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Public holidays in Ticino (Switzerland)

— 2026 🏞️🇨🇭

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Planning a trip to Ticino or mapping out your time off for 2026?

Here’s your comprehensive, traveler-friendly (and local-approved) guide to all the official public holidays in the Canton of Ticino — plus the backstories behind the main feast days, handy tips, and a quick look at a few beloved Swiss holidays not observed in Ticino.

✅ Ticino’s 2026 holiday calendar below is taken from the canton’s official list. Dates are exact; note that in Switzerland holidays aren’t shifted if they fall on a weekend.

The 2026 Ticino holiday calendar at a glance

Date (2026) Day Holiday (EN) Local name (IT) Handy note
Jan 1 Thu New Year’s Day Capodanno Quiet morning, many shops closed
Jan 6 Tue Epiphany Epifania (Re Magi) Popular Catholic feast; family lunch 👑
Mar 19 Thu St Joseph’s Day San Giuseppe Observed in Catholic cantons like TI
Apr 6 Mon Easter Monday Lunedì di Pasqua Spring hikes & family outings 🐣
May 1 Fri Labour Day Festa del lavoro Rallies/events in cities
May 14 Thu Ascension Day Ascensione Classic long-weekend “ponte” 🌉
May 25 Mon Whit Monday Lunedì di Pentecoste Lakeside picnics are a thing 🛶
Jun 4 Thu Corpus Christi Corpus Domini Processions in some parishes ✨
Jun 29 Mon Saints Peter & Paul Santi Pietro e Paolo Cantonal public holiday
Aug 1 Sat Swiss National Day Festa nazionale svizzera Fireworks, bonfires, speeches 🇨🇭
Aug 15 Sat Assumption of Mary Assunzione Widespread in Catholic cantons
Nov 1 Sun All Saints’ Day Ognissanti Falls on Sunday (no Monday in lieu)
Dec 8 Tue Immaculate Conception Immacolata Concezione Christmas markets in full swing 🎄
Dec 25 Fri Christmas Day Natale Family time; most venues closed
Dec 26 Sat St Stephen’s Day Santo Stefano Quiet winter day, nice for spa day ♨️

Source: Official Ticino list of public holidays for 2026.
Remember: Swiss holidays are set by each canton (except 1 August, which is federal).

Stories behind Ticino’s main feast days

(the fun context bit) 📖

Epiphany (6 Jan) — The “Three Kings” tradition marks the visit of the Magi; in Ticino you’ll spot galette-style king cakes and family gatherings. It’s one of the specifically Catholic observances kept as a cantonal holiday here.

St Joseph’s Day (19 Mar) — Celebrated in several Catholic cantons (including Ticino) to honor St Joseph, protector of families and workers — fittingly close to spring.

Easter cycle (Mar–Jun):

  • Easter Monday (6 Apr) and Ascension (14 May) are nationwide favorites for mini-breaks.
  • Whit Monday (25 May) marks the end of the Easter season.
  • Corpus Christi (4 Jun) celebrates the Eucharist; many Catholic regions hold solemn processions — a distinctive Swiss sight, especially in Catholic areas (in Italian: Corpus Domini).

Saints Peter & Paul (29 Jun) — A specifically Catholic holiday honoring the apostles; Ticino keeps it canton-wide.

Swiss National Day (1 Aug) — The big one! 🎆 Marking the 1291 Federal Charter and the legendary oath at the Rütli meadow, this day unites the country with speeches, bonfires, and fireworks. (It’s also Switzerland’s only federal public holiday.)

Assumption (15 Aug), All Saints (1 Nov), Immaculate Conception (8 Dec) — Three Marian/saints days that reflect Ticino’s Catholic heritage; expect church services and low-key family time.

Christmas (25 Dec) & St Stephen’s (26 Dec) — Natale and the calm day after — perfect for winter walks around Lugano’s or Locarno’s lakeshores.

Popular Swiss holidays not observed in Ticino

(good to know) ℹ️

Good Friday (3 Apr 2026)

Surprisingly not a public holiday in Ticino (though it is in many other cantons). A proposal to make it a holiday was rejected by the cantonal parliament. Some businesses may still close early, and Holy Week events are widely observed.

Berchtold’s Day (2 Jan)

Big in many German-speaking cantons (e.g., Zurich, Lucerne), but not a Ticino holiday.

Geneva’s “Jeûne genevois”

(the Thursday after the first Sunday of September) and Vaud’s “Lundi du Jeûne” (the Monday after the Federal Fast) are beloved regional holidays — interesting if you’re traveling elsewhere in Switzerland.

Smart timing

long-weekend ideas (“ponti”) 🗓️🌉

  • Ascension (Thu 14 May) → take Fri 15 May off for a 4-day break.
  • Whit Monday (Mon 25 May) → automatic long weekend.
  • Easter Monday (Mon 6 Apr) → great for spring hikes in Verzasca or Maggia valleys.
  • When holidays fall on Sat/Sun (e.g., 1 Aug and 15 Aug in 2026), Switzerland does not move them to Monday — plan accordingly.

Practical tips for enjoying holidays in Ticino 🧭

  • Shops & services: Expect Sunday-style closures on public holidays. Larger tourist areas (e.g., Lugano, Locarno) may have limited openings, but plan groceries ahead.

  • Transport: Trains and buses run on holiday timetables; check SBB/CFF/FFS apps before you go. (Timetable levels often change on Easter/Ascension/Assumption.)

  • Festivities:

    • 1 August brings fireworks (subject to local bans during drought years) and bonfires — check municipal programs.
    • Corpus Domini sometimes features parish processions; be respectful around churches and old towns.

  • Cross-border day trips: Northern Italy has different public holidays; if you’re popping over to Como or Varese, check Italian dates too (e.g., Epiphany, Assumption are also public holidays there).

FAQ´s
👉

Is Good Friday a day off in Ticino❓

No — it’s a working day in Ticino (though many cantons treat it as a public holiday). The canton debated this recently and kept the status quo.

Which holidays are nationwide everywhere in Switzerland❓

Only 1 August (Swiss National Day) is federal; all other public holidays are set by cantons. Ticino’s list above is the official one for 2026.

Wrap-up

Ticino’s holiday calendar blends the Easter cycle, strong Catholic traditions, and Switzerland’s unifying National Day — a perfect scaffold for planning scenic escapes, lakeside picnics, or cultural deep dives.

Save this page, sync the dates with your planner, and start plotting those ponti! 😄