School holiday dates in Switzerland

Wondering how school holidays work in Switzerland? Or just when your next break is? Here's what you need to know about school holidays in Switzerland.

Swiss school holidays

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. 

Types of school holidays in Switzerland

The five types of school holidays in Switzerland are: 

• Autumn 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 each 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.

Holiday childcare in Switzerland

If you are working, you may need to make childcare arrangements for your children during the holidays. There is no nationwide holiday childcare provision in Switzerland, but facilities are organised at either a cantonal or regional level. 

A number of companies in Switzerland offer holiday activities like programmes, sports camps and international summer camps, to keep your child occupied during the summer holidays. 

Cantonal school holidays in Switzerland

See below for the official school holiday dates for primary and secondary schools in Switzerland, extending to the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school terms, per canton:.

Aargau school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn break: September 28 - October 13, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: Varies by school
• Spring holiday: April 5 - April 21, 2025
• Summer holiday: July 19 - August 10, 2025

Aargau school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: September 27 - October 12, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026
• Sports holiday: Varies by school
• Spring holiday: April 3 - April 19, 1016
• Summer holiday: July 18 - August 9, 2026

Appenzell Innerrhoden school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: October 5 - October 20, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: February 28 - March 9, 2025
• Spring holiday: April 5 - April 21, 2025
• Summer holiday: July 5 - August 17, 2025

Appenzell Innerrhoden school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: October 4 - October 19, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026
• Sports holiday: February 13 - February 22, 2026
• Spring holiday: April 3 - April 19, 2026
• Summer holiday: July 4 - August 16, 2026

Appenzell Ausserrhoden school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: October 5 - October 20, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: Varies by school
• Spring holiday: April 5 - April 21, 2025
• Summer holiday: July 5 - August 10, 2025 

Appenzell Ausserrhoden school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: October 4 - October 19, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026
• Sports holiday: Varies by school
• Spring holiday: April 3 - April 19, 2026
• Summer holiday: July 4 - August 9, 2026

Canton Bern (German) school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: September 21 - October 13, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: Varies by school
• Spring holiday: April 5 - April 21, 2025
• Summer holiday: July 5 - August 10, 2025

Canton Bern (German) school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: September 20 - October 12, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026
• Sports holiday: Varies by school
• Spring holiday: April 3 - April 19, 2026
• Summer holiday: July 4 - August 9, 2026

Canton Bern (French) school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: October 5 - October 20, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: Varies by school
• Spring holiday: April 12 - April 27, 2025
• Summer holiday: July 5 - August 17, 2025

Canton Bern (French) school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: October 4 - October 19, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026
• Sports holiday: Varies by school
• Spring holiday: April 3 - April 19, 2026
• Summer holiday: July 4 - August 16, 2026

Basel Land school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: September 28 - October 13, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: March 1 - March 16, 2025
• Spring holiday: April 12 - April 27, 2025
• Summer holiday: June 28 - August 10, 2025

Basel Land school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: September 27 - October 12, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026
• Sports holiday: February 14 - March 1, 2026
• Spring holiday: March 28 - April 12, 2026
• Summer holiday: June 27 - August 9, 2026

Basel Stadt school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: September 28 - October 13, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: March 1 - March 16, 2025
• Spring holiday: April 12 - April 27, 2025
• Summer holiday: June 28 - August 10, 2025

Basel Stadt school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: September 27 - October 12, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026
• Sports holiday: February 14 - March 1, 2026
• Spring holiday: March 28 - April 12, 2026
• Summer holiday: June 27 - August 9, 2026

Liechtenstein school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: October 5 - October 20, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 6, 2025
• Sports holiday: March 1 - March 9, 2025
• Spring holiday: April 17 - May 4, 2025
• Summer holiday: July 5 - August 17, 2025

Liechtenstein school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: October 4 - October 19, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 24, 2025 - January 6, 2026
• Sports holiday: February 14 - February 22, 2026
• Spring holiday: April 2 - April 19, 2026
• Summer holiday: July 4 - August 16, 2026

Fribourg / Freiburg school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: October 12 - October 27, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: March 1 - March 9, 2025
• Spring holiday: April 18 - May 4, 2025
• Summer holiday: July 5 - August 27 (primary) or June 28 - August 27 (secondary)

Fribourg / Freiburg school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: October 11 - October 26, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026
• Sports holiday: February 14 - February 22, 2026
• Spring holiday: April 3 - April 19, 2026
• Summer holiday: July 11 - August 26 (primary) or July 4 to August 26 (secondary)

Geneva school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: October 19 - October 27, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: February 22 - March 2, 2025
• Spring holiday: April 18 - May 4, 2025
• Summer holiday: June 28 - August 17, 2025

Geneva school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: October 18 - October 26, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026
• Sports holiday: February 21 - March 1, 2026
• Spring holiday: April 3 - April 19, 2026
• Summer holiday: June 27 - August 16, 2026

Glarus school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: October 5 - October 20, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: January 25 - February 2, 2025
• Spring holiday: April 3 - April 21, 2025
• Summer holiday: June 28 - August 10, 2025

Glarus school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: October 4 - October 19, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026
• Sports holiday: January 24 - February 1, 2026
• Spring holiday: April 3 - April 19, 2026
• Summer holiday: June 27 - August 9, 2026

Graubünden/Grisons school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: October 5 - October 20, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: February 22 - March 2, 2025
• Spring holiday: April 19 - May 4, 2025
• Summer holiday: June 28 - August 10, 2025

Graubünden/Grisons school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: October 4 - October 19, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026
• Sports holiday: February 21 - March 1, 2026
• Spring holiday: April 18 - May 3, 2026
• Summer holiday: June 27 - August 16, 2026

Jura school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: October 12 - October 27, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: February 22 - March 2, 2025
• Spring holiday: April 18 - May 4, 2025
• Summer holiday: July 5 - August 17, 2025

Jura school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: October 4 - October 19, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026
• Sports holiday: February 14 - February 22, 2026
• Spring holiday: April 3 - April 19, 2026
• Summer holiday: July 4 - August 16, 2026

Lucerne school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: September 28 - October 13, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: February 22 - March 9, 2025
• Spring holiday: April 18 - May 4, 2025
• Summer holiday: July 5 - August 17, 2025

Lucerne school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: September 27 - October 12, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026
• Sports holiday: February 7 - February 22, 2026
• Spring holiday: April 3 - April 19, 2026
• Summer holiday: July 4 - August 16, 2026

Neuchâtel school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: October 5 - October 20, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: February 22 - March 2, 2025
• Spring holiday: April 12 - April 27, 2025
• Summer holiday: July 5 - August 17, 2025

Neuchâtel school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: October 4 - October 19, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026
• Sports holiday: February 21 - March 1, 2026
• Spring holiday: April 3 - April 19, 2026
• Summer holiday: July 4 - August 16, 2026

Nidwalden school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: September 28 - October 13, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: February 22 - March 9, 2025
• Spring holiday: April 18 - May 4, 2025
• Summer holiday: July 5 - August 17, 2025

Nidwalden school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: September 27 - October 12, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026
• Sports holiday: February 7 - February 22, 2026
• Spring holiday: April 3 - April 19, 2026
• Summer holiday: July 4 - August 16, 2026

Obwalden school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: September 28 - October 13, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: February 22 - March 9, 2025
• Spring holiday: April 18 - May 4, 2025
• Summer holiday: July 5 - August 17, 2025

Obwalden school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: September 27 - October 12, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 24, 2025 - January 6, 2026
• Sports holiday: February 7 - February 22, 2026
• Spring holiday: April 3 - April 19, 2026
• Summer holiday: July 4 - August 16, 2026

St. Gallen school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: September 28 - October 20, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2025 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: Varies by school
• Spring holiday: April 5 - April 21, 2025
• Summer holiday: July 5 - August 10, 2025

St. Gallen school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: September 27 - October 19, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026
• Sports holiday: Varies by school
• Spring holiday: April 3- April 19, 2026
• Summer holiday: July 4 - August 9, 2026

Schaffhausen school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: September 28 - October 20, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 24, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: January 25 - February 9, 2025
• Spring holiday: April 12 - April 27, 2025
• Summer holiday: July 5 - August 10, 2025

Schaffhausen school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: September 27 - October 19, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 24, 2025 - January 4, 2026 
• Sports holiday: January 24 - February 8, 2026
• Spring holiday: April 11 - April 26, 2026
• Summer holiday: July 4 - August 9, 2026

Solothurn school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: September 28 - October 20, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: February 1 - February 16, 2025
• Spring holiday: April 5 - April 21, 2025
• Summer holiday: July 5 - August 10, 2025

Solothurn school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: September 27 - October 19, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026
• Sports holiday: January 31 - February 15, 2026
• Spring holiday: April 3  - April 19, 2026
• Summer holiday: July 4 - August 9, 2026

Schwyz school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: September 28 - October 13, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: February 22 - March 2, 2025
• Spring holiday: April 26 - May 11, 2025
• Summer holiday: July 5 - August 10, 2025

Schwyz school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: September 27 - October 12, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 25, 2025 - January 6, 2026
• Sports holiday: February 21 - March 1, 2026
• Spring holiday: April 25 - May 10, 2026
• Summer holiday: July 4 - August 9, 2026

Thurgau school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: October 5 - October 20, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: January 25 - February 2, 2025
• Spring holiday: April 5 - April 21, 2025
• Summer holiday: July 5 - August 10, 2025

Thurgau school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: October 4 - October 19, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026
• Sports holiday: January 24 - February 1, 2026
• Spring holiday: April 3 - April 19, 2026
• Summer holiday: July 4 - August 9, 2026

Ticino school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: October 26 - November 3, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 6, 2025
• Sports holiday: March 1- March 9, 2025
• Spring holiday: April 18 - April 27, 2025
• Summer holiday: June 19 - August 31, 2025

Ticino school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: November 1 - November 9, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 24, 2025 - January 6, 2026
• Sports holiday: February 14 - February 22, 2026
• Spring holiday: April 3 - April 12, 2026
• Summer holiday: June 18 - August 30, 2026

Uri school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: October 5 - October 20, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 6, 2025
• Sports holiday: February 22 - March 9, 2025
• Spring holiday: April 26 - May 11, 2025
• Summer holiday: July 5 - August 17, 2025

Uri school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: October 4 - October 19, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 20, 2025 - January 6, 2026
• Sports holiday: March 1 - March 8, 2026
• Spring holiday: May 2 - May 17, 2026
• Summer holiday: July 4 - August 16, 2026

Vaud school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: October 12 - October 27, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: February 15 - February 23, 2025
• Spring holiday: April 12 - April 27, 2025
• Summer holiday: June 28 - August 17, 2025

Vaud school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: October 10 - October 26, 2025
• Christmas holiday:  December 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026
• Sports holiday: February 14 - February 22, 2026
• Spring holiday: April 3 - April 19, 2026
• Summer holiday: June 27 - August 16, 2026

Valais (German) school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: Autumn holiday: October 12 - October 27, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: February 22 - March 9, 2025
• Spring holiday: May 10 - May 18, 2025 
• Summer holiday: June 28 - August 17, 2025

Valais (German) school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: October 11 - October 26, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026
• Sports holiday: February 21 - March 8, 2026
• Spring holiday: May 9 - May 17, 2026
• Summer holiday: July 1 - August 16, 2026

Valais (French) school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: October 17 - October 27, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: March 1 - March 9, 2025
• Spring holiday: April 18 - April 27, 2025
• Summer holiday: June 19 - August 20, 2025

Valais (French) school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: October 16 - October 26, 2025 
• Christmas holiday: December 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026
• Sports holiday: February 14 - February 22, 2026
• Spring holiday: April 3 - April 12, 2026
• Summer holiday: June 27 - August 16, 2026

Zug school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: October 5 - October 20, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: February 1 - February 16, 2025
• Spring holiday: April 12 - April 27, 2025
• Summer holiday: July 5 - August 17, 2025

Zug school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: October 4 - October 19, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026
• Sports holiday: January 31 - February 15, 2026
• Spring holiday: April 11 - April 26, 2026
• Summer holiday: July 4 - August 16, 2026

Zurich school holidays 2024-2025

• Autumn holiday: October 5 - October 20, 2024
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Sports holiday: Varies by school
• Spring holiday: April 18 - May 4, 2025
• Summer holiday: July 12 - August 17, 2025

Zurich school holidays 2025-2026

• Autumn holiday: October 4 - October 19, 2025
• Christmas holiday: December 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026
• Sports holiday: Varies by school
• Spring holiday: April 18 - May 3, 2026
• Summer holiday: July 11 - August 16, 2026