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Swiss holidays 2024 & 2025

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:

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

Holiday Date in 2024 Date in 2025
New Year's Day January 1 January 1
Good Friday March 29 April 18
Easter Monday April 1 April 21
Labour Day May 1 May 1
Ascension Day May 9 May 29
Whit Monday May 20 June 9
Swiss National Day August 1 August 1
Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer (Buss- und Bettag) September 15 September 21
Christmas Day December 25 December 25
Saint Stephen's Day December 26 December 26

Public holidays in Canton Geneva

Holiday Date in 2024 Date in 2025
New Year's Day January 1 January 1
Good Friday March 29 April 18
Easter Monday April 1 April 21
Ascension Day May 9 May 29
Whit Monday May 20 June 9
Swiss National Day August 1 August 1
Geneva fast (Jeûne genevois) September 5 September 11
Christmas Day December 25 December 25
Restoration of the Republic of Geneva December 31 December 31

Public holidays in Canton Bern

Holiday Date in 2024 Date in 2025
New Year's Day January 1 January 1
Saint Berchtold's Day January 2 January 2
Good Friday March 29 April 18
Easter Monday April 1 April 21
Ascension Day May 9 May 29
Whit Monday May 20 June 9
Swiss National Day August 1 August 1
Christmas Eve (afternoon only) December 24 December 24
Christmas Day December 25 December 25
Saint Stephen's Day December 26 December 26
New Year's Eve (afternoon only) December 31 December 31

Public holidays in Canton Vaud

Holiday Date in 2024 Date in 2025
New Year's Day January 1 January 1
Saint Berchtold's Day January 2 January 2
Good Friday March 29 April 18
Easter Monday April 1 April 21
Ascension Day May 9 May 29
Whit Monday May 20 June 9
Swiss National Day August 1 August 1
Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer (Jeûne fédéral) September 15 September 21
Christmas Day December 25 December 25

Public holidays in Canton Basel-Stadt

Holiday Date in 2024 Date in 2025
New Year's Day January 1 January 1
Good Friday March 29 April 18
Easter Monday April 1 April 21
May Day May 1 May 1
Ascension Day May 9 May 29
Whit Monday May 20 June 9
Swiss National Day August 1 August 1
Christmas Day December 25 December 25
Saint Stephen's Day December 26 December 26

Swiss holidays 2024

Holiday Date Cantons
New Year's Day January 1 National
St. Berchtold's Day January 2 Aargau, Bern, Fribourg, Glarus, Jura, Lucerne, Obwalden, Schaffhausen, Thurgau, Vaud
Three Kings Day January 6 Lucerne, Schwyz, Ticino, Uri
Republic Day March 1 Neuchâtel
Saint Joseph's Day March 19 Lucerne, Nidwalden, Solothurn, Schwyz, Ticino, Uri, Valais
Good Friday March 29 National except Ticino and Valais
Easter Monday April 1 National except Neuchâtel, Solothurn, Valais, Zug
Näfelser Fahrt April 4 Glarus
Sechseläuten* April 15 Zurich
Labour Day May 1 Basel-Stadt, Zurich
May Day May 1 Aargau, Basel-Land, Jura, Neuchâtel, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino
Ascension Day May 9 National
Whitsun* May 19 Bern
Whit Monday May 20 National except Neuchâtel, Solothurn, Valais, Zug
Corpus Christi May 30 Aargau, Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Zug, Fribourg, Solothurn, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Graubünden, Ticino, Valais, Jura
Jura Independence Day June 23 Jura
Solemnity Burgdorf* June 24 Burgdorf (Bern)
Braderie* June 28 - 30 Biel / Bienne (Bern)
Saint Peter and Saint Paul’s Day* June 29 Graubünden, Ticino
Swiss National Day August 1 National
Assumption Day August 15 Aargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Jura, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, St. Gallen, Solothurn, Schwyz, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Zug
Genfer Bettag* September 5 Geneva
Knabenschiessen* September 9 Zurich
Swiss Federal Fast September 15 Aargau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel- Land, Fribourg, Glarus, Graubünden, Jura, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, St. Gallen, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, Schwyz, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Vaud, Valais, Zug, Zurich
Bettagsmontag* September 16 Geneva, Neuchâtel, Vaud
St Mauritius' Day September 22 Appenzell Innerrhoden
Thuner Ausschiesset* September 23 Thun (Bern)
Saint Nicholas of Flüe Day* September 25 Obwalden
All Saints' Day November 1 Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Glarus, Zug, Fribourg, Solothurn, Appenzell Innerrhoden, St. Gallen, Aargau, Valais 
Immaculate Conception December 8 Aargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Graubünden, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Solothurn, Schwyz, Ticino, Uri, Vaud, Valais, Zug
Christmas Eve December 24 Glarus
Christmas Day December 25 National
St Stephen's Day December 26 National except Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel, Solothurn, Valais, Vaud, Zug
New Year's Eve December 31 Glarus
Refounding of the Republic of Geneva December 31 Geneva

*Non-statutory holiday

Swiss holidays 2025

Holiday Date Cantons
New Year's Day January 1 National
St. Berchtold's Day January 2 Aargau, Bern, Fribourg, Glarus, Jura, Lucerne, Obwalden, Schaffhausen, Thurgau, Vaud
Three Kings Day January 6 Lucerne, Schwyz, Ticino, Uri
Republic Day March 1 Neuchâtel
Saint Joseph's Day March 19 Lucerne, Nidwalden, Solothurn, Schwyz, Ticino, Uri, Valais
Näfelser Fahrt April 3 Glarus
Good Friday April 18 National except Ticino and Valais
Sechseläuten* April 20 Zurich
Easter Monday April 21 National except Neuchâtel, Solothurn, Valais, Zug
Labour Day May 1 Basel-Stadt, Zurich
May day May 1 Aargau, Basel-Land, Jura, Neuchâtel, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino
Ascension Day May 29 National
Whitsun* June 8 Bern
Whit Monday June 9 National except Neuchâtel, Solothurn, Valais, Zug
Corpus Christi June 19 Aargau, Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Zug, Fribourg, Solothurn, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Graubünden, Ticino, Valais, Jura
Juran Independence Day June 23 Jura
Solemnity Burgdorf* June 24 Burgdorf (Bern)
Braderie* June 27 - 29 Biel / Bienne (Bern)
Saint Peter and Saint Paul’s Day* June 29 Graubünden, Ticino
Swiss National Day August 1 National
Assumption Day August 15 Aargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Jura, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, St. Gallen, Solothurn, Schwyz, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Zug
Genfer Bettag* September 11 Geneva
Knabenschiessen* September 15 Zurich
Swiss Federal Fast September 21 Aargau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel- Land, Fribourg, Glarus, Graubünden, Jura, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, St. Gallen, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, Schwyz, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Vaud, Valais, Zug, Zurich
Bettagsmontag* September 22 Geneva, Neuchâtel, Vaud
St Mauritius' Day September 22 Appenzell Innerrhoden
Thuner Ausschiesset* September 22 Thun (Bern)
Saint Nicholas of Flüe Day* September 25 Obwalden
All Saints' Day November 1 Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Glarus, Zug, Fribourg, Solothurn, Appenzell Innerrhoden, St. Gallen, Aargau, Valais 
Immaculate Conception December 8 Aargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Graubünden, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Solothurn, Schwyz, Ticino, Uri, Vaud, Valais, Zug
Christmas Eve December 24 Glarus
Christmas Day December 25 National
St Stephen's Day December 26 National except Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel, Solothurn, Valais, Vaud, Zug
New Year's Eve December 31 Glarus
Refounding of the Republic of Geneva December 31 Geneva

*Non-statutory holiday

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