Public holidays in Switzerland

The 26 cantons that make up Switzerland set their public holidays independently — with the exception of August 1,^[1] which is the only federal holiday.^[2] Consider that holidays change depending on employers, and some holidays are highly specific to only a certain town or village. In general, the most reliable list of holidays for a given area will be to look for the list of bank holidays, as nearly all shops and offices close during bank holidays.

Public holidays in cantons

Holiday	Variable?	Date	AG	AI	AR	BL	BS	BE	FR	GE	GL	GR	JU	LU	NE	NW	OW	SG	SH	SZ	SO	TG	TI	UR	VS	VD	ZG	ZH	Number of cantons	2016	2017	2018	2019
New Year's Day	N	1 January	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of Aargau'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of Basel-Landschaft'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of Basel-City'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of Berne'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of Fribourg'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of Geneva'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of Glarus'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of Grisons'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of Jura'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of Lucerne'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of Neuchâtel'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of Nidwalden'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of Obwalden'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of St. Gallen'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of Schaffhausen'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of Schwyz'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of Solothurn'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of Thurgau'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of Ticino'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of Uri'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of Valais'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of Vaud'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of Zug'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Day in the canton of Zurich'>*	26 <td title='Observance of New Year's Day in 2016'>1 January 2016 <td title='Observance of New Year's Day in 2017'>1 January 2017 <td title='Observance of New Year's Day in 2018'>1 January 2018 <td title='Observance of New Year's Day in 2019'>1 January 2019
St. Berchtold	N	2 January	*					*	*		*		*	*	*		*		*		*	*				*	*	*	14	2 January 2016	2 January 2017	2 January 2018	2 January 2019
Epiphany	N	6 January										*		*						*			*	*					5	6 January 2016	6 January 2017	6 January 2018	6 January 2019
Republic Day	N	1 March													*														1	1 March 2016	1 March 2017	1 March 2018	1 March 2019
St Joseph's Day	N	19 March										<span title='Observance of St Joseph's Day in the canton of Grisons'>*		<span title='Observance of St Joseph's Day in the canton of Lucerne'>*		<span title='Observance of St Joseph's Day in the canton of Nidwalden'>*				<span title='Observance of St Joseph's Day in the canton of Schwyz'>*	<span title='Observance of St Joseph's Day in the canton of Solothurn'>*		<span title='Observance of St Joseph's Day in the canton of Ticino'>*	<span title='Observance of St Joseph's Day in the canton of Uri'>*	<span title='Observance of St Joseph's Day in the canton of Valais'>*				8 <td title='Observance of St Joseph's Day in 2016'>19 March 2016 <td title='Observance of St Joseph's Day in 2017'>19 March 2017 <td title='Observance of St Joseph's Day in 2018'>19 March 2018 <td title='Observance of St Joseph's Day in 2019'>19 March 2019
Näfelser Fahrt	N	3 April									*																		1	3 April 2016	3 April 2017	3 April 2018	3 April 2019
Palm Sunday	Y	Easter Sunday - 7 d																											[3]	20 March 2016	9 April 2017	25 March 2018	14 April 2019
Good Friday	Y	Easter Sunday - 2 d	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	[4]	*	[4]	*	*	*	24	25 March 2016	14 April 2017	30 March 2018	19 April 2019
Easter Sunday	Y	Easter Sunday																											[3]	27 March 2016	16 April 2017	1 April 2018	21 April 2019
Easter Monday	Y	Easter Sunday + 1 d	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*		*	*	*	25	28 March 2016	17 April 2017	2 April 2018	22 April 2019
Labor Day	N	1 May			*	*	*		*				*		*				*		*	*	*					*	11	1 May 2016	1 May 2017	1 May 2018	1 May 2019
Ascension	Y	Easter Sunday + 39 d	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	26	5 May 2016	25 May 2017	10 May 2018	30 May 2019
Pentecost	Y	Easter Sunday + 49 d																											[3]	15 May 2016	4 June 2017	20 May 2018	9 June 2019
Whit Monday	Y	Easter Sunday + 50 d	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*		*	*	*	25	16 May 2016	5 June 2017	21 May 2018	10 June 2019
Corpus Christi	Y	Easter Sunday + 60 d	*	*					*			*	*	*		*	*			*	*		*	*	*		*		14	26 May 2016	15 June 2017	31 May 2018	20 June 2019
Fête d'Indépendance	N	23 June											<span title='Observance of Fête d'Indépendance in the canton of Jura'>*																1 <td title='Observance of Fête d'Indépendance in 2016'>23 June 2016 <td title='Observance of Fête d'Indépendance in 2017'>23 June 2017 <td title='Observance of Fête d'Indépendance in 2018'>23 June 2018 <td title='Observance of Fête d'Indépendance in 2019'>23 June 2019
Saints Peter and Paul	N	29 June										[5]		[5]									*						1	29 June 2016	29 June 2017	29 June 2018	29 June 2019
Swiss National Day	N	1 August	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	26	1 August 2016	1 August 2017	1 August 2018	1 August 2019
Assumption	N	15 August	*	*					*				*	*		*	*			*	*		*	*	*		*		13	15 August 2016	15 August 2017	15 August 2018	15 August 2019
Jeûne genevois	Y	Thursday after 1st Sunday in September								*																			1	8 September 2016	7 September 2017	6 September 2018	5 September 2019
Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer	Y	3rd Sunday in September	*	*	*	*	*	*	*		*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	[6]	18 September 2016	17 September 2017	16 September 2018	15 September 2019
Lundi du Jeûne (Monday after previous)	Y	Monday after 3rd Sunday in September						[5]							[4]										[4]	*			1	19 September 2016	18 September 2017	17 September 2018	16 September 2019
Saint Nicholas of Flüe Day	N	25 September															*												1	25 September 2016	25 September 2017	25 September 2018	25 September 2019
All Saints Day	N	1 November	*	*					*		*		*	*		*	*	*		*	*		*	*	*		*		15	1 November 2016	1 November 2017	1 November 2018	1 November 2019
Immaculate Conception	N	8 December	*	*					*			*		*		*	*			*	*		*	*	*		*		13	8 December 2016	8 December 2017	8 December 2018	8 December 2019
Christmas Day	N	25 December	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	26	25 December 2016	25 December 2017	25 December 2018	25 December 2019
St Stephen's Day	N	26 December	<span title='Observance of St Stephen's Day in the canton of Aargau'>*	<span title='Observance of St Stephen's Day in the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden'>*	<span title='Observance of St Stephen's Day in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden'>*	<span title='Observance of St Stephen's Day in the canton of Basel-Landschaft'>*	<span title='Observance of St Stephen's Day in the canton of Basel-City'>*	<span title='Observance of St Stephen's Day in the canton of Berne'>*	<span title='Observance of St Stephen's Day in the canton of Fribourg'>*		<span title='Observance of St Stephen's Day in the canton of Glarus'>*	<span title='Observance of St Stephen's Day in the canton of Grisons'>*		<span title='Observance of St Stephen's Day in the canton of Lucerne'>*		<span title='Observance of St Stephen's Day in the canton of Nidwalden'>*	<span title='Observance of St Stephen's Day in the canton of Obwalden'>*	<span title='Observance of St Stephen's Day in the canton of St. Gallen'>*	<span title='Observance of St Stephen's Day in the canton of Schaffhausen'>*	<span title='Observance of St Stephen's Day in the canton of Schwyz'>*	<span title='Observance of St Stephen's Day in the canton of Solothurn'>*	<span title='Observance of St Stephen's Day in the canton of Thurgau'>*	<span title='Observance of St Stephen's Day in the canton of Ticino'>*	<span title='Observance of St Stephen's Day in the canton of Uri'>*			<span title='Observance of St Stephen's Day in the canton of Zug'>*	<span title='Observance of St Stephen's Day in the canton of Zurich'>*	21 <td title='Observance of St Stephen's Day in 2016'>26 December 2016 <td title='Observance of St Stephen's Day in 2017'>26 December 2017 <td title='Observance of St Stephen's Day in 2018'>26 December 2018 <td title='Observance of St Stephen's Day in 2019'>26 December 2019
Restoration of the Republic	N	31 December								*																			1	31 December 2016	31 December 2017	31 December 2018	31 December 2019
New Year's Eve	N	31 December (afternoon)	<span title='Observance of New Year's Eve in the canton of Aargau'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Eve in the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Eve in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden'>*			<span title='Observance of New Year's Eve in the canton of Berne'>*			<span title='Observance of New Year's Eve in the canton of Glarus'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Eve in the canton of Grisons'>*		<span title='Observance of New Year's Eve in the canton of Lucerne'>*		<span title='Observance of New Year's Eve in the canton of Nidwalden'>*			<span title='Observance of New Year's Eve in the canton of Schaffhausen'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Eve in the canton of Schwyz'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Eve in the canton of Solothurn'>*		<span title='Observance of New Year's Eve in the canton of Ticino'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Eve in the canton of Uri'>*	<span title='Observance of New Year's Eve in the canton of Valais'>*		<span title='Observance of New Year's Eve in the canton of Zug'>*		15 <td title='Observance of New Year's Eve in 2016'>31 December (afternoon) 2016 <td title='Observance of New Year's Eve in 2017'>31 December (afternoon) 2017 <td title='Observance of New Year's Eve in 2018'>31 December (afternoon) 2018 <td title='Observance of New Year's Eve in 2019'>31 December (afternoon) 2019

Public holidays in specific places, parts of cantons

Holiday	Date	Holiday in cantons	Partial Holiday in cantons
Carnival^1	Second Monday before Ash Wednesday		SZ
	Thursday before Ash Wednesday	LU, UR, NW	SZ, SG, GR
	Monday before Ash Wednesday	GL	ZH, LU, UR, SZ, ZG, SG, AG
	Tuesday before Ash Wednesday	SZ, NW, OW	LU, UR, BL, SG, AG, TI
	Ash Wednesday	NW	SZ, BL, AR, TI, JU
	Friday after Ash Wednesday		TI
	Monday after Ash Wednesday	BS	BL (Lower Part Afternoon), ZH
	Tuesday after Ash Wednesday		FR
	Wednesday after Ash Wednesday	BS	BL (Lower Part Afternoon)
Anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic	1 March	NE (excl.)
Näfelser Ride	usually the first Thursday in April	GL (excl.)
Sechseläuten	usually the third Monday in April	Zürich City, Schlieren (excl.)
Independence Day	23 June	JU (excl.)
Peter and Paul	29 June	TI	LU, GR
Knabenschiessen	second Weekend in September (+ half Monday after)	Zürich City (and Zürich Metro Area) (excl.)
Prayer Monday	Monday after Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer	Legally recognized only in VD (Lundi du Jeûne)	is also celebrated in NE and parts of BE is a bank holiday in VS.
Mauritius day	22 September	AI (excl.) without Oberegg District
Brother Klaus festival	25 September	OW (excl.)
St. Leodegar (Schutzengelfest)	2 October	Lucerne City (excl.)
L'Escalade	12 December	GE (excl.)
Restoration of the Republic	31 December	GE (excl.)

^1	The days around Carnival are (with the exception of very few individual municipalities) no public holidays. However, due to widely committed celebrations in the cantons mentioned, there are usually restrictions (for example, businesses might already close at noon or don't open at all).

Notes and references

1. Swiss National Day
2. "Familienurlaub Ratgeber". Interhome.ch. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
3. Always on a Sunday: observance varies. Not included in total count. Additional regulations to normal Sunday rules may apply.
4. most stores are public, despite the day not being a public holiday
5. some areas
6. Always on a Sunday: observance varies (not in Geneva). Not included in total count

External links

• Comprehensive overview of Swiss holidays (German PDF file)