Canton FR — 2026

Public Holidays in Fribourg 2026
Catholic vs Reformed

Full list of official public holidays in the Canton of Fribourg for 2026, with dates and weekdays. Includes Catholic vs Reformed differences, a comparison table, Reformed communes, planning tips, FAQs, and calendar-download options.

Switzerland landscape

Public Holidays in the Canton of Fribourg (FR) — 2026

Looking for the public holidays in Fribourg in 2026? You’re in the right place—especially because Canton Fribourg doesn’t have one single holiday list. Some holidays depend on whether you live/work in the Catholic part or in a Reformed commune.

Below you’ll find:

  • The official 2026 dates with weekdays
  • A Catholic vs Reformed breakdown (so you know what applies to you)
  • A quick comparison table
  • A list of Reformed communes
  • Practical planning tips (long weekends, closures) plus FAQs

Source of truth: The official holiday rules and dates are based on the State of Fribourg guidance (fr.ch), which explicitly distinguishes Catholic vs Reformed areas.

Key takeaway (read this first)

  • Fribourg has two official holiday sets: one for the Catholic part and one for Reformed communes.
  • 1 August (Swiss National Day) is the only federal public holiday across Switzerland; many other “Swiss holidays” are cantonal/commune-based.
  • In many workplaces, official public holidays are treated like Sundays (closures, Sunday timetables, pay rules may apply depending on sector and contract). For HR/legal specifics, always validate against official guidance and your CBA/employment contract.
Official lists

Official public holidays in Fribourg 2026

Use the list that matches the commune where the work is performed (Catholic part vs Reformed communes).

Official public holidays in Fribourg 2026 — Catholic part

These are the official public holidays observed in the Catholic part of Canton Fribourg in 2026 (dates + weekdays included for planning).

  • New Year’s Day — Thursday, 1 January 2026
  • Good Friday — Friday, 3 April 2026
  • Easter Monday — Monday, 6 April 2026
  • Ascension Day — Thursday, 14 May 2026
  • Whit Monday (Pentecost Monday) — Monday, 25 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 Day — Friday, 25 December 2026

Tip for planners: In 2026, several major holidays fall on a Saturday/Sunday (e.g., 1 Aug, 15 Aug, 1 Nov). Whether you receive a substitute day off depends on employer policy/contract.

Official public holidays in Fribourg 2026 — Reformed communes

These are the official public holidays for the Reformed part (Reformed communes) of Canton Fribourg in 2026.

  • New Year’s Day — Thursday, 1 January 2026
  • Good Friday — Friday, 3 April 2026
  • Easter Monday — Monday, 6 April 2026
  • Ascension Day — Thursday, 14 May 2026
  • Whit Monday (Pentecost Monday) — Monday, 25 May 2026
  • Swiss National Day — Saturday, 1 August 2026
  • Christmas Day — Friday, 25 December 2026
  • St Stephen’s Day (Boxing Day) — Saturday, 26 December 2026

What’s different vs the Catholic part?
Reformed communes typically do not observe several Catholic religious holidays as official public holidays (e.g., Corpus Christi, Assumption, All Saints, Immaculate Conception)—but they do observe 26 December.

Comparison

Fribourg public holidays 2026: Catholic vs Reformed

“Yes” means it’s an official public holiday in that part of the canton.

Date (2026)WeekdayHolidayCatholic partReformed communes
1 Jan 2026ThuNew Year’s DayYesYes
3 Apr 2026FriGood FridayYesYes
6 Apr 2026MonEaster MondayYesYes
14 May 2026ThuAscension DayYesYes
25 May 2026MonWhit Monday (Pentecost Monday)YesYes
4 Jun 2026ThuCorpus ChristiYesNo
1 Aug 2026SatSwiss National DayYesYes
15 Aug 2026SatAssumption DayYesNo
1 Nov 2026SunAll Saints’ DayYesNo
8 Dec 2026TueImmaculate ConceptionYesNo
25 Dec 2026FriChristmas DayYesYes
26 Dec 2026SatSt Stephen’s Day (Boxing Day)NoYes
Communes

Which communes are Reformed in Canton Fribourg?

Holiday rules can change depending on whether your workplace commune is considered Reformed (not necessarily where you live).

Holiday rules can change depending on whether your workplace commune is considered Reformed (not necessarily where you live).

Reformed communes commonly referenced include:

  • Fäffikon (Sense)
  • Kerzers
  • Meyriez (Merlach)
  • Muntelier
  • Murten (Morat)
  • Ried bei Kerzers
  • Ulmiz
  • Villarepos
  • Bas-Vully
  • Haut-Vully
  • Wallenbuch
  • Wallenried

Because municipal structures and designations can evolve, always verify your commune via the official canton guidance (fr.ch) or your municipal administration—especially if you’re doing payroll/shift planning.

Planning

Planning tips: get more time off in 2026

Bridge days, weekend effects, operations notes, and school-holiday reminders.

Public holidays are useful—but the real win comes from using them to plan leave and staffing intelligently.

1) Spot the “bridge day” opportunities (Brückentage / jours de pont)

In 2026, several holidays fall on Thursday or Monday, which creates natural long weekends with minimal leave.

  • New Year’s Day (Thu, 1 Jan)
    Consider taking Fri, 2 Jan off for a 4‑day break.
  • Ascension Day (Thu, 14 May)
    Taking Fri, 15 May off can create a long weekend.
  • Corpus Christi (Thu, 4 Jun) (Catholic part only)
    Take Fri, 5 Jun off for a 4‑day weekend.

For HR/operations: pre-plan these weeks early—demand for vacation days is usually high.

2) Know the “weekend holiday” effect

In 2026, 1 August and 15 August are Saturdays; 1 November is a Sunday. Many employers do not automatically grant a weekday replacement day—this depends on:

  • employment contract / company policy
  • collective labor agreement (CBA/GAV/CCT)
  • industry rules (retail, healthcare, hospitality, etc.)

If you manage schedules, clarify the rule internally and communicate it before Q1.

3) Expect “Sunday-style” operations (often)

On official public holidays, it’s common that:

  • shops and offices may be closed
  • public transport may run on a Sunday/holiday timetable
  • tourist sites may have special hours

Always verify locally—opening rules can vary by municipality and by type of business.

4) Don’t confuse public holidays with school holidays

School breaks don’t always match public holidays. If you’re planning family travel or childcare, check the official Fribourg school holidays calendar on fr.ch.

Downloads

Downloads: add Fribourg public holidays 2026 to your calendar

Two-calendar approach recommended to avoid confusion (Catholic vs Reformed).

Many people search for “Fribourg public holidays 2026 ICS” or “add to calendar”—because copying dates manually is error-prone (especially with the Catholic/Reformed split).

If your website provides calendar files, offer two separate downloads:

  • Fribourg 2026 — Catholic part (.ics)
  • Fribourg 2026 — Reformed communes (.ics)

This avoids confusion and increases trust (and conversions).

CTA suggestion (for your page UI):

  • Download Catholic FR 2026 (.ics)
  • Download Reformed FR 2026 (.ics)

Option B: add dates manually (quick instructions)

If you use Google Calendar / Outlook / Apple Calendar:

  1. Create a calendar called “Fribourg Public Holidays 2026”
  2. Add events with the exact dates above
  3. For shared teams, publish it as a read-only calendar
FAQ

FAQs — Public holidays in Fribourg (FR) 2026

Do public holidays really differ within Canton Fribourg?

Yes. Fribourg distinguishes between the Catholic part and Reformed communes, and the set of official public holidays is not identical. Always base planning on the commune where the work is performed (common HR practice), then confirm with official canton guidance.

Which holidays are only in the Catholic part?

In 2026, these are Catholic-part-only official holidays: Corpus Christi (Thu, 4 June 2026), Assumption Day (Sat, 15 August 2026), All Saints’ Day (Sun, 1 November 2026), Immaculate Conception (Tue, 8 December 2026).

Which holiday is only in Reformed communes?

St Stephen’s Day / Boxing Day — Saturday, 26 December 2026.

Is 1 August the only federal holiday in Switzerland?

Yes. Swiss National Day (1 August) is the only public holiday recognized at the federal level. Most other public holidays are regulated by cantons and—in Fribourg’s case—can differ by commune tradition (Catholic vs Reformed).

Are these “legal public holidays” or just recommended days off?

These are official public holidays defined by the canton’s rules. Separately, some employers may grant additional company holidays or discretionary days off (often called jours chômés). For payroll and entitlement questions, rely on your employment contract/CBA and official canton guidance.

If a holiday falls on a weekend, do I get another day off?

Often no automatic substitute day exists in Swiss practice unless your employer policy or CBA provides one. Treat weekend holidays as fixed dates and plan leave/bridging days accordingly.

Are shops and restaurants open on public holidays?

Many shops and offices close or operate reduced hours, and transport may follow holiday schedules. But rules vary by municipality and sector—especially in tourist areas. Check local announcements close to the date.

Do school holidays match public holidays?

Not always. Public holidays are single dates; school holidays are multi-day periods set by the canton. If you’re organizing childcare or travel, check the Fribourg school holiday calendar on fr.ch.

HR checklist

For employers & HR: a simple checklist for 2026

Reduce last-minute surprises with a clear internal calendar and policy reminders.

If you manage staffing, payroll, or customer operations in Fribourg, this quick checklist reduces last‑minute surprises:

  1. Identify the workplace commune for each site/team
  2. Mark whether it’s Catholic part or Reformed commune
  3. Publish a single internal calendar (or two calendars) with:
    • holiday name
    • date + weekday
    • who is affected (Catholic/Reformed/both)
  4. Clarify your policy for:
    • weekend holidays
    • on-call/shift work and compensation
    • store opening exceptions (if applicable)
  5. Remind teams early about peak leave periods:
    • around Ascension and Pentecost
    • late December

Quick recap: Fribourg public holidays 2026 at a glance

If you only need the essentials:

  • Canton-wide (both): 1 Jan, 3 Apr, 6 Apr, 14 May, 25 May, 1 Aug, 25 Dec
  • Catholic part only: 4 Jun, 15 Aug, 1 Nov, 8 Dec
  • Reformed communes only: 26 Dec

Get the right Fribourg 2026 holiday calendar (and stop guessing)

Avoid generic Switzerland holiday lists that ignore the Catholic/Reformed split. Download the correct calendar or share this page with your team.

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Sources