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Public Holidays in Zürich (2026)

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Planning your 2026 in the Canton of Zürich? Here’s a complete, easy-to-use guide to every official cantonal public holiday, plus a bit of backstory so each day means more than just a day off.

You’ll find practical details to help you plan long weekends, family getaways, or simply know when shops and offices will be closed. I’ve also sprinkled in fun “across Switzerland” facts showing where Zürich traditions stand out from other cantons—so you can appreciate both the local flavor and the national rhythm that make Switzerland’s calendar so unique. 🇨🇭✨

Quick overview (Zürich, 2026)

These are the official public holidays for the Canton of Zürich in 2026.

City-only customs (like Sechseläuten and Knabenschiessen Monday) are noted separately.

Date (2026) Day Holiday (DE / EN) Type in Zürich What’s open/closed? Notes
Jan 1 Thursday Neujahrstag / New Year’s Day 🎉 Public holiday Most shops & offices closed Start of the year; nationwide
Jan 2 Friday Berchtoldstag / St. Berchtold’s Day 🥨 Public holiday Most shops & offices closed Traditional Swiss holiday; big in Zürich
Apr 3 Friday Karfreitag / Good Friday ✝️ Public holiday Broad closures Protestant tradition is strong in Zürich
Apr 6 Monday Ostermontag / Easter Monday 🐣 Public holiday Broad closures Family outings common
May 1 Friday Tag der Arbeit / Labour Day ✊ Public holiday Demonstrations & closures Large rallies in the city
May 14 Thursday Auffahrt / Ascension Day ⛪ Public holiday Broad closures 40 days after Easter
May 25 Monday Pfingstmontag / Whit Monday 🕊️ Public holiday Broad closures 50 days after Easter
Aug 1 Saturday Bundesfeier / Swiss National Day 🇨🇭 Public holiday (national) Broad closures Fireworks & lanterns on the eve
Dec 25 Friday Weihnachtstag / Christmas Day 🎄 Public holiday Broad closures Family & church services
Dec 26 Saturday Stefanstag / St. Stephen’s Day 🕯️ Public holiday Broad closures Boxing Day vibe

Zürich-specific customs (not full cantonal public holidays):

  • Sechseläuten (third Monday in April — Apr 20, 2026) 🔥: Traditional spring festival in the City of Zürich; many employers give a half-day off (afternoon), but this is not a canton-wide official holiday. The Böögg (snowman effigy) is burned to “forecast” summer.
  • Knabenschiessen Monday (second Monday in September — Sep 14, 2026) 🎯: A youth marksmanship festival in the City of Zürich. City schools and many municipal offices close, but it’s not a cantonal holiday; outside the city, it’s a normal workday.

The stories behind Zürich’s main holidays

🎉 Neujahrstag (Jan 1) & 🥨 Berchtoldstag (Jan 2)

  • New Year’s Day is universal, but Berchtold’s Day is distinctly Swiss (strong in Zürich, Bern, and several German-speaking cantons). The origins are debated—some link it to the medieval “Berchta/Perchta” folk traditions; others say it’s simply a “second New Year’s” for guild gatherings and social visits. Expect quiet streets, family meals, and bakeries selling special pastries.

✝️ Karfreitag (Good Friday) & 🐣 Ostermontag (Easter Monday)

  • Zürich’s Protestant heritage gives Good Friday special weight—church services and a reflective mood. Easter Monday keeps the long weekend going, perfect for hikes by the lake or in the Zürich Oberland.
    Fun fact: Corpus Christi (Fronleichnam), a Catholic feast in June, is not a holiday in Zürich but is widely observed in Catholic cantons like Schwyz, Uri, Zug, Fribourg, Valais, Ticino, and more.

✊ Tag der Arbeit (May 1)

  • Since the late 19th century, Labour Day has celebrated workers’ rights. In Zürich City, you’ll see parades, speeches, and festivals around the Volkshaus/Langstrasse area. It’s an important civic date; plan your errands another day.

⛪ Auffahrt (Ascension Day) & 🕊️ Pfingstmontag (Whit Monday)

  • Ascension (always a Thursday) and Whit Monday (the Monday after Pentecost) are long-standing church feasts that have become beloved spring long-weekends. Many locals bridge Ascension into a 4-day break—book travel early!

🇨🇭 Bundesfeier (Swiss National Day – Aug 1)

  • Commemorates the 1291 Federal Charter—the symbolic birth of the Swiss Confederation. Since 1994, it’s a full paid national holiday. Expect village brunches (Farmer’s Brunch), bonfires, and fireworks (mostly on July 31 in the evening).
    Nice fact: Some municipalities limit fireworks—check local rules if you plan a display.

🎄 Weihnachten (Dec 25) & 🕯️ Stefanstag (Dec 26)

  • Christmas Day is family-centric. Zürich also sparkles with Weihnachtsmärkte (markets) and the Singing Christmas Tree in Advent. St. Stephen’s Day extends the peaceful pause—great for wintry walks along Lake Zürich or the Uetliberg ridge.

What Zürich doesn’t take off

(but many other cantons do) 🗺️

  • Heilige Drei Könige / Epiphany (Jan 6) 👑 — public in parts of Schwyz, Ticino, Uri, Lucerne, Zug, Graubünden; not a Zürich holiday. (You’ll still find the “Dreikönigskuchen” 🥧 with a hidden king!)

  • Josefstag / St. Joseph’s Day (Mar 19) — holiday in Nidwalden, Schwyz, Ticino, Valais, etc.; not in Zürich.

  • Fronleichnam / Corpus Christi (movable, June) — Catholic cantons; not Zürich.

  • Mariä Himmelfahrt / Assumption (Aug 15) & Allerheiligen / All Saints (Nov 1) — widespread in Catholic cantons; not Zürich.

  • Unbefleckte Empfängnis / Immaculate Conception (Dec 8) — common in parts of Central & Southern Switzerland; not Zürich.

  • Jeûne traditions in Romandie:

    • Jeûne fédéral is a Sunday nationwide (in 2026: Sep 20), but Vaud observes Lundi du Jeûne (Monday off).
    • Geneva has Jeûne genevois (a Thursday in early September). Zürich does not have a day off here.

Planning tips for 2026 📅

Bridge days

With Ascension (Thu, May 14), many take Fri, May 15 off. If your company allows it, you’ll get a perfect 4-day break.

Spring traditions

  • Easter weekend: Apr 3–6.
  • Sechseläuten (city of Zürich): Mon, Apr 20 (often a half-day in the afternoon).

Late summer

National Day falls on Saturday (Aug 1) —useful for a long weekend if you take Friday or Monday as leave.

Back-to-school quirk

Knabenschiessen Monday (Sep 14) is off for city schools; families outside the city won’t share the day off.

Shops on holidays

Expect supermarkets, malls, and offices to close on official days. Zürich HB’s underground shops and airport stores have extended hours, but check individual listings.

Events & reservations

Popular brunch spots, mountain railways, and thermal baths book up quickly on long weekends—reserve ahead.

FAQ ❓

Zürich 2026 — At a Glance

Here’s your quick reference list of official public holidays in the Canton of Zürich for 2026:

  • Jan 1 (Thu) – Neujahrstag / New Year’s Day
  • Jan 2 (Fri) – Berchtoldstag / St. Berchtold’s Day
  • Apr 3 (Fri) – Karfreitag / Good Friday
  • Apr 6 (Mon) – Ostermontag / Easter Monday
  • May 1 (Fri) – Tag der Arbeit / Labour Day
  • May 14 (Thu) – Auffahrt / Ascension Day
  • May 25 (Mon) – Pfingstmontag / Whit Monday
  • Aug 1 (Sat) – Bundesfeier / Swiss National Day
  • Dec 25 (Fri) – Weihnachtstag / Christmas Day
  • Dec 26 (Sat) – Stefanstag / St. Stephen’s Day

🏙️ City Traditions (Zürich Only) (not cantonal holidays)

  • Apr 20 (Mon) – Sechseläuten → Afternoon off for many city workers
  • Sep 14 (Mon) – Knabenschiessen Monday → Schools and city offices closed