Official public holidays in the canton of Neuchâtel in 2026
New Year’s Day, Thursday 1 January 2026
Establishment of the Republic of Neuchâtel, Sunday 1 March
Good Friday, Friday 3 April 2026
Labour Day, Friday 1 May 2026
Ascension Day, Thursday 14 May 2026
Swiss National Day, Saturday 1 August 2026
Christmas, Friday 25 December 2026
School holidays in the canton of Neuchâtel 2026
Winter holidays, from 22 December 2025 to 2 January 2026
Holidays from 1 March: 23–27 February 2026
Good Friday, 3 April 2026
Easter Monday, 6 April 2026
Spring holidays, from 3 April to 17 April 2026
Labour Day, 1 May 2026
Ascension Day, 14 and 15 May 2026
Whit Monday, 25 May 2026
Summer holidays, from 6 July to 14 August 2026
Canton of Valais: Public holidays and school holidays in 2026Official public holidays in the canton of Valais in 2026
New Year’s Day, Thursday 1 January 2026
St Joseph’s Day, Thursday 19 March 2026
St George’s Day, Thursday 23 April 2026
Ascension Thursday, Thursday 14 May 2026
Corpus Christi, Thursday 4 June 2026
Swiss National Day, Saturday 1 August 2026
Assumption Day, Saturday 15 August 2026
All Saints’ Day, Sunday 1 November 2026
Immaculate Conception, Tuesday 8 December 2026
Christmas, Friday 25 December 2026
School holidays in the Canton of Vaud 2026
Christmas, from Saturday 20 December 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026
Carnival, from Saturday 14 February to Sunday 22 February 2026
Saint-Joseph, Thursday 19 March 2026
Easter, from Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April 2026
Ascension Day, from Thursday 14 May to Sunday 17 May 2026
Pentecost, Monday 25 May 2026
Corpus Christi, Thursday 4 June 2026
Summer holidays, from Saturday 27 June to Sunday 16 August 2026
Public holidays and school holidays in the canton of Vaud: dates and significance for 2026Official 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
Public holidays and school holidays in Geneva: dates and meaning 2026-2027Which public holidays apply in Geneva in 2026 and 2027? When are the 2026-2027 school holidays? Discover the canton’s official dates, the origins of the Jeûne genevois, the Restoration of the Republic and the Escalade, and our tips for anticipating closures.
- Geneva has 9 official public holidays, including two local specificities: the Jeûne genevois (10 September 2026, 9 September 2027) and the Restoration of the Republic (31 December).
- The Federal Fast is not an official public holiday in Geneva, which keeps its own Jeûne genevois, the first known fast dating back to 1567.
- In 2027, 1 August falls on a Sunday: the day off is moved to Monday 2 August.
- 2026-2027 school calendar: back to school on Monday 17 August 2026, summer holidays from 5 July to 25 August 2027.
In Switzerland, public holidays vary from one canton to another, and Geneva is no exception: the canton has its own celebrations, inherited from its history. Do you live there, work there as a cross-border commuter or are you planning a visit? Here are all the dates you need to know for 2026 and 2027, with a little history to understand what is being celebrated.
Official public holidays in Geneva
Geneva has 9 official public holidays a year (source: Canton of Geneva). Two of them are specific to the canton: the Jeûne genevois and the Restoration of the Republic.
Official public holidays in Geneva in 2026 and 2027
| Public holiday | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday 1 January | Friday 1 January |
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April | Friday 26 March |
| Easter Monday | Monday 6 April | Monday 29 March |
| Ascension Day | Thursday 14 May | Thursday 6 May |
| Whit Monday | Monday 25 May | Monday 17 May |
| National Day | Saturday 1 August | Sunday 1 August (day off moved to Monday 2 August) |
| Jeûne genevois | Thursday 10 September | Thursday 9 September |
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December | Saturday 25 December |
| Restoration of the Republic | Thursday 31 December | Friday 31 December |
💡 Good to know:
In Geneva, when 1 January, 1 August or 25 December falls on a Sunday, the day off is moved to the following day. This is the case in 2027: as 1 August falls on a Sunday, Monday 2 August 2027 will be a public holiday.
What is Good Friday?
The Friday before Easter Sunday is called “Good Friday”: it is a Christian religious commemoration. It marks the day of the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. In 2027, it falls on Friday 26 March, which creates a four-day weekend together with Easter Monday.
What is the Jeûne genevois?
The Thursday after the first Sunday in September is a public holiday in Geneva: it is the Jeûne genevois (Geneva Fast). In 2026, it falls on 10 September, and in 2027 on 9 September. It dates back to the first known fast in Geneva, in 1567. It was customary to fast after every dramatic event, as an act of humility.
Elsewhere in Switzerland, people celebrate the Federal Fast on the third Sunday in September (in the canton of Vaud, the following Monday is a public holiday). The Federal Fast is not an official public holiday in Geneva, which keeps its own Jeûne genevois.
Plum tart has become one of the great culinary traditions of the Jeûne genevois!
What is the Restoration of the Republic?
On 31 December, Geneva celebrates the Restoration of the Republic. This public holiday commemorates the restoration of Geneva’s independence at the end of 1813. After some fifteen years of annexation to France (1798-1813), the French troops left Geneva on the morning of 30 December 1813. The next day, 31 December 1813, a proclamation of independence was prepared and a provisional government was formed: Geneva regained its status as an independent republic, before joining the Swiss Confederation in 1815. This is why New Year’s Eve is a day off in Geneva, unlike in most other cantons. Every 31 December, an official ceremony commemorates the Restoration of the Republic on the Promenade de la Treille, accompanied by artillery salutes in honour of the twenty-six Swiss cantons.
The Escalade, Geneva’s big December celebration
It is not a public holiday, but it is probably the most popular celebration in the canton. The Escalade celebrates the victory of the Genevans over the troops of the Duke of Savoy, who tried to take the city by surprise on the night of 11 to 12 December 1602.
Every year around 12 December, the Old Town hosts a historical procession in period costume. In families, people break the traditional chocolate marmite: according to custom, the youngest and the oldest smash it together, saying “Ainsi périssent les ennemis de la République !” (“Thus perish the enemies of the Republic!”).
Other important dates in Geneva
The dates below are religious, traditional or commemorative occasions, given for reference. Unless otherwise stated, they are not official public holidays in Geneva.
Until the end of 2026
- Reformation Day and Halloween, Saturday 31 October 2026
- All Saints’ Day and Swiss Reformation Sunday, Sunday 1 November 2026
- All Souls’ Day, Monday 2 November 2026
- Ewigkeitssonntag (Sunday of the Dead), Sunday 22 November 2026
- First Sunday of Advent, Sunday 29 November 2026
- Second Sunday of Advent and St Nicholas’ Day, Sunday 6 December 2026
- Escalade of Geneva, Saturday 12 December 2026
- Third Sunday of Advent, Sunday 13 December 2026
- Fourth Sunday of Advent, Sunday 20 December 2026
- Christmas Eve, Thursday 24 December 2026
- New Year’s Eve, Thursday 31 December 2026
In 2027
- Valentine’s Day, Sunday 14 February 2027
- Palm Sunday, Sunday 21 March 2027
- Easter, Sunday 28 March 2027
- Mother’s Day, Sunday 9 May 2027
- Pentecost, Sunday 16 May 2027
- Corpus Christi, Thursday 27 May 2027
- Father’s Day, Sunday 6 June 2027
- Federal Fast, Sunday 19 September 2027
- Reformation Day and Halloween, Sunday 31 October 2027
- All Saints’ Day, Monday 1 November 2027
- All Souls’ Day, Tuesday 2 November 2027
- Swiss Reformation Sunday, Sunday 7 November 2027
- Ewigkeitssonntag (Sunday of the Dead), Sunday 21 November 2027
- First Sunday of Advent, Sunday 28 November 2027
- Second Sunday of Advent, Sunday 5 December 2027
- St Nicholas’ Day, Monday 6 December 2027
- Escalade of Geneva and Third Sunday of Advent, Sunday 12 December 2027
- Fourth Sunday of Advent, Sunday 19 December 2027
- Christmas Eve, Friday 24 December 2027
- New Year’s Eve, Friday 31 December 2027
Geneva school holidays 2026-2027
Here is the official school calendar for the 2026-2027 school year in the canton of Geneva (source: Canton of Geneva).
Geneva school holiday calendar 2026-2027
| Period | Dates |
|---|---|
| Back to school | Monday 17 August 2026 |
| Jeûne genevois | Thursday 10 September 2026 |
| Autumn holidays | Monday 19 to Friday 23 October 2026 |
| Christmas and New Year holidays | Thursday 24 December 2026 to Friday 8 January 2027 |
| February holidays | Monday 15 to Friday 19 February 2027 |
| Easter holidays | Friday 26 March to Friday 9 April 2027 |
| Ascension bridge | Thursday 6 and Friday 7 May 2027 |
| Whit Monday | Monday 17 May 2027 |
| Summer holidays | Monday 5 July to Wednesday 25 August 2027 |
💡 Good to know:
A new school calendar comes into force at the start of the 2027 school year: Geneva pupils will go back to school on Thursday 26 August 2027, and no longer on a Monday in mid-August.
