How to utilise Switzerland’s 2026 Feiertage for longer holidays

Already planning a holiday in 2026? Here’s how to utilise the nationwide public holidays in Switzerland this year to make the best use of your time off work.

Make the most of Swiss public holidays in 2026

Workers in Switzerland tend to receive between 20 and 30 days of paid leave a year, varying slightly depending on whether they work part-time or full-time. 

Time off can be a great way to relax, switch off from work and enjoy time with family and friends. To make the most of your annual leave, you can strategically take time off around public holidays to ensure you get as many days off as possible.

The following public holidays are recognised in most cantons in Switzerland (holidays with an asterisk are those which are recognised in all cantons):

• New Year’s Day* - January 1
• Good Friday - April 3
• Easter Sunday - April 5
• Easter Monday - April 6
• May Day / Labour Day - May 1
• Ascension Day* - May 14
• Whit Monday - May 25
• Corpus Christi - June 4
• Swiss National Day* - August 1
• Christmas Day* - December 25
• St Stephen’s Day - December 26

Each of the 26 Swiss cantons also has its own selection of statutory holidays, so it’s worth checking which extra days you will get off so that you can tailor your paid leave around these days too. Ticino has the most, offering up to 15 paid holiday days a year! 

Book four days leave for 10 days off this Easter

Easter is a little earlier in 2026 compared to 2025, but it is still the first opportunity in Switzerland to enjoy a longer holiday after Christmas. Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays in most parts of the country, unless you live in Ticino or Valais where it may vary slightly.

Good Friday falls on April 3 and Easter Monday on April 6, so take off Monday, March 30 to Thursday, April 2 (four days annual leave) for a 10-day holiday running from March 28 to April 6.

The same length of holiday can be achieved by taking four days off after Easter Monday (April 7 to 10), and if the two options are combined then you could get 16 days off with just eight bridging days (March 28 to April 12).

Labour day just a long weekend in 2026

In 2026, Labour Day (May 1) falls on a Friday. For those who live in one of the nine cantons (Zurich, Ticino, Thurgau, Solothurn, Schaffhausen, Neuchatel, Jura, Basel-Stadt and Basel-Land) that have the day off, you’ll just enjoy a long weekend rather than being able to squeeze in an extra holiday. 

Of course, if you want to take the week off, then you’ll only need to book four days of annual leave to get a nine-day break. 

Enjoy a four-day weekend with Ascension Day 

Ascension Day always falls on a Thursday and this year it’s on May 14. Take off Friday, May 15 to enjoy a four-day weekend, or branch out by taking off May 11 to 13 and May 15, creating a nine-day holiday with just four days of paid leave.

Combine Ascension Day with Whit Monday to double your holidays

If you want to take advantage of the May public holidays even more, then you can combine a break over Ascension Day and Whit Monday. Ascension Day is on May 14 and Whit Monday falls on May 25, so book May 15 to 22 off to use just six days of annual leave for 12 days off (May 14 - May 25).

Get 16 days off for 8 days of leave

The same can be done for Corpus Christi, which falls on June 4 this year. One option is to simply book a bridging day on Friday, June 5 for a four-day weekend. 

Alternatively, book seven days of annual leave from May 26 to June 3 and one on June 5 to get 16 days holiday (May 23 to June 7), taking advantage of both Whit Monday and Corpus Christi.

Swiss National Day falls on a weekend

Unfortunately, this year Swiss National Day, August 1, falls on a Saturday. This means that, unlike in years when it lands on a weekday, we can’t make the most of the extra days of holiday. 

Christmas and New Year's holidays in Switzerland

Finally, 2026 sees Christmas creeping closer to the weekend. December 25 and 26 fall on a Friday and Saturday. New Year’s Day this year falls on a Friday. 

Book off December 21 and 24 and December 28 to 31 for eight days of annual leave and 16 days holiday in total (December 21 - January 1).