Switzerland is a confederation of 26 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. Here's what you need to know about holidays in Switzerland.
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 school holidays 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, see our guide to Swiss school holidays.
Types of public holidays in Switzerland
Swiss holidays are divided into national holidays, which are celebrated by the whole country, and regional holidays, which are 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 (see below for more information).
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 holidays, also known as non-public holidays, are holidays that each canton recognises, but does not mandate a day off for. It is up to individual employers to decide whether they give their workers a day off on these holidays. If in doubt, consult your contract or speak to your employer.
Swiss holidays by canton
This list takes 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 in 2025 & 2026
Public holidays in Canton Geneva in 2025 & 2026
Public holidays in Canton Bern in 2025 & 2026
Public holidays in Canton Vaud in 2025 & 2026
Public holidays in Canton Basel-Stadt in 2025 & 2026
Public holidays in Switzerland in 2025
*Non-statutory holiday
Public holidays in Switzerland in 2026
*Non-statutory holiday