Public holidays and school holidays in the canton of Vaud: dates and significance for 2026
Find out about public holidays and school holidays in the canton of Vaud, including dates and significance for 2021.
Official public holidays in the Canton of Vaud in 2026
New Year’s Day, Thursday 1 January 2026 and Friday 2 January 2026
Good Friday, Friday 3 April 2026
Easter Monday, Monday 6 April 2026
Ascension Thursday, Thursday 14 May 2026
Whit Monday, Monday 25 May 2026
National Day, Saturday 1 August 2026
Fasting Monday, Monday 21 September 2026
Christmas, Friday 25 December 2026
What is Good Friday?
The Friday immediately before Easter Sunday is known as “Good Friday”; it is a Christian religious observance. It marks the day of the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.
Fasting Monday: its significance
In the cantons of Vaud and Neuchâtel, Fasting Monday falls on the Monday following the third Sunday in September. It is a public holiday and dates back to 8 September 1796, when it was introduced due to fears of a revolutionary threat.
School holidays in the Canton of Vaud 2026
Winter holidays, from Saturday 20 December 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026
Closed from Saturday 14 February to Sunday 22 February 2026
Easter holidays, from Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April 2026
Ascension Day long weekend, from Thursday 14 May to Sunday 17 May 2026
Whit Monday, Monday 25 May 2026
Summer holidays, from Saturday 27 June to Sunday 16 August 2026
Federal Day of Fasting, Monday 21 September 2026
Autumn half-term, from Saturday 10 October to Sunday 25 October 2026
Winter holidays, from Thursday 24 December 2026 to Sunday 10 January 2027
