Holidays & Celebrations

Public holidays in Switzerland in 2024 and 2025

Find out all about Switzerland’s public holidays 2024 and 2025, as well as other important dates to make a note of on your calendar.

Switzerland holidays
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By Expatica

Updated 28-3-2024

Whether you’re living in Switzerland or just visiting, it’s important to note the dates of Switzerland’s public holidays (feiertagun/jour férié) and important dates. This is because on some of these dates, businesses and public institutions will close or have reduced hours.

To ensure you don’t miss out on anything important, here are all of Switzerland’s public holidays as well as the most important dates for your calendar.

An overview of Switzerland’s public holidays

While some Swiss vacations are observed across the nation, other festivities are only marked in specific regions around the country. Many of these are religious and are usually observed only in the cantons where Catholicism is the main religion. This means that not all cantons across Switzerland have the same public holidays.

The most important of all holidays in Switzerland is the Swiss National Day, which falls on 1 August every year and is technically the only official federal holiday. Some also coincide with Switzerland’s festivals, which is a great opportunity to travel and experience the country’s traditional culture.

If a Swiss national holiday falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday, workers may take either the Monday or Friday off to create a long weekend. What’s more, some cantons and organizations may allocate a weekday off if the Swiss public holiday falls on a weekend.

Public holidays in Switzerland in 2024

These holidays are celebrated nationally throughout Switzerland.

DatePublic holiday
1 January (Monday)New Year’s Day (Neujahrstag/Jour de l’an)
1 April (Monday)Easter Monday (Ostermontag/Lundi de Pâques) – celebrated to different degrees, but this depends on the canton and region
9 May (Thursday)Ascension Day (Auffahrt/Ascension – 40 days after Easter)
1 August (Thursday)Swiss National Day (Bundesfeier/Fête nationale Suisse)
25 December (Wednesday)Christmas Day (Weihnachten/Noël)

Regional holidays in Switzerland in 2024

These holidays, however, are only observed in certain Swiss cantons. 

DatesRegional holidayCanton observing holiday
2 January (Tuesday)Berchtold’s Day (Berchtoldstag)Aargau, Bern, Fribourg, Glarus, Jura, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Obwalden, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, Thurgau, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
6 January (Saturday)Epiphany (Heilige Drei Konige)Graubünden, Lucerne, Schwyz, Ticino, Uri
1 March (Friday)Republic Day – commemorates the declaration of the Republic in 1848Neuchâtel
19 March (Tuesday)St Joseph’s Day (Josefstag)Graubünden, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri, Valais
29 March (Friday)Good Friday (Karfreitag)All cantons except Ticino and Valais
4 April (Thursday)Näfelser FahrtGlarus
15 April (Monday)Sechseläuten (afternoon only)Zurich
1 May (Wednesday)Labor Day/May Day (Tag der Arbeit)Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Fribourg, Jura, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Zurich
  • 2 January (Sunday): Berchtold’s Day (Berchtoldstag) – Aargau, Bern, Fribourg, Glarus, Jura, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Obwalden, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, Thurgau, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
  • 6 January (Thursday): Epiphany (Heilige Drei Konige) – Graubünden, Lucerne, Schwyz, Ticino, Uri
  • 1 March (Tuesday): Republic Day – Neuchâtel; this region declared itself a republic and part of Switzerland in 1848
  • 19 March (Saturday): St Joseph’s Day (Josefstag) Graubünden, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri, Valais
  • 7 April (Thursday): Näfelser Fahrt (pilgrimage to the battle site) – Glarus
  • 15 April (Friday): Good Friday (Karfreitag) – all cantons but Ticino and Valais
  • 25 April (Monday): Sechseläuten (6 o’clock ringing of the bells, third Monday of April) – afternoon only, Zurich
  • 1 May (Sunday): Labor Day/May Day (Tag der Arbeit) – Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt,  Fribourg, Jura, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Zurich
  • 6 June (Monday): Whit Monday or Pentecost Monday (Pfingstmontag) – celebrated to varying degrees depending on the canton and region
  • 16 June (Thursday): Corpus Christi (Fronleichnam) – Aargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Grisons, Jura, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Zug
  • 23 June (Tuesday): Jura Independence Day (Fête d’Indépendance) – Jura
  • 29 June (Wednesday): Saint Peter’s/Paul’s Day – Graubünden, Lucerne, Ticino
  • 15 August (Monday): Assumption Day –  Aargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Jura, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, St Gallen, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Zug
A Swiss Carnival parade in Basel
Musicians in a Swiss Carnival parade in Basel. Carnival is widely celebrated across the country.

Regional holidays in winter 2022

  • 8 September (Thursday): Jeune genevois – Geneva
  • 12 September (Monday): Knabenschiessen – Zurich
  • 18 September (Sunday): The Federal Fast (Buß-und Bettag), a federal day of thanksgiving, repentance, and prayer. Regional differences include: Geneva (which celebrates Jeûne genevois on 6 September); stores in Bern, Neuchâtel, and Vaud generally close for Bettagsmontag on September 16 (Monday after the third Sunday)
  • 25 September (Sunday): St Niklaus von Flüe – Obwalden
  • 1 November (Tuesday): All Saints’ Day (Allerheiligen) – Aargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Glarus, Jura, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, St Gallen, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Zug
  • 8 December (Thursday): Immaculate Conception (Maria Empfangnis) Aargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Graubünden, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Zug
  • 26 December (Monday): St Stephen’s Day (Stephenstag) – generally considered a normal working day in Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel, Valais, Vaud
  • 31 December (Saturday): Restoration Day – Geneva; a commemoration of the re-establishment of Geneva as a republic in 1813.

Important dates in Switzerland in 2022

  • 7–9 March: Carnival; although not typically an official public holiday, this is a widely-celebrated Swiss holiday
  • 27 March (Sunday): Clocks go forward one hour as a result of daylight saving time (DST) starting
  • 8 May (Sunday): Mother’s Day (second Sunday in May)
  • 5 June (Sunday): Father’s Day (first Sunday in June)
  • 30 October (Sunday): Clocks go back one hour as a result of daylight saving time (DST) ending.

Public holidays in Switzerland in 2023

These holidays are celebrated nationally throughout Switzerland.

  • 1 January (Sunday): New Year’s Day (Neujahrstag)
  • 10 April (Monday): Easter Monday (Ostermontag) – celebrated to different degrees, but this depends on the canton and region
  • 28 May (Thursday): Ascension Day (Auffahrt) (40 days after Easter)
  • 1 August (Tuesday): Swiss National Day (Bundesfeier)
  • 25 December (Monday): Christmas Day (Weihnachten)

Regional holidays in Switzerland in 2023

These holidays, however, are only observed in certain Swiss cantons. 

  • 2 January (Monday): Berchtold’s Day (Berchtoldstag) – Aargau, Bern, Fribourg, Glarus, Jura, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Obwalden, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, Thurgau, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
  • 6 January (Friday): Epiphany (Heilige Drei Konige) – Graubünden, Lucerne, Schwyz, Ticino, Uri
  • 1 March (Wednesday): Republic Day – Neuchâtel; this region declared itself a republic and part of Switzerland in 1848
  • 19 March (Sunday): St Joseph’s Day (Josefstag) Graubünden, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri, Valais
  • 7 April (Friday): Näfelser Fahrt (pilgrimage to the battle site) – Glarus
  • 7 April (Friday): Good Friday (Karfreitag) – all cantons but Ticino and Valais
  • 17 April (Monday): Sechseläuten (6 o’clock ringing of the bells, third Monday of April) – afternoon only, Zurich
  • 1 May (Monday): Labor Day/May Day (Tag der Arbeit) – Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt,  Fribourg, Jura, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Zurich
  • 29 May (Monday): Whit Monday or Pentecost Monday (Pfingstmontag) – celebrated to varying degrees depending on the canton and region
  • 8 June (Thursday): Corpus Christi (Fronleichnam) – Aargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Grisons, Jura, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Zug
  • 23 June (Friday): Jura Independence Day (Fête d’Indépendance) – Jura
  • 29 June (Thursday): Saint Peter’s/Paul’s Day – Graubünden, Lucerne, Ticino
  • 15 August (Tuesday): Assumption Day –  Aargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Jura, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, St Gallen, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Zug

Regional holidays in winter 2023

  • 7 September (Thursday): Jeune genevois – Geneva
  • 11 September (Monday): Knabenschiessen – Zurich
  • 18 September (Sunday): The Federal Fast (Buß-und Bettag), a federal day of thanksgiving, repentance, and prayer. Regional differences include: Geneva (which celebrates Jeûne genevois on 6 September); stores in Bern, Neuchâtel, Vaud generally close for Bettagsmontag on September 16 (Monday after the third Sunday)
  • 25 September (Monday): St Niklaus von Flüe – Obwalden
  • 1 November (Wednesday): All Saints’ Day (Allerheiligen) – Aargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Glarus, Jura, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, St Gallen, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Zug
  • 8 December (Friday): Immaculate Conception (Maria Empfangnis) Aargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Graubünden, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Zug
  • 26 December (Tuesday): St Stephen’s Day (Stephenstag) – generally considered a normal working day in Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel, Valais, Vaud
  • 31 December (Sunday): Restoration Day – Geneva; a commemoration of the re-establishment of Geneva as a republic in 1813.

Important dates in Switzerland in 2023

  • Late February/early March: Carnival; although not typically an official public holiday, this is a widely-celebrated Swiss holiday
  • 26 March (Sunday): Clocks go forward one hour as a result of daylight saving time (DST) starting
  • 14 May (Sunday): Mother’s Day (second Sunday in May)
  • 11 June (Sunday): Father’s Day (first Sunday in June)
  • 29 October (Sunday): Clocks go back one hour as a result of daylight saving time (DST) ending.

Swiss National Day

Every year on 1 August, Switzerland celebrates one of the country’s most important holidays: the founding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291. Each Swiss commune offers a day of federal unity with firework displays, concerts, public speeches, as well as presentations. In fact, thousands of people attend festivities in the largest cities (Zurich, Basel, Geneva, Bern, and Lugano). The main celebrations take place at the Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen in addition to the Ruetli Meadows alongside Lake Lucerne.

Carnival in Switzerland

Carnival in Switzerland is an unwritten license for the normally well-behaved Swiss to let their hair down. Parades and events take place across the country, while some areas host massive parties. You can also read more about the best events in our guide to carnival in Switzerland.

School holidays in Switzerland

Parents can also read our guide to school holidays in Switzerland.