Public holidays in Switzerland in 2026
In 2026, there are 24 public holidays in Switzerland.
| Holiday | Date | Cantons |
|---|---|---|
| New Year | 01.01.2026 (Thursday) | Aargau, Appenzell-Ausserrhoden, Appenzell-Innerroden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Glarus, Graubünden, Jura, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Nidwalden, Obvalden, Schaffhausen, Szturn, St. Gallen, Ticino, Turgau, Uri, Vaux, Valais, Zug and Zurich |
| Berchtoldstag | January 2, 2026 (Friday) | Aargau, Bern, Jura, Turgau and Vo |
| Holy Three Kings | January 6, 2026 (Tuesday) | Graubünden, Schwyz, Ticino and Uri |
| Saint Joseph | March 19, 2026 (Thursday) | Graubünden, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Schwitz, Ticino, Uri, Valais and Zug |
| Good Friday | 03.04.2026 (Friday) | Aargau, Appenzell-Ausserroden, Appenzell-Innerroden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Glarus, Graubünden, Jura, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Nidwalden, Obvalden, Schaffhausen, Szturn, Szturn, St. Gallen, Thurgau, Uri, Vo, Zug and Zurich |
| Easter Sunday | April 5, 2026 (Sunday) | All countries |
| Easter Monday | 06.04.2026 (Monday) | All countries |
| Six sexes | April 20, 2026 (Monday) | Zurich |
| Labor Day | 01.05.2026 (Friday) | Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Fribourg, Jura, Neuchâtel, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, Ticino, Thurgau, Zurich and regional |
| Archery | May 14, 2026 (Thursday) | All countries |
| Trinity Monday | May 25, 2026 (Monday) | Aargau, Appenzell-Ausserroden, Appenzell-Innerroden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Geneva, Glarus, Graubünden, Jura, Schaffhausen, Schwitz, Solothurn, St. Gallen, Ticino, Thurgau, Zurich and Ur |
| Corpus Christi | 04.06.2026 (Thursday) | Aargau, Appenzell, Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Graubünden, Jura, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Zug and Neuchâtel |
| Peter and Paul | June 29, 2026 (Monday) | Graubünden, Lucerne, Regional and Ticino |
| Federal Day | 01.08.2026 (Saturday) | All countries |
| Assumption Day | 08/15/2026 (Saturday) | Aargau, Appenzell, Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Graubünden, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri and Zug |
| Geneva Day of Prayer | September 10, 2026 (Thursday) | Geneva |
| Shooting among boys | 09/14/2026 (Monday) | Zurich |
| Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer | 09/20/2026 (Sunday) | Aargau, Appenzell-Ausserrhoden, Appenzell-Ænerroden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Glarus, Graubünden, Jura, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schaffhausen, Schwölz, Zlo-Glen, St. Nicholas Turgau, Uri, Vaux, Valais, Zug and Zurich |
| Mauritius Day | 09/22/2026 (Tuesday) | Appenzell, Innerrhoden, Lucerne, Region and Solothurn |
| Saint Leodegar | October 2, 2026 (Friday) | Lucerne |
| Hallowmas | November 1, 2026 (Sunday) | Aargau, Appenzell, Innerroden, Fribourg, Glarus, Graubünden, Jura, Lucerne, Niedwalden, Obwalden, Schwitz, Solothurn, St. Gallen, Ticino, Uri, Valais and Zug |
| Immaculate Conception | December 8, 2026 (Tuesday) | Aargau, Appenzell, Innerroden, Fribourg, Graubünden, Lucerne, Niedwalden, Obwalden, Schwitz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri, Vale and Zug |
| Christmas | December 25, 2026 (Friday) | All countries |
| Saint Stephen’s Day | December 26, 2026 (Saturday) | Aargau, Appenzell-Ausserroden, Appenzell-Innerroden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Glarus, Graubünden, Lucerne, Schaffhausen, Schwitz, Solothurn, St. Gallen, Ticino, Turgau, Zurich and Zurich |
In 2026, there are 24 public holidays in Switzerland.
New Year in Switzerland
In Switzerland, New Year’s Day (French: Nouvel an, Italian: Capodanno) is not a federally recognized public holiday. However, it is notable that all cantons close on 1 January and thus declare it an official holiday. Such an arrangement only exists for Ascension Day and Christmas. The tradition of celebrating the New Year dates back to ancient Rome. As early as 153 BC, the Senate changed hands on this day, and later the beginning of the year was also set on 1 January. The Church followed suit, publishing a corresponding declaration in 1691 under Pope Innocent XII. Martin Luther also considered 1 January to be the secular New Year.
New Year and the roots of the holiday
Although the roots of the New Year’s celebration lie in ancient Rome, the Catholic Church has sought its own interpretation since the early Middle Ages. Originally, New Year’s was a great feast of the Virgin Mary, but later it moved to the Jewish tradition of circumcising Jesus on this day, and since 1969 it has once again honored the Mother of God and simultaneously celebrates a day of peace throughout the world.
However, in the Alemannic region, and therefore in northern Switzerland, the so-called “High New Year” was long celebrated on Epiphany, thus following a different tradition.
How is New Year celebrated in Switzerland?
In Switzerland, New Year’s Eve is a more important holiday than New Year’s Day, at least in terms of customs. Many customs revolve around expelling the evil spirits of the old year in order to enter the new year cleansed. In addition to firecrackers and fireworks, which are much less common in Switzerland than in Germany, in many places there are parades of masked figures through the streets. On the other hand, in the interior of Appenzell, New Year’s Eve is celebrated with the Silvesterkläusen, which take place on both December 31 and January 13. In the Bernese Oberland, on the other hand, it is mainly young people who embody the so-called “Pelzmartiga” and wrap themselves in scary masks and fur robes. On the other hand, in Klosters in the canton of Graubünden, ten pigs compete against each other in the lucky pig race – and these are just a few of the many regional Swiss customs. In the Swiss political landscape, the New Year’s address each year marks the beginning of the term of office of the newly elected federal president.
Berchtoldstag in Switzerland
The day after New Year’s Day, several Swiss cantons celebrate Berchtoldstag. Due to the date of 2 January, the canton of Glarus also calls it the Naanüüjaar (after-New Year’s Day). A special feature is that this day is only celebrated on 2 January in the areas of influence of the large cities of Zurich and Bern, while the canton of Graubünden sets it on 5 January, and the town of Frauenfeld in the canton of Thurgau celebrates it only on the third Monday of January. There is no uniform regulation in this area or in the order in which Berchtoldstag is celebrated. In some parts of the canton of Aargau, as well as in the cantons of Bern, Jura, Neuchâtel, Thurgau and Vaud, a public holiday is declared, which is also observed by the cities of Schaffhausen and Zurich. In retail, the annual inventory is often taken on Berchtoldstag, and banks, post offices and the Swiss Federal Railways are always closed.
What does Berchtoldstag mean?
An unusual feature of Berchtoldstag is the lack of reference to a specific saint. It is most likely a kind of post-holiday, similar to Easter Monday or Boxing Day. There are different versions of the origin of the name, but they all go back to Epiphany, or as it is called in Greek, Epiphany. In Middle High German, the day was also called “Berchteltac” and may have gradually been translated into Swiss. Other suggestions point to a duke named Berthold or Bertha, Queen of Burgundy and founder of the church in western Switzerland, but here too there is a lack of evidence. In this context, it is interesting to note that the day is also known in French as “Le Berchtoldstag” and has not received any other translation.
On the other hand, some people believe that the term “berchten” or “berchtelen” is the key to the name Berchtoldstag. It means something like wandering around in disguise or begging. However, it is doubtful whether the name of the festival existed before this verb appeared.
The latter explanation is almost fairy-tale. Perhaps Berchtoldstag also refers to the Old Germanic female deity “Perchta”. She, in turn, was the inspiration for the tale of Frau Holle and appears mainly during Rauchnachten (Twelfth Nights), which also includes January 2.
What’s happening at Berchtoldstag?
There is no clear answer to the question of the rituals and customs of Berchtoldstag. The fact is that in the Catholic cantons there are few events, so Epiphany simply has more significance. Elsewhere, the situation is different. For example, in the regions around Zurich, Schaffhausen and Thurgau, the so-called “Bächteln” is well known. This is a meeting in a pub where traveling musicians or cabaret bands play. Guilds also traditionally meet on Berchtoldstag, and in Frauenfeld, citizens are invited to the town hall to share boiled sausage and bread. In some Alemannic regions, a direct line can be drawn from Berchtoldstag to Carnival or Fasnacht. This involves the wearing of masks, although in some areas this also applies to New Year’s Eve or St. Nicholas Day. Before the Reformation, these customs were even more vivid and were reflected, among other things, in the Berzel (traditional German costume), which can still be found in the canton of Aargau, particularly in Hallwil and the Seetal Valley.
Three Kings Day in Switzerland
Epiphany or Epiphany (Italian: Epiphany) on 6 January is a public holiday in only a few cantons of Switzerland. These include Ticino, Schwyz, Uri and some parts of Graubünden. From a Christian perspective, this holiday commemorates the Epiphany or baptism of Jesus, while the Three Wise Men entered this tradition later. In northern Switzerland, New Year’s Day is also celebrated on the same day, which has its roots in Swabian-Alemanni customs. In the Orthodox Church and according to the Julian calendar, 6 January also falls on Christmas.
What is the origin of the Epiphany tradition?
Historians suggest that Epiphany has existed in Switzerland since 1311, or that the first evidence of individual guilds dates back to this year. However, January 6 was already celebrated in ancient Greco-Roman Egypt. There, this event was the birth of the sun god Ion and the associated winter solstice, and pagan customs also existed in Roman times.
They had already been replaced by the feast of the Epiphany of the Eastern Church in the second century. The introduction of the Three Magi was ultimately reserved for the Western Church, which also gave the biblical figures the names Caspar, Melchior, and Belshazzar in the sixth century. Thus, the Epiphany is one of the oldest, but also the most ambiguous, feasts in the Christian tradition.
What are the customs on Epiphany in Switzerland?
Unlike Austria and Germany, Epiphany is not accompanied by many customs in Switzerland. There is also no carol singing, but a Three Kings cake is baked, inside of which a bean is hidden. Whoever finds the bean becomes king for a day and can hope for good luck and prosperity in the coming year. The Three Kings cake tradition is so widespread in Switzerland that about one and a half million cakes are sold each year, making it the country’s most successful speciality. The cake is made from yeast dough and is round in shape. The bean has now been replaced by a small plastic crown. This crown is not only given in families, but has also been given at workplaces for a long time.
What is striking about the tradition of baking Epiphany cake is the long hiatus it has undergone. This baking business originally originated in the Middle Ages, but was only revived in 1952. Its founder is Bernese bread researcher and insurance official Max Wehren (1919-2008).
In Altendorf, in the canton of Schwyz, carnival begins on Epiphany according to Alemannic tradition. This is expressed in a parade of famous carnival figures through the village.
Saint Joseph’s Day in Switzerland
St. Joseph’s Day in Switzerland is often called Seppi’s Day. The reason for this is the shortened form “Sepp”, which is an abbreviation for the name Joseph in the Swiss dialect. It is celebrated on 19 March and is a public holiday mainly in the predominantly Catholic regions of Switzerland. These are the cantons of Nidwalden, Schwyz, Ticino, Uri and Valais, as well as some communities in the cantons of Graubünden, Lucerne, Solothurn and Zug. In the Swiss canton of Ticino, St. Joseph’s Day is also Father’s Day, which, for example, falls on Ascension Day in Germany. Liechtenstein follows a similar procedure, but there St. Joseph’s Day is a public holiday only if 19 March does not fall during Holy Week.
What are the roots of Saint Joseph’s Day or Saint Joseph’s Day?
Saint Joseph’s Day, or Saint Joseph’s Day, refers directly to Joseph of Nazareth, the adoptive father of Jesus. He has been particularly venerated in the Catholic Church only since the Middle Ages. Mendicant orders such as the Dominicans and Franciscans, in particular, promoted the so-called cult of Joseph from the 14th century. The date of March 19 does not refer to a name day in the classical sense, but may be the equivalent of the pagan feast of Minerva, a festival of artisans that was previously held on this day. In other words, the Catholic Church wanted to establish Joseph as the patron saint of artisans and workers even then, which is also confirmed by the fact that since 1955 and under Pope Pius XII, Saint Joseph’s Day, according to the will of the Church, is an alternative to May 1, the secular Labor Day. Joseph has been the patron saint of the entire Catholic Church since 1870 and therefore has a special status.
How is St. Joseph’s Day celebrated in Switzerland?
Unlike in Austria, the significance of St. Joseph’s Day in Switzerland is only sporadically recognized. In fact, traditions are increasingly being sidelined, as evidenced by the fact that shops now remain open even in Catholic areas. However, government offices, banks and schools remain closed.
More recently, in 2016, one of the major Swiss daily newspapers wrote: “ Joseph is in a difficult situation ” and reported that the holiday was being canceled in an increasing number of communities.
If we want to talk about special customs at all, it should be noted that some communities hold Seppitag-Jass (Jass is a popular card game), and some businesses offer special deals for people named Josef on this day.
Good Friday in Switzerland
Good Friday (French: vendredi Saint, Italian: Venerdì Santo) is a public holiday in almost every Swiss canton. The only exceptions are the two Catholic cantons of Ticino and Valais. It is worth noting, however, that the tradition of Good Friday has existed in Switzerland only since 1860. Before that, its place was occupied by Maundy Thursday. In the context of the Holy Triduum, Good Friday is closely linked to Easter, forming a single whole with it. The date varies and is based on the first full moon after the beginning of spring. Accordingly, the date of Easter (and therefore Good Friday) repeats itself every 19 years.
What are the roots of the Good Friday holiday?
Good Friday is one of the oldest religious holidays. The fact that it is a day of fasting was documented as early as the second century by the Roman writer Tertullian. The first records of the celebration of Easter and Good Friday date from the fourth century. The silence in which the holiday is celebrated is characteristic. The background is the commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus, which is said to have occurred on that day at around the ninth hour of the Roman calendar (corresponding to 3:00 p.m.). The name Good Friday comes from the Old High German word “kara”, meaning to weep or mourn. The French and Italian names simply mean “Holy Friday”. In some parts of Switzerland it is also called “Silent Friday” or “Good Friday”.
What traditions characterize Good Friday in Switzerland?
Good Friday is also a silent holiday in Switzerland. Specifically, this means that there is no Mass or joyful hymns in Catholic churches. In addition, the altar is not decorated, and even the ringing of bells is skipped until the Easter Vigil. In many places, they are replaced by rattles and a bell, which acoustically symbolizes mourning for the death of Jesus.
Switzerland also observes a fast on Good Friday, abstaining from meat and alcohol. In some places, fish is traditionally on the menu.
It is more of a secular than a Christian custom to travel to the cantons of Valais or Ticino on Good Friday for Easter shopping. Shops are open as usual in both cantons. This is all the more surprising considering that in Mendrisio, Ticino, there is a procession with around 700 amateur actors depicting the burial of Jesus.
In a town in western Switzerland, women wrap themselves in so-called “pleuroses,” black garments that are carried through Romon in the canton of Fribourg, along with the instruments of Jesus’ torture and the veil of Saint Veronica. The custom dates back to the 15th century.
Easter Sunday in Switzerland
Easter Sunday (French: Paschal Day, Italian: Giorno di Pasqua) is a public holiday throughout Switzerland. According to Christian beliefs, it is even the most important holiday of the year. Easter, together with Good Friday and Holy Saturday, traditionally forms the “Triduum Sacrum” or holy three days, which are considered a single whole. These days begin with the celebration of the Last Supper on the evening of Maundy Thursday. The date of Easter is variable and is determined based on the first full moon after the equinox and the first Sunday after it. All other moveable holidays and memorial days, such as Ash Wednesday, Carnival, Pentecost and Ascension, are calculated according to the date of Easter.
What tradition is observed on Easter?
Easter traditionally marks the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. This event dates back to the early church in Jerusalem. The resurrection is already mentioned in the Epistles of Paul, which begin in 50 AD, as well as in the Gospel of Mark, and is considered the foundation of the Christian faith.
The German name “Easter” often comes from the Indo-European root word “ausos” or the Greek “eos.” Both words mean dawn and have their equivalents in the Bible. It also mentions that the empty tomb was discovered early in the morning, that is, at dawn.
Other attempts at explanation point to the Germanic goddess of spring, Ostara, and draw a line between Easter and pagan spring festivals, although this is highly controversial.
What happens on Easter Sunday?
In the church on Easter, a candle is usually solemnly lit, symbolizing that Jesus is the light of the world. In addition, services or masses are held, each of which has a special theme. A notable feature is that in Catholic regions, for the first time since the evening of Holy Thursday, bells ring and Holy Mass can be celebrated, which is not practiced during Lent.
In some places, Easter is celebrated on Easter Eve, when Easter bonfires are lit.
Easter Sunday in Switzerland
In Switzerland, it is also mandatory to dye Easter eggs for Easter. This custom dates back to the 17th century and refers to the fertility symbolism of eggs. According to Christian beliefs, eggs first turned red shortly after the resurrection of Jesus. This happened after Mary Magdalene told the emperor about the empty tomb of Jesus, and the emperor mockingly declared that this was as false as the red eggshell. According to legend, the eggs turned red immediately after this sentence, convincing the emperor of the resurrection.
Also popular is “Eiertütschen”, which has been taking place in Bern since 1892 on the Kornhausplatz, but also in families elsewhere. In this custom, people try to break the shell of their opponent’s egg by hitting each other with hard-boiled eggs.
Other Easter traditions in Switzerland include lighting the Easter candle and having an Easter brunch. In addition, sales of chocolate Easter bunnies (Schoggihasen) are skyrocketing, so one of these treats can be found in almost every Swiss household.
Easter Monday
In Switzerland, Easter Monday (French: le lundi de pâques, Italian: Lunedi di Pasqua) is a public holiday, equivalent to Sunday in most cantons. Although it is not always legally recognized as a public holiday, the day is considered a day off almost everywhere. The only exceptions are Valais and some cantons of Aargau and Solothurn.
Traditionally, Easter Monday is celebrated on the Sunday preceding Easter. Accordingly, it can be compared with Trinity and Boxing Day. Until the Middle Ages, the two weeks between Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday were considered a non-working period.
What is Easter Monday based on?
The tradition of celebrating Easter Monday as a separate holiday can be traced back to the time of Pope Urban VIII. In 1642, he decreed that, in addition to the “Triduum of Passion”, consisting of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Good Saturday, there should also be a subsequent “Triduum of Resurrection”. However, the previously included Tuesday soon lost its status as a holiday.
The religious basis of Easter Monday is the biblical story of the disciples of Emmaus. After the death of Jesus, they were returning from Jerusalem to their hometown of Emmaus when they met a man. It was only after a meal together that they realized that it was the resurrected Jesus. The result was a direct return to Jerusalem and the proclamation of the resurrection.
Easter Monday customs in Switzerland
Perhaps the most famous Swiss Easter Monday custom is the “Zwänzgerle” (whole duel), which is particularly popular in Zurich and the surrounding area. Children play against adults: the children hold an Easter egg, and the adults hold a 20 rappen coin. The adults’ task is to get the coin into the egg shell with one throw. If they succeed, they can eat the egg; otherwise, the children get the coin. This custom can be traced back to the 18th century and is practiced in Zurich both on Rüdenplatz and under the arches of the Old Town.
Six sexes
Compared to many other regional Swiss festivals, such as the anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Neuchâtel or the Nefelser Farth, the traditional Sechseläuten is a four-day event that guild members, locals and visitors celebrate together. The Sechseläuten is also known as the Zurich Spring Festival and is known in the region as the Sächsilüüte. This festival usually falls on the third Monday of April, but can also fall on the fourth or second Monday. The dates are chosen to coincide with holidays such as Easter Monday or Holy Week, as well as the annual school holidays, and are set five years in advance. It is thus a classic spring festival, although the organizers speak of its three roots (guild festival, beginning of spring, expulsion of winter).
What happens at Sechseläuten?
The heart of the Sechseläuten celebration is the burning of a Böögg (snowman). There are certainly parallels here with the customs of Fanacht (carnival). In Zurich, the Böögg is a snowman filled with both wood shavings and fireworks. Interestingly, the burning time of the Böögg is carefully documented year after year and usually varies from five to about 45 minutes. The burning has taken place on Sechseläutenplatz in the center of Zurich since 1902 at exactly 6:00 p.m. every year (hence the name). The significance of the event also lies in the fact that many celebrities traditionally attend Sechseläuten, and the celebration is even broadcast on television.
Where does the name come from?
The name Sechseläuten comes from a city council decision in 1525. It was then determined that after the equinox at the end of March, the closing time would be announced by the second largest bell of the Grossmünster at six o’clock in the evening.
Six guilds and guilds
In a sense, the Sechsleuten marks the end of the working day, which is why the 25 guilds of Zurich are particularly important. Every year, around 3,500 guild members put on their traditional costumes and uniforms and march, accompanied by around 350 riders and horse-drawn carriages, to musical accompaniment, through the Bahnhofstrasse to the Sechsleutenplatz. After the burning of the Begg (a kind of slang term for “Begg”) and a communal dinner, the guilds solemnly exit, waving colorful lanterns.
Other customs at Sechseläuten
Also worth mentioning is the children’s parade that takes place during the four days of Sechseläuten in Zurich on the Sunday before the event itself. Children dress up as they please and take part in the event by the thousands. Another tradition is the four-day presentation of the guest canton, which has been on the agenda since 1991.