Swiss school holidays in 2025–2026

School breaks are the perfect time to have fun and quality time with your children.

For parents, knowing these dates is crucial for planning holidays, family visits, and exciting activities. It’s also important to arrange any childcare in advance if you’ll be working on these days.

Planning ahead also means preparing financially for these holiday periods. Whether you’re organizing a family trip abroad, arranging childcare, or enrolling your children in vacation camps, managing your finances efficiently is crucial. For expat families who frequently travel between countries or maintain ties to their home country, services like These services can help manage multiple currencies and international payments.

Here’s what you need to know:

• An overview of Swiss school holidays

• When are the Swiss school holidays in 2025–2026?2025–2026 school holidays in Northern Switzerland2025–2026 school holidays in Eastern Switzerland2025–2026 school holidays in Southern Switzerland2025–2026 school holidays in Western Switzerland2025–2026 school holidays in Central Switzerland

• 2025–2026 school holidays in Northern Switzerland

• 2025–2026 school holidays in Eastern Switzerland

• 2025–2026 school holidays in Southern Switzerland

• 2025–2026 school holidays in Western Switzerland

• 2025–2026 school holidays in Central Switzerland

• When are the Swiss school holidays in 2026–2027?2026–2027 school holidays in Northern Switzerland2026–2027 school holidays in Eastern Switzerland2026–2027 school holidays in Southern Switzerland2026–2027 school holidays in Western Switzerland2026–2027 school holidays in Central Switzerland

• 2026–2027 school holidays in Northern Switzerland

• 2026–2027 school holidays in Eastern Switzerland

• 2026–2027 school holidays in Southern Switzerland

• 2026–2027 school holidays in Western Switzerland

• 2026–2027 school holidays in Central Switzerland

• When are Switzerland’s public holidays?

• Tips for expat parents in SwitzerlandFinancial planning for school holidaysChildcare during Swiss school holidays10 fun summer camps in Switzerland

• Financial planning for school holidays

• Childcare during Swiss school holidays

• 10 fun summer camps in Switzerland

• Conclusion

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An overview of Swiss school holidays

Each of the 26 Swiss cantons sets its own school calendar each year, leading to variations in holiday dates across the country. Communal authorities may change these schedules slightly to take into account local holidays or requirements; however, the main holidays usually stay the same across the canton.

Schools typically have four main holidays throughout the year, including during Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. There are also a few other days off, typically around Christian holidays.

International schools in Switzerland generally follow the same holiday dates as other schools in the canton, though they may have longer summer and Christmas breaks, as well as additional or different days off. Be sure to check with your child’s school for full details.

International schools in Switzerland

When are the Swiss school holidays in 2025–2026?

2025–2026 school holidays in Northern Switzerland

Dates may vary per municipality, check your school’s academic calendar

Holiday

Aargau

Basel-Landschaft

Basel-Stadt

First day of school

11 August 2025

11 August 2025

11 August 2025

Autumn holidays

29 September, 10 October 2025

29 September, 10 October 2025

29 September, 10 October 2025

Christmas holidays

22 December 2025, 2 January 2026

22 December 2025, 2 January 2026

22 December 2025, 2 January 2026

Carnival/sport break

26 January, 6 February 2026

16-27 February 2026

16-27 February 2026

Spring holidays

6-17 April 2026

30 March, 10 April 2026

30 March, 10 April 2026

Summer holidays

6 July, 7 August 2026

29 June, 7 August 2026

29 June, 7 August 2026

Solothurn

Zürich

First day of school

11 August 2025

18 August 2025

Autumn holidays

29 September, 17 October 2025

6-17 October 2025

Christmas holidays

22 December 2025, 2 January 2026

22 December 2025, 2 January 2026

Carnival/sport break

2-13 February 2026

9-20 February 2026

Spring holidays

6-17 April 2026

20 April, 1 May 2026

Summer holidays

6 July, 7 August 2026

13 July, 14 August 2026

multi-currency account

Are you an expat or thinking of moving to Switzerland? Managing your money across borders shouldn’t be complicated. With a multi-currency account, you can hold over 40 currencies and pay with a multi-currency debit card in more than 150 countries. Whether you need to spend abroad, receive or send money home, These services can help make international money management simpler.

2025–2026 school holidays in Eastern Switzerland

Dates may vary per municipality, check your school’s academic calendar

Holiday

Appenzell Ausserrhoden

Appenzell Innerrhoden

AI Oberegg District

Glarus

First day of school

11 August 2025

18 August 2025

18 August 2025

11 August 2025

Autumn holidays

6-17 October 2025

6-17 October 2025

6-17 October 2025

6-17 October 2025

Christmas holidays

22 December 2025, 2 January 2026

22 December 2025, 2 January 2026

22 December 2025, 2 January 2026

22 December 2025, 2 January 2026

Carnival/sport break

Varies by school

13-20 February 2026

13-20 February 2026

26-30 January 2026

Spring holidays

3-17 April 2026

3-17 April 2026

3-17 April 2026

3–27 April 2026

Summer holidays

6 July, 7 August 2026

6 July, 14 August 2026

6 July, 14 August 2026

29 June, 7 August 2026

Grisons (Graubünden)

Schaffhausen

St. Gallen

Thurgau

First day of school

11 August 2025

11 August 2025

11 August 2025

11 August 2025

Autumn holidays

6-17 October 2025

29 September, 17 October 2025

29 September, 17 October 2025

6-17 October 2025

Christmas holidays

22 December 2025, 2 January 2026

24 December 2025, 2 January 2026

22 December 2025, 2 January 2026

22 December 2025, 2 January 2026

Carnival/sport break

23-27 February 2026

26 January, 6 February 2026

26-30 January 2026

26-30 January 2026

Spring holidays

13-24 April 2026

13-24 April 2026

3-17 April 2026

3-17 April 2026

Summer holidays

29 June, 14 August 2026

6 July, 7 August 2026

6 July, 7 August 2026

6 July, 7 August 2026

2025–2026 school holidays in Southern Switzerland

Dates may vary per municipality, check your school’s academic calendar

Holiday

Bern (German)

Bern (French)

Ticino

First day of school

11 August 2025

11 August 2025

1 September 2025

Autumn holidays

20 September, 12 October 2025

20 September, 12 October 2025

3-7 November 2025

Christmas holidays

20 December 2025, 4 January 2026

20 December 2025, 4 January 2026

24 December 2025, 6 January 2026

Carnival/sport break

31 January, 8 February 2026

31 January, 8 February 2026

16-20 February 2026

Spring holidays

3-19 April 2026

3-19 April 2026

3-10 April 2026

Summer holidays

4 July, 9 August 2026

4 July, 9 August 2026

18 June, 30 August 2026

Valais (German)

Valais (French)

First day of school

18 August 2025

21 August 2025

Autumn holidays

11-26 October 2025

16-26 October 2025

Christmas holidays

20 December 2025, 4 January 2026

20 December 2025, 4 January 2026

Carnival/sport break

21 February, 8 March 2026

14-22 February 2026

Spring holidays

9-17 May 2026

3-12 April 2026

Summer holidays

1 July, 16 August 2026

27 June, 16 August 2026

2025–2026 school holidays in Western Switzerland

Dates may vary per municipality, check your school’s academic calendar

Holiday

Fribourg

Geneva

Jura

First day of school

28 August 2025

18 August 2025

18 August 2025

Autumn holidays

13-24 October 2025

20-24 October 2025

6-17 October 2025

Christmas holidays

22 December 2025, 2 January 2026

22 December 2025, 2 January 2026

22 December 2025, 2 January 2026

Carnival/sport break

16-20 February 2026

23-27 February 2026

16-20 February 2026

Spring holidays

3-17 April 2026

6-17 April 2026

3-17 April 2026

Summer holidays

13 July, 26 August 2026

29 June, 16 August 2026

6 July, 14 August 2026

Neuchâtel

Vaud

First day of school

18 August 2025

18 August 2025

Autumn holidays

6-17 October 2025

13-24 October 2025

Christmas holidays

22 December 2025, 2 January 2026

22 December 2025, 2 January 2026

Carnival/sport break

23-27 February 2026

16-20 February 2026

Spring holidays

3-17 April 2026

3-17 April 2026

Summer holidays

6 July, 14 August 2026

29 June, 14 August 2026

2025–2026 school holidays in Central Switzerland

Dates may vary per municipality, check your school’s academic calendar

Holiday

Lucerne

Nidwalden

Obwalden

First day of school

18 August 2025

18 August 2025

18 August 2025

Autumn holidays

29 September, 10 October 2025

29 September, 10 October 2025

29 September, 10 October 2025

Christmas holidays

22 December 2025, 2 January 2026

22 December 2025, 2 January 2026

24 December 2025, 6 January 2026

Carnival/sport break

9-20 February 2026

9-20 February 2026

9-20 February 2026

Spring holidays

3-17 April 2026

3-17 April 2026

3-17 April 2026

Summer holidays

6 July, 14 August 2026

6 July, 14 August 2026

6 July, 14 August 2026

Schwyz

Uri

Zug

First day of school

18 August 2025

18 August 2025

18 August 2025

Autumn holidays

29 September, 10 October 2025

6-17 October 2025

6-17 October 2025

Christmas holidays

25 December 202, 5 January 2026

22 December 2025, 6 January 2026

22 December 2025, 2 January 2026

Carnival/sport break

23-27 February 2026

2-6 March 2026

2-13 February 2026

Spring holidays

27 April, 8 May 2026

4-15 May 2026

13-24 April 2026

Summer holidays

6 July, 14 August 2026

6 July, 14 August 2026

6 July, 14 August 2026

When are the Swiss school holidays in 2026–2027?

2026–2027 school holidays in Northern Switzerland

Dates may vary per municipality, check your school’s academic calendar

Holiday

Aargau

Basel-Landschaft

Basel-Stadt

First day of school

10 August 2026

10 August 2026

10 August 2026

Autumn holidays

26 September, 11 October 2026

3-18 October 2026

3-18 October 2026

Christmas holidays

19 December 2026, 3 January 2027

19 December 2026, 3 January 2027

19 December 2026, 3 January 2027

Carnival/sport break

30 January, 14 February 2027

20 February, 7 March 2027

20 February, 7 March 2027

Spring holidays

10-25 April 2027

10-25 April 2027

10-25 April 2027

Summer holidays

3 July, 8 August 2026

3 July, 15 August 2027

3 July, 15 August 2027

Solothurn

Zürich

First day of school

10 August 2026

17 August 2026

Autumn holidays

26 September, 18 October 2026

5-16 October 2026

Christmas holidays

19 December 2026, 3 January 2027

21 December 2026, 1 January 2027

Carnival/sport break

6-21 February 2027

Varies by school

Spring holidays

3–18 April 2027

26 April, 7 May 2027

Summer holidays

10 July, 22 August 2027

19 July, 20 August 2027

2026–2027 school holidays in Eastern Switzerland

Dates may vary per municipality, check your school’s academic calendar

Holiday

Appenzell Ausserrhoden

Appenzell Innerrhoden

AI Oberegg District

Glarus

First day of school

10 August 2026

17 August 2026

17 August 2026

10 August 2026

Autumn holidays

3-18 October 2026

3-25 October 2026

3-25 October 2026

9-24 October 2026

Christmas holidays

19 December 2026, 3 January 2027

19 December 2026, 3 January 2027

19 December 2026, 3 January 2027

24 December 2026, 3 January 2027

Carnival/sport break

Varies by school

24 January, 1 February 2027

24 January, 1 February 2027

23-31 January 2027

Spring holidays

3–18 April 2027

3–19 April 2027

3–19 April 2027

3–18 April 2027

Summer holidays

3 July, 15 August 2027

4 July, 16 August 2027

4 July, 16 August 2027

26 June, 8 August 2027

Grisons (Graubünden)

Schaffhausen

St. Gallen

Thurgau

First day of school

17 August 2026

10 August 2026

10 August 2026

10 August 2026

Autumn holidays

12-23 October 2026

26 September, 18 October 2026

27 September, 18 October 2026

5-18 October 2026

Christmas holidays

23 December 2026, 5 January 2027

24 December 2026, 3 January 2027

20 December 2026, 3 January 2027

21 December 2026, 3 January 2027

Carnival/sport break

28 February, 3 March 2027

30 January, 14 February 2027

31 January, 7 February 2027

1-7 February 2027

Spring holidays

19-30 April 2027

17 April, 2 May 2027

11-25 April 2027

26 March, 11 April 2027

Summer holidays

2 July, 13 August 2027

10 July, 15 August 2027

11 July, 15 August 2027

12 July, 15 August 2027

2026–2027 school holidays in Southern Switzerland

Dates may vary per municipality, check your school’s academic calendar

Holiday

Bern (German)

Bern (French)

Ticino

First day of school

10 August 2026

10 August 2026

31 August 2026

Autumn holidays

10 September, 11 October 2026

10 September, 11 October 2026

31 October, 8 November 2026

Christmas holidays

24 December 2026, 10 January 2027

24 December 2026, 10 January 2027

24 December 2026, 6 January 2027

Carnival/sport break

6-14 February 2027

6-14 February 2027

6-14 February 2027

Spring holidays

10-25 April 2027

10-25 April 2027

26 March, 4 April 2027

Summer holidays

3 July, 15 August 2027

3 July, 15 August 2027

17 June, 29 August 2027

Valais (German)

Valais (French)

First day of school

Dates not yet available

Dates not yet available

Autumn holidays

Dates not yet available

Dates not yet available

Christmas holidays

Dates not yet available

Dates not yet available

Carnival/sport break

Dates not yet available

Dates not yet available

Spring holidays

Dates not yet available

Dates not yet available

Summer holidays

Dates not yet available

Dates not yet available

2026–2027 school holidays in Western Switzerland

Dates may vary per municipality, check your school’s academic calendar

Holiday

Fribourg

Geneva

Jura

First day of school

27 August 2026

17 August 2026

17 August 2026

Autumn holidays

12-23 October 2026

19-23 October 2026

5-16 October 2026

Christmas holidays

21 December 2026, 1 January 2027

24 December 2026, 8 January 2027

24 December 2026, 8 January 2027

Carnival/sport break

8-12 February 2027

15-19 February 2027

15-19 February 2027

Spring holidays

26 March, 9 April 2027

26 March, 9 April 2027

26 March, 9 April 2027

Summer holidays

Starts 10 July 2027

5 July, 25 August 2027

5 July, 13 August 2027

Neuchâtel

Vaud

First day of school

17 August 2026

17 August 2026

Autumn holidays

5-16 October 2026

9-25 October 2026

Christmas holidays

21 December 2026, 1 January 2027

19 December 2026, 3 January 2027

Carnival/sport break

1-5 March 2027

6-14 February 2027

Spring holidays

26 March, 9 April 2027

26 March, 9 April 2027

Summer holidays

5 July, 13 August 2027

26 June, 15 August 2027

2026–2027 school holidays in Central Switzerland

Dates may vary per municipality, check your school’s academic calendar

Holiday

Lucerne

Nidwalden

Obwalden

First day of school

17 August 2026

17 August 2026

17 August 2026

Autumn holidays

26 September, 11 October 2026

26 September, 11 October 2026

3-25 October 2026

Christmas holidays

19 December 2026, 3 January 2027

19 December 2026, 3 January 2027

24 December 2026, 6 January 2027

Carnival/sport break

30 January, 14 February 2027

30 January, 14 February 2027

4-14 February 2027

Spring holidays

26 March, 11 April 2027

26 March, 11 April 2027

26 March, 11 April 2027

Summer holidays

3 July, 15 August 2027

3 July, 15 August 2027

26 June, 8 August 2027

Schwyz

Uri

Zug

First day of school

Dates not yet available

17 August 2026

17 August 2026

Autumn holidays

Dates not yet available

3-18 October 2026

3-18 October 2026

Christmas holidays

Dates not yet available

24 December 2027, 10 January 2027

19 December 2026, 3 January 2027

Carnival/sport break

Dates not yet available

27 February, 7 March 2027

6-21 February 2027

Spring holidays

Dates not yet available

1-17 May 2027

17 April, 2 May 2027

Summer holidays

Dates not yet available

3 July, 15 August 2027

3 July, 15 August 2027

When are Switzerland’s public holidays?

Some national and local holidays and celebrations can fall on school days, such as Ascension Day and Good Friday. You can learn more about these holidays (and dates) by reading our article on public holidays in Switzerland.

Public holidays in Switzerland

Tips for expat parents in Switzerland

Financial planning for school holidays

School holidays often mean additional expenses for families, from travel and accommodation to childcare and activities. For expat parents who may be traveling internationally or paying for services in different currencies, managing these expenses efficiently becomes even more important.

When planning trips abroad during school breaks:

• Create a holiday budget that accounts for currency fluctuations

• Consider the most cost-effective way to spend money abroad

• Plan ahead for international payments for activities or accommodations

Using the multi-currency account can help you manage your holiday finances. With the service, you can hold and convert money in multiple currencies and spend abroad with the multi-currency debit card.

Childcare during Swiss school holidays

Your children’s school holidays may clash with your work schedule. Fortunately, you can access a range of childcare options in Switzerland, including:

• Daycare centers

• Kindergartens

• Au pairs/nannies

• Childminders

• Babysitters

10 fun summer camps in Switzerland

There are many fun and educational summer camps for children to learn and play, including:

• Altitude Camps

• Camp Suisse

• La Garenne Summer Camps

• Haut-Lac Summer Camp​

• Kandersteg International Scout Centre

• Our Chalet​

• The Rosenberg Camps

• Rosey Summer Camps

• SILC Academy Summer Camps

• Village Camps

Conclusion

Understanding the Swiss school holiday calendar is essential for expat families to plan effectively throughout the academic year. With differences between the language communities and various holiday periods spread across the year, advance planning is key to balancing work commitments with childcare needs and family activities.

Whether you’re arranging local childcare, sending your children to vacation camps, or planning family trips abroad during these breaks, having the right financial tools in place can make the process smoother. For expat families in Switzerland, These services provide a solution for managing expenses across different currencies.