Switzerland has only 1 nationally mandated public holiday — the Swiss National Day on 1 August — but each of its 26 cantons observes additional holidays, ranging from 14 to 18 days per year. The differences are driven by cantonal autonomy and the country’s four-language, multi-religious fabric. A worker in Zurich gets a different calendar than one in Ticino. For employers operating across Swiss cantons, understanding these variations is essential.
This guide maps the cantonal holiday landscape for 2026, covering the major variations that affect payroll and scheduling.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Consult an employment lawyer for guidance specific to your organization.
Key Takeaways
- Swiss National Day (1 August) is the only nationally mandated public holiday
- Each canton sets its own holiday calendar, resulting in 14–18 days off per year
- Good Friday is not a public holiday in some cantons (Zurich, Zug, Solothurn)
- The variation reflects Switzerland’s linguistic and religious diversity
- Employers must track per-canton holidays for compliance
National Public Holiday
| Holiday | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Swiss National Day (Bundesfeier) | 1 August | Saturday |
This is the only public holiday mandated at the federal level. All other holidays are set by cantonal law.
Common Holidays Across Most Cantons
While each canton has its own calendar, most observe these holidays:
| Holiday | Date | Cantons That Observe |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | 1 January | All |
| Good Friday | Varies | Most (not Zurich, Zug, Solothurn) |
| Easter Monday | Varies | Most |
| Ascension Day | Varies | All |
| Whit Monday | Varies | All |
| Swiss National Day | 1 August | All |
| Christmas Day | 25 December | All |
| St. Stephen’s Day | 26 December | Most |
Cantonal Holiday Calendar
German-Speaking Cantons
| Holiday | ZH | BE | LU | UR | SZ | OW | NW | GL | ZG | SO | BS | BL | SH | AR | AI | SG | GR | TG | TI | VD | VS | NE | GE | JU | FR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Good Friday | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Easter Monday | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ascension | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Whit Monday | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 1 August | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Christmas | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| St. Stephen’s | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Key Regional Differences
| Canton | Additional/Unique Holidays |
|---|---|
| Zurich | Berchtold’s Day (2 Jan), Sechseläuten (spring) |
| Bern | Bernese Republic Day (March) |
| Lucerne | Joseph’s Day (19 March), All Saints’ Day |
| Ticino | Saint Joseph (19 March), All Saints’ Day, Immaculate Conception |
| Valais | Immaculate Conception, Corpus Christi |
| Geneva | Jeûne genevois (Thursday after first Sunday in September) |
| Jura | Jura Republic Day (23 June) |
French-Speaking Cantons
| Holiday | VD | VS | NE | GE | JU | FR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Good Friday | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Easter Monday | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ascension | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Whit Monday | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 1 August | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Christmas | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| St. Stephen’s | — | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
Italian-Speaking Canton (Ticino)
Ticino has one of the richest calendars, reflecting its Catholic, Italian-speaking culture:
| Additional Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| Saint Joseph | 19 March |
| All Saints’ Day | 1 November |
| Immaculate Conception | 8 December |
Total Holidays by Canton
| Canton | Total Days |
|---|---|
| Ticino | 18 |
| Valais | 18 |
| Lucerne | 17 |
| Nidwalden | 17 |
| Obwalden | 17 |
| Solothurn | 17 |
| Zug | 17 |
| Bern | 17 |
| Basel-Stadt | 16 |
| Basel-Land | 16 |
| Fribourg | 16 |
| Jura | 16 |
| Zurich | 15 |
| Schaffhausen | 15 |
| Thurgau | 15 |
| Geneva | 15 |
| Vaud | 15 |
| Neuchâtel | 15 |
| St. Gallen | 15 |
What This Means for Employers
Build Per-Canton Calendars
Swiss cantonal variation is significant. A Zurich employee gets 15 holidays; a Ticino employee gets 18. Map each employee to their canton.
Handle Religious Differences
Good Friday is not a public holiday in Zurich, Zug, and Solothurn. This reflects the Catholic-Protestant divide. Be sensitive to this when scheduling.
Account for Bridge Days
Swiss employees commonly take bridge days, especially around Ascension Day and Swiss National Day. Decide whether your company allows these.
Monitor Cantonal Changes
Cantons occasionally modify their holiday calendars. Zurich added Sechseläuten as a holiday. Check annually for updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does only Swiss National Day apply nationally?
The Swiss federal system grants cantons broad autonomy over employment law, including public holidays. The federal government only mandates one holiday — 1 August — and leaves the rest to cantonal legislation.
How many holidays does each canton have?
Most cantons have 15–18 public holidays. Ticino and Valais have the most (18). Zurich has among the fewest (15).
Can an employer in Switzerland require work on a public holiday?
Under the Arbeitsgesetz (Labour Act), employees are entitled to public holidays off. Work on public holidays requires cantonal authorization and the employee must receive a substitute day plus 50% premium pay.
Are cantonal holidays paid?
Yes. Cantonal public holidays are paid days off. If an employee works on a cantonal holiday, they’re entitled to a substitute day and premium pay.
Do remote workers get cantonal holidays?
Yes. The canton where the employee physically works determines their holiday entitlements. An employee working from Zurich gets Zurich’s holidays, even if the company is based in Geneva.