Swiss holidays 2024 & 2025

Switzerland is a confederation of 26 counties (cantons) that have a great amount of autonomy over their own laws and rules, which includes setting public holidays. Although some national holidays do exist, most mandated holidays are decided by individual cantons.

It is important to know which public holidays are specific to the region you live in if you are given a work contract that allows for regional and non-statutory holidays as well as national ones.

Swiss school holidays

Swiss schools traditionally have five school holidays throughout the year. These holidays are determined by the canton where you live and can vary from week to week. Most family calendars have the dates on the back. The holidays they get are: 

• 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, six to eight weeks)

For more information about specific dates for each canton, please see the Swiss school holidays section.

Types of Swiss holidays

Swiss holidays are divided into national holidays celebrated by the whole country and regional holidays recognised by one or more of the 26 individual cantons. Some of these holidays are statutory - meaning most workers are given a day off - while others are non-statutory.

Swiss national holidays

National holidays are holidays that all Swiss cantons give as a day off work. These are:

• Swiss National Day
• Christmas Day
• New Year's Day
• Ascension Day

National Day on August 1 is the only federally-recognised holiday in Switzerland, meaning that it is designated as a day off by the government. In contrast, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Ascension Day are designated as holidays by each of the 26 cantons. 

Regional holidays in Switzerland

Along with national days off, each canton in Switzerland has its own set of regional holidays. These can range from days designed to commemorate a canton's individual history, to religious occasions and ceremonies.

Statutory and non-statutory holidays 

Within each canton, there are sets of statutory and non-statutory holidays. Statutory holidays are days when the canton gives workers a day off to celebrate. All people who work in the canton where the holiday takes place are entitled to take these days off, and those who continue working during these days are meant to be rewarded through pay for overtime. Most shops are also required to close during the holidays.

Non-statutory or "non-public holidays" are holidays within each canton where residents are not given a day off automatically. Whether these holidays are considered days off or not is determined by a person's contract with their employer.

Swiss holidays by canton

This list will take you through the official statutory holidays in the five cantons of Switzerland which are most popular with expats (Zurich, Geneva, Bern, Vaud and Basel (Stadt)) followed by a general table of all statutory and non-statutory public holidays celebrated in Switzerland.

Most international companies follow the holidays of the region where they are based. Depending on the company, some non-statutory holidays are also treated as days off.

Public holidays in Canton Zurich

Public holidays in Canton Geneva

Public holidays in Canton Bern

Public holidays in Canton Vaud

Public holidays in Canton Basel-Stadt

Swiss holidays 2024

*Non-statutory holiday

Swiss holidays 2025

*Non-statutory holiday