📅 Switzerland Public Holidays 2026 & 2027
Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2026 · Thu | New Year's Day (Neujahr) | Public |
| 3 Apr 2026 · Fri | Good Friday (Karfreitag) | Public |
| 6 Apr 2026 · Mon | Easter Monday (Ostermontag) | Public |
| 14 May 2026 · Thu | Ascension Day (Auffahrt) | Public |
| 25 May 2026 · Mon | Whit Monday (Pfingstmontag) | Public |
| 1 Aug 2026 · Sat | National Day (Bundesfeier) | Public |
| 25 Dec 2026 · Fri | Christmas Day (Weihnachten) | Public |
| 26 Dec 2026 · Sat | St. Stephen's Day (Stephanstag) | Public |
Public Holidays 2027
Provisional — most countries publish the official calendar late in the year.
| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2027 · Fri | New Year's Day (Neujahr) | Public |
| 26 Mar 2027 · Fri | Good Friday (Karfreitag) | Public |
| 29 Mar 2027 · Mon | Easter Monday (Ostermontag) | Public |
| 6 May 2027 · Thu | Ascension Day (Auffahrt) | Public |
| 17 May 2027 · Mon | Whit Monday (Pfingstmontag) | Public |
| 1 Aug 2027 · Sun | National Day (Bundesfeier) | Public |
| 25 Dec 2027 · Sat | Christmas Day (Weihnachten) | Public |
| 26 Dec 2027 · Sun | St. Stephen's Day (Stephanstag) | Public |
ℹ️ Why these dates matter
Switzerland is the awkward one in Europe: only 1 August is a holiday in every canton, and everything else is decided locally, so shop-closing rules change as you cross a cantonal border. Sundays are quiet almost everywhere, with station shops as the main exception. On top of the widely observed dates, cantonal ones such as Berchtold’s Day on 2 January or the Federal Day of Thanksgiving in September can close a town while its neighbour stays open.
Festivals Worth Planning a Trip Around
Beyond the stat holidays — the events that define the travel year.
Swiss National Day — 1 August 2026 (Sat)
On 1 August villages light bonfires on the hilltops at dusk and towns launch fireworks over their lakes — Zürich, Lucerne and the lakeside villages are the classic spots. Expect shops to close as on a Sunday, with restaurants and station shops open. Book a lakeside table weeks ahead, and walk up to a viewpoint early for the fires.
Fasnacht — 23 to 25 February 2026 — Morgestraich at 4am on Monday 23 February, lanterns out at 4am Thursday
Basel’s Fasnacht begins at 4am on the Monday after Ash Wednesday, when the streetlights go out and thousands of hand-painted lanterns move through the dark old town. For three days masked groups parade with drums and piccolos and throw confetti at anyone not wearing a costume. Wear old clothes, bring cash for the soup and expect very little sleep.
Christmas Market — Late November to just before Christmas 2026 — Montreux and Zürich usually open in the final week of November
Swiss Christmas markets are small and precise: Montreux stretches along the lakefront with a Santa who flies overhead, while Zürich sets up stalls around the main station and the old town. Bern and Basel run cosier versions with less tour-bus traffic. Go on a weekday evening for fondue and mulled wine without the queues.
💡 Quick Tips
- Only 1 August is a holiday in every canton; the rest are decided locally, so what is closed in Zürich may be open in Geneva.
- Sunday trading rules apply almost everywhere: supermarkets shut, while shops at main railway stations and airports stay open.
- Berchtold’s Day on 2 January is a holiday in several cantons including Zürich and Bern — expect closures right after New Year.
- The Federal Day of Thanksgiving falls on the third Sunday of September in most cantons; some shops and offices close, and transport often runs a Sunday timetable.
⚡ Pro Tips
- 1 August 2026 falls on a Saturday and 2027 on a Sunday, so many towns fire their rockets on the evening of 31 July too — arrive a day early for a lakeside table.
- At Basel Fasnacht, buy a badge from a street seller and join in; the confetti is relentless and the old town has very few public toilets.
- Swiss Christmas markets are tiny compared with German ones: pair Montreux with a boat trip on Lake Geneva and stay overnight rather than rushing back the same evening.
📋 Summary
The holidays widely observed across Switzerland for 2026 and 2027, plus the three celebrations worth planning a trip around: the National Day on 1 August with its bonfires and lakeside fireworks, the Basel Fasnacht lantern carnival and the Christmas markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are shops open on Swiss public holidays?
It depends on the canton. Most supermarkets and shops close as they do on Sundays, while shops in main railway stations and airports, plus restaurants and museums, generally stay open. Because each canton sets its own holidays, always check the local rules for the town you are staying in.
Why are Swiss holidays different in each canton?
Because holidays are a cantonal matter in Switzerland, apart from 1 August, which federal law gives to the whole country. That is why Good Friday, Easter Monday, Ascension and Whit Monday appear almost everywhere, while dates such as Berchtold’s Day are local. If you travel across cantons, expect the opening hours to shift with the border.
What happens on 1 August and where is the best place to be?
Villages light bonfires on the heights at dusk and towns fire rockets over their lakes, with fireworks over Lake Zürich and Lake Lucerne among the biggest. It is the one day the whole country shares, so restaurants are busy and shops shut as on a Sunday. Pick a small lakeside village for atmosphere, or a city waterfront if you want the full fireworks show.
