2027: Swiss public holidays (cantonal and federal)

Which public holidays are official in Switzerland in 2027? Which ones fall on a weekday, and which ones are paid? In this article, b-sharpe gives you all the information on public holidays in Switzerland in 2027! It will help you plan your days off or your holidays if you work in Switzerland.

Official public holidays in Switzerland

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Public holidays common to all of Switzerland

The number and status of public holidays vary across the country’s 26 cantons. Some cantons recognise more official public holidays than others, but not all of them are treated as equivalent to Sundays under the Federal Labour Act. Some days are common to the whole country, while others are specific to certain cantons. When a public holiday is treated as equivalent to a Sunday, the rules on work and shop opening hours, for example, are the same as on Sundays. 

Four public holidays are recognised by all 26 cantons. Of these, only 1 August is a federal public holiday: the other three are public holidays under cantonal law. Here are these common days (source: SECO): 

• 1 January, New Year’s Day, is a public holiday in all cantons.
• Ascension Thursday, which falls on 6 May in 2027.
• 1 August is a public holiday throughout Switzerland, for the National Day. Its status as a federal public holiday was approved in a popular vote in 1993 and came into force in 1994.
• 25 December, for Christmas.

Note that some days are also non-working days in certain cantons. What is the difference between a public holiday and a non-working day?

The following dates are therefore public holidays in some cantons, but non-working days in a few others: 

• Easter Monday, which falls on 29 March 2027. 
• Whit Monday. In 2027, it falls on 17 May. 

Differences between cantons

Some days are public holidays only in certain cantons.

Here are the other public holidays in Switzerland: 

• 2 January, Berchtold’s Day, appears on the SECO list for Aargau, Bern, Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Thurgau and Vaud, with some regional specificities. In Neuchâtel, it is only a public holiday when 1 January falls on a Sunday, which is not the case in 2027 (source: Canton of Neuchâtel).
• In 2027, Epiphany falls on Wednesday 6 January. It is notably an official public holiday in Ticino and Schwyz. On the SECO list of days treated as equivalent to Sundays, however, only Ticino appears for this holiday. 
• 1 March is a public holiday in the canton of Neuchâtel, commemorating the founding of the Republic. 19 March (St Joseph’s Day) is notably a public holiday in Schwyz, Ticino and Valais under cantonal law. On the SECO list, only Schwyz and Valais are recorded.
• The first Thursday in April is a public holiday in the canton of Glarus, for the Fahrtsfest (Näfelser Fahrt). When that Thursday falls during Holy Week, the celebration is moved back one week: this was the case in 2026, when it took place on Thursday 9 April (source: Canton of Glarus). In 2027, it falls on Thursday 1 April.
• Good Friday is a public holiday in most cantons, with the exception of Ticino and Valais. In 2027, it falls on 26 March. 
• Some cantons celebrate Labour Day on 1 May: Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Jura, Neuchâtel, Schaffhausen, Solothurn (afternoon) and Zurich. In Ticino, it is also an official public holiday, without being treated as equivalent to a Sunday. In 2027, 1 May falls on a Saturday.
• Corpus Christi, which falls on 27 May in 2027, is recorded by SECO in 13 cantons, sometimes only in certain municipalities or regions.
• In the canton of Jura, 23 June is a public holiday (commemorating the plebiscite).
• 29 June (Feast of St Peter and St Paul) is an official public holiday in Ticino under its cantonal law. In 2027, it falls on a Tuesday.
• The Assumption, on 15 August, is recorded by SECO in 11 cantons.
• 25 September is a public holiday in the canton of Obwalden (Feast of St Nicholas of Flüe).
• All Saints’ Day, on 1 November, appears on the SECO list for 13 cantons: Aargau, Fribourg, Glarus, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, St. Gallen, Solothurn, Schwyz, Ticino, Uri, Valais and Zug, with local specificities in some of them. Other cantons, such as Jura, recognise it as a cantonal public holiday without it being treated as equivalent to a Sunday.
• 8 December (Immaculate Conception) is a public holiday in 7 cantons.
• 26 December (St Stephen’s Day) is a public holiday in 16 cantons. In Neuchâtel, it is only a public holiday when Christmas falls on a Sunday.
• 31 December is a public holiday in the canton of Geneva (Restoration of the Republic).

As you can see, the number of public holidays depends on the canton, and sometimes even the municipality, where you work. It is not easy to keep track of all these local specificities… In Geneva, for example, there are 9 public holidays. Which Swiss canton has the most public holidays? Ticino, the Italian-speaking canton, has 15 official public holidays under its cantonal law (source: Canton of Ticino). The number of days off nevertheless varies depending on the canton, the municipality and the legal status considered.

The Jeûne genevois and the Federal Fast

Have you heard of the Jeûne genevois (Geneva Fast)? It is a typically Swiss public holiday. Residents of the canton of Geneva are entitled to a public holiday on the Thursday following the first Sunday in September. In 2027, it falls on 9 September. The practice dates back to the 16th century: the first known fast in Geneva, in 1567, was held in response to the repression of the Protestants of Lyon. Although residents no longer observe the traditional fast, they celebrate the day each year by eating plum tart. 

As for the Federal Fast (Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer), it is celebrated on the third Sunday in September. In 2027, it falls on 19 September. In the canton of Vaud, the following Monday is a statutory public holiday: it falls on 20 September in 2027. In Neuchâtel, this Monday is not a public holiday treated as equivalent to a Sunday, even though shops are closed and the cantonal administration is on holiday.

Public holidays canton by canton

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Looking for the public holidays and school holidays of a particular canton? We cover them in detail for the French-speaking cantons:

• Public holidays and school holidays in Geneva
• Public holidays and school holidays in the canton of Vaud
• Public holidays and school holidays in Fribourg
• Public holidays and school holidays in Neuchâtel
• Public holidays and school holidays in Valais
• Public holidays and school holidays in the canton of Jura

Are public holidays paid in Switzerland?

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1 August is the only public holiday for which pay is provided for by law: it is a paid public holiday throughout Switzerland (source: SECO). For other public holidays, pay is a matter for the employment contract:

• employees paid monthly normally receive their salary, with no deduction, when the month includes one or more public holidays;
• for employees paid by the hour, public holidays are only paid if their individual contract, a collective labour agreement or a standard employment contract provides for it (source: Swiss federal SME portal).

And can you work on a public holiday? As on Sundays, employing staff on a public holiday treated as equivalent to a Sunday is in principle prohibited. A company that needs to do so must obtain authorisation, following the same procedure as for Sunday work, unless its sector is exempt.

Long weekends in Switzerland in 2027: our tips for planning your days off

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How can you make the most of your days off in Switzerland in 2027? b-sharpe, your online currency exchange partner, gives you a few tips to optimise your leave. Note: 2027 is less generous than 2026, as several public holidays fall on a weekend. There are nevertheless some good opportunities for long weekends.

Here are the best opportunities for long weekends in 2027:

• New Year’s Day falls on a Friday: the year starts with a three-day weekend.
• Easter: Good Friday (26 March) and Easter Monday (29 March) give a four-day weekend in the cantons where both are public holidays.
• Ascension falls on Thursday 6 May: by taking Friday 7 May off, you enjoy four days of rest.
• Whit Monday, on 17 May, gives a three-day weekend where it is a public holiday.
• Corpus Christi falls on Thursday 27 May: in the cantons concerned, a bridge day on Friday 28 May gives you another four days.
• All Saints’ Day falls on Monday 1 November: a three-day weekend in the cantons where it is a public holiday.

On the other hand, 1 May falls on a Saturday, 1 August and 15 August on a Sunday, and Christmas on a Saturday, followed by St Stephen’s Day on a Sunday. In Geneva, as 1 August falls on a Sunday, the day off is moved to Monday 2 August 2027, giving a long weekend from 31 July to 2 August.

Frequently asked questions about public holidays in Switzerland