 2026
Schaffhausen school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: January 27 - February 11
- Spring holiday: April 13 - April 28
- Summer holiday: July 6 - August 11
- Autumn holiday: September 28 - October 20
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 5, 2025
Schaffhausen school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: January 25 - February 9
- Spring holiday: April 12 - April 27
- Summer holiday: July 5 - August 10
- Autumn holiday: TBA
- Christmas holiday: TBA
Solothurn school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: February 3 - February 18
- Spring holiday: April 6 - April 21
- Summer holiday: July 6 - August 11
- Autumn holiday: September 28 - October 20
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 5, 2025
Solothurn school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: February 1 - February 16
- Spring holiday: April 5 - April 21
- Summer holiday: July 5 - August 10
- Autumn holiday: September 27 - October 19
- Christmas holiday: December 20 - January 4, 2026
Schwyz school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: February 24 - March 3
- Spring holiday: April 27 - May 12
- Summer holiday: July 6 - August 11
- Autumn holiday: September 28 - October 13
- Christmas holiday: December 25 - January 6, 2025
Schwyz school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: February 22 - March 2
- Spring holiday: April 26 - May 11
- Summer holiday: July 5 - August 10
- Autumn holiday: September 27 - October 12
- Christmas holiday: December 25 - January 6, 2026
Thurgau school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: January 27 - February 4
- Spring holiday: March 29 - April 14
- Summer holiday: July 6 - August 11
- Autumn holiday: October 5 - October 20
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 5, 2025
Thurgau school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: January 25 - February 2
- Spring holiday: April 5 - April 21
- Summer holiday: July 5 - August 10
- Autumn holiday: October 4 - October 19
- Christmas holiday: December 20 - January 4, 2026
Ticino school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: February 10 - February 18
- Spring holiday: March 29 - April 7
- Summer holiday: June 15 - September 1
- Autumn holiday: October 26 - November 3
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 6, 2025
Ticino school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: March 1- March 9
- Spring holiday: April 18 - April 27
- Summer holiday: June 19 - TBA
- Autumn holiday: TBA
- Christmas holiday: TBA
Uri school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: March 2 - March 10
- Spring holiday: April 27 - May 12
- Summer holiday: July 6 - August 18
- Autumn holiday: October 5 - October 20
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 6, 2025
Uri school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: February 22 - March 9
- Spring holiday: April 26 - May 11
- Summer holiday: July 5 - August 17
- Autumn holiday: October 4 - October 19
- Christmas holiday: December 20 - January 6, 2026
Vaud school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: February 10 - February 18
- Spring holiday: March 29 - April 14
- Summer holiday: June 29 - August 18
- Autumn holiday: October 12 - October 27
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 5, 2025
Vaud school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: February 15 - February 23
- Spring holiday: April 12 - April 27
- Summer holiday: June 28 - August 17
- Autumn holiday: October 10 - October 26
- Christmas holiday: December 20 - January 4, 2026
Valais (German) school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: February 24 - March 10
- Spring holiday: May 4 - May 12
- Summer holiday: June 29 - August 18
- Autumn holiday: October 12 - October 27
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 5, 2025
Valais (German) school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: February 22 - March 9
- Spring holiday: May 10 - May 18
- Summer holiday: June 28 - TBA
- Autumn holiday: TBA
- Christmas holiday: TBA
Valais (French) school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: February 10 - February 18
- Spring holiday: March 29 - April 7
- Summer holiday: June 22 - August 18
- Autumn holiday: October 17 - October 27
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 5, 2025
Valais (French) school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: March 1 - March 9
- Spring holiday: April 18 - April 27
- Summer holiday: June 20 - TBA
- Autumn holiday: TBA
- Christmas holiday: TBA
Zug school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: February 3 - February 18
- Spring holiday: April 13 - April 28
- Summer holiday: July 6 - August 18
- Autumn holiday: October 5 - October 20
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 5, 2025
Zug school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: February 1 - February 16
- Spring holiday: April 12 - April 27
- Summer holiday: July 5 - August 17
- Autumn holiday: October 4 - October 19
- Christmas holiday: December 20 - January 4, 2026
Zurich school holidays 2024-2025
- Sports holiday: Varies by school
- Spring holiday: April 20 - May 5
- Summer holiday: July 13 - August 18
- Autumn holiday: October 5 - October 20
- Christmas holiday: December 21 - January 5, 2025
Zurich school holidays 2025-2026
- Sports holiday: Varies by school
- Spring holiday: April 18 - May 4
- Summer holiday: July 12 - August 17
- Autumn holiday: October 4 - October 19
- Christmas holiday: December 20 - January 4, 2026
