Public Holidays in Neuchâtel (Canton) in 2026

Public holidays in Neuchâtel (Canton) in 2026

Planning a trip, booking time off, or running payroll in Canton Neuchâtel (NE) gets much easier when you know which days are official public holidays—and which days aren’t official holidays but still affect shop opening hours. In Neuchâtel, the canton lists official legal rest days and also specifies additional days when shops are generally closed, such as Easter Monday, Whit Monday, and the Monday after Federal Fast. For accuracy, always double-check special cases with your employer, school, or commune, especially if you work across cantons.

Below you’ll find a clear 2026 table (dates + weekdays), plus practical notes for long-weekend planning and a FAQ that answers the most common “Is it a day off?” questions.

Neuchâtel 2026 holidays — at a glance (official vs. shops closed)

Neuchâtel distinguishes between:

• Official cantonal public holidays (legal rest days): widely treated as non-working days (subject to sector/employer rules).
• Shops closed (not an official holiday): retail closure rules commonly apply even if it isn’t a statutory public holiday for all workers.

Source for the official cantonal approach and shop-closure clarification: Canton of Neuchâtel “Jours fériés” guidance (French) and cantonal legal basis.
Helpful date/weekday verification: timeanddate.com holiday calendar.

Full list: public holidays and closure days in Neuchâtel (NE) for 2026

Quick takeaway: In 2026, Neuchâtel’s biggest “planning traps” are March 1 (Republic Day) landing on a Sunday, and the fact that Easter Monday / Whit Monday / Bettagsmontag can close shops even though they are not always treated as statutory days off for every worker.

What counts as an “official public holiday” in Neuchâtel vs. a “shops closed” day?

When people search “public holidays Neuchâtel 2026”, they usually mean one of two things:

1) Official cantonal public holidays (legal rest days)

These are the holidays the canton recognizes as official public holidays. In many workplaces, these are treated like paid days off—especially in office-based roles—though rules can vary by:

• industry (healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, etc.)
• collective labor agreements (CCT)
• employer policy
• shift work and essential services

If you’re handling HR/payroll, these are the dates you typically start from when setting holiday calendars for NE-based staff.

2) Days when shops are closed (even if it’s not a statutory holiday)

Neuchâtel also highlights days when retail is generally closed, including:

• Easter Monday
• Whit Monday
• Monday after Federal Fast (Bettagsmontag / lundi du Jeûne fédéral)

These days matter a lot for day-to-day life: groceries, pharmacies, shopping centers, and some local services may be closed or run reduced hours. If you’re traveling, these are the dates that can surprise you if you only look at “official public holidays.”

Bottom line:

• For time-off entitlement, focus on official holidays (and your work contract).
• For planning errands and travel, also factor in the shop-closure days.

Key 2026 planning notes (Neuchâtel-specific)

This section addresses the questions people most often get wrong—especially commuters, expats, and anyone comparing NE to Vaud (VD), Bern (BE), or the federal list.

Republic Day (March 1, 2026) falls on a Sunday

Neuchâtel Republic Day (Fête de la République) is a signature cantonal holiday—unique enough that it’s frequently searched by name.

• In 2026 it falls on Sunday (2026-03-01).
• In Switzerland, there is generally no automatic “substitute day” on Monday when a public holiday falls on a weekend—unless your employer offers it as a benefit or your collective agreement provides it.

If you’re booking leave, assume no Monday off by default and confirm with HR.

January 2 (Berchtold’s Day) is not a Neuchâtel holiday in 2026

Some Swiss cantons treat January 2 as a holiday (or partial holiday), which creates confusion for cross-canton workers.

Neuchâtel applies a specific rule: January 2 is only a holiday in certain cases (notably when New Year’s Day falls on a Sunday). Since January 1, 2026 is a Thursday, January 2, 2026 is not an official NE public holiday.

Easter Monday and Whit Monday: high impact, but not always “official”

In 2026:

• Easter Monday is 2026-04-06 (Monday)
• Whit Monday is 2026-05-25 (Monday)

Even when they’re not statutory days off for all workers in NE, they commonly affect:

• shop opening hours
• staffing and service levels
• school calendars (depending on local decisions)

If you work in retail or customer-facing roles, these dates are especially important.

Bettagsmontag / lundi du Jeûne fédéral (Monday after Federal Fast)

Federal Fast is observed on a Sunday, and in 2026 it is Sunday, 2026-09-20, with the Monday after (2026-09-21) often treated as a shop-closure day in Neuchâtel.

For residents, this is one of the most commonly missed dates when planning:

• shopping runs
• deliveries
• appointments with local businesses

Long weekends & “bridge day” ideas in Neuchâtel for 2026

If your goal is to maximize rest time with minimal vacation days, these are the most useful 2026 patterns (assuming a typical Monday–Friday schedule).

Best long-weekend opportunities (official holidays)

• New Year’s Day (Thu, Jan 1)
  Take Fri Jan 2 off (vacation day) to create a 4-day break.
• Good Friday (Fri, Apr 3)
  Naturally creates a 3-day weekend (Fri–Sun). If your employer also grants Easter Monday, it could be longer—confirm.
• Labour Day (Fri, May 1)
  Another built-in 3-day weekend.
• Ascension Day (Thu, May 14)
  A classic Swiss bridge-day: take Fri May 15 off to get a 4-day break (Thu–Sun).
• Christmas Day (Fri, Dec 25)
  Built-in 3-day weekend. If your employer closes between Christmas and New Year, this can stack into a longer break.

Weekend holidays (less helpful for extra days off)

• Republic Day (Sun, Mar 1)
• Swiss National Day (Sat, Aug 1)

These are still great for events and local celebrations, but they usually don’t reduce weekday work time unless your employer offers an alternative day.

Copy/paste list: Neuchâtel holidays & closure days (2026)

Use this for quick planning, sharing with colleagues, or pasting into your notes.

Neuchâtel (NE) 2026 — Official holidays:
2026-01-01 (Thu) New Year’s Day
2026-03-01 (Sun) Republic Day (Neuchâtel)
2026-04-03 (Fri) Good Friday
2026-05-01 (Fri) Labour Day
2026-05-14 (Thu) Ascension Day
2026-08-01 (Sat) Swiss National Day
2026-12-25 (Fri) Christmas Day

Neuchâtel (NE) 2026 — Shops closed (not always official holidays):
2026-04-06 (Mon) Easter Monday
2026-05-25 (Mon) Whit Monday
2026-09-21 (Mon) Monday after Federal Fast (Bettagsmontag)

FAQ: Public holidays in Neuchâtel (NE) 2026

Are Easter Monday and Whit Monday public holidays in Neuchâtel?

They are commonly treated as shop-closure days in Neuchâtel, but they are not always listed as official cantonal public holidays for all workers. For “Do I have the day off?”, check your employer policy, collective agreement, or school calendar.

Are shops closed on Easter Monday, Whit Monday, and Bettagsmontag in Neuchâtel?

Generally, yes—Neuchâtel’s guidance highlights these as days that affect retail opening. Exact hours can still vary for:

• train stations / travel retail
• pharmacies on duty
• restaurants and tourist venues
  Always check the specific shop or chain.

Is January 2 (Berchtold’s Day) a holiday in Neuchâtel in 2026?

No, not in 2026. Neuchâtel applies January 2 as a holiday only under specific conditions (not met in 2026 because January 1 is not a Sunday).

What is Neuchâtel Republic Day (March 1)?

It commemorates the canton’s republican history and is an official cantonal public holiday. In 2026 it falls on a Sunday, so most people won’t receive an extra weekday off unless their employer grants one.

If a public holiday falls on a weekend in Switzerland, do you get Monday off?

Usually no—there’s generally no automatic substitute day in Switzerland. Some employers voluntarily grant a day off, and some collective labor agreements may include rules. Confirm with your HR department.

Do public holiday dates change every year?

Some are fixed-date (e.g., Jan 1, Aug 1, Dec 25), while others are movable because they depend on Easter (e.g., Good Friday, Ascension, Easter Monday, Whit Monday). That’s why a canton-and-year-specific list (like this 2026 page) matters.

I live in Neuchâtel but work in another canton—whose holidays apply?

Often, the applicable holidays depend on where you work, not where you live—especially for statutory workplace calendars. But retail closures affect you where you shop. If you commute (e.g., NE ↔ VD/BE), keep both calendars handy and confirm your employer’s official holiday policy.

For HR, teams, and commuters: avoid last-minute surprises

If you manage schedules across cantons—or you have a team split between Neuchâtel and other regions—public holiday mismatches can create:

• understaffing and coverage gaps
• payroll/attendance confusion
• missed delivery or service windows
• frustrated customers (especially around Easter/Ascension)

A simple shared calendar (and clear internal policy) usually prevents 90% of issues.