Swiss School Holidays 2025-2026
School holidays in Switzerland are a major concern for parents, teachers, and students. Each canton sets its own school calendar, leading to significant regional differences. Planning vacations based on school holiday dates in Switzerland is essential to avoid busy periods at ski resorts, tourist destinations, and leisure activities.
In particular, the Swiss school holidays for 2025-2026 are of interest to many families planning their trips in advance. This period includes summer, Christmas, Easter, and winter breaks, which are strategic times for family vacations. Understanding the Swiss school system and knowing the exact holiday dates help organize personal and professional activities more efficiently.
School Holidays in Switzerland by Canton
Canton of Geneva:
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School Start: Monday, August 18, 2025
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Geneva Fast: Thursday, September 11, 2025
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Autumn Break: Monday, October 20 – Friday, October 24, 2025
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Christmas and New Year’s Break: Monday, December 22, 2025 – Friday, January 2, 2026
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February Break: Monday, February 23 – Friday, February 27, 2026
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Easter Break: Monday, April 6 – Friday, April 17, 2026
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Labor Day: Friday, May 1, 2026
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Ascension Bridge: Thursday, May 14 – Friday, May 15, 2026
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Pentecost: Monday, May 25, 2026
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Summer Break: Starting Monday, June 29, 2026
Canton of Vaud (Lausanne):
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School Start: Monday, August 18, 2025
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Autumn Break: Saturday, October 11 – Sunday, October 26, 2025
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Winter Break: Saturday, December 20, 2025 – Sunday, January 4, 2026
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February Break: Saturday, February 14 – Sunday, February 22, 2026
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Easter Break: Saturday, April 11 – Sunday, April 26, 2026
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Summer Break: Saturday, June 27 – Sunday, August 16, 2026
Canton of Jura:
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School Start: Monday, August 18, 2025
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Autumn Break: Monday, October 6 – Friday, October 17, 2025
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Christmas Break: Monday, December 22, 2025 – Friday, January 2, 2026
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Winter Break: Monday, February 23 – Friday, February 27, 2026
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Easter Break: Friday, April 3 – Friday, April 17, 2026
Canton of Neuchâtel:
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School Start: Monday, August 18, 2025
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Autumn Break: Monday, October 6 – Friday, October 17, 2025
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Winter Break: Monday, December 22, 2025 – Friday, January 2, 2026
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March Break: Monday, February 23 – Friday, February 27, 2026
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Spring Break: Friday, April 3 – Friday, April 17, 2026
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Summer Break: Monday, July 6 – Friday, August 14, 2026
Canton of Valais:
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New Year’s Break: Saturday, December 20, 2025 – Sunday, January 4, 2026
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Carnival Break: Saturday, February 14 – Sunday, February 22, 2026
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Easter Break: Friday, April 3 – Sunday, April 19, 2026
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Summer Break: Saturday, July 4 – Sunday, August 23, 2026
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Autumn Break: Saturday, October 10 – Sunday, October 25, 2026
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Christmas Break: Saturday, December 19, 2026 – Sunday, January 3, 2027
Canton of Fribourg:
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School Start: Monday, September 1, 2025
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Autumn Break: Saturday, October 18 – Sunday, November 2, 2025
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Christmas Break: Saturday, December 20, 2025 – Sunday, January 4, 2026
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February Break: Saturday, February 14 – Sunday, February 22, 2026
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Easter Break: Saturday, April 11 – Sunday, April 26, 2026
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Summer Break: Saturday, July 4 – Sunday, August 16, 2026
Canton of Bern:
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School Start: Monday, August 11, 2025
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Autumn Break: Monday, September 28 – Friday, October 9, 2025
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Christmas Break: Thursday, December 24, 2025 – Friday, January 8, 2026
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Sports Break: Monday, February 1 – Friday, February 12, 2026
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Easter Break: Monday, March 29 – Friday, April 9, 2026
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Summer Break: Monday, July 5 – Friday, August 13, 2026
Canton of Lucerne:
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School Start: Monday, August 18, 2025
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Autumn Break: Saturday, October 3 – Sunday, October 18, 2025
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Christmas Break: Thursday, December 24, 2025 – Sunday, January 3, 2026
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Sports Break: Saturday, January 30 – Sunday, February 7, 2026
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Easter Break: Friday, April 2 – Sunday, April 11, 2026
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Summer Break: Saturday, July 3 – Sunday, August 15, 2026
Canton of Basel-Stadt:
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School Start: Monday, August 18, 2025
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Autumn Break: Monday, September 28 – Friday, October 9, 2025
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Christmas Break: Thursday, December 24, 2025 – Friday, January 8, 2026
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Sports Break: Monday, February 1 – Friday, February 12, 2026
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Easter Break: Monday, March 29 – Friday, April 9, 2026
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Summer Break: Monday, July 5 – Friday, August 13, 2026
Canton of Zug:
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School Start: Monday, August 18, 2025
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Autumn Break: Monday, October 6 – Friday, October 17, 2025
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Christmas Break: Monday, December 22, 2025 – Friday, January 2, 2026
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Winter Break: Monday, February 2 – Friday, February 13, 2026
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Spring Break: Monday, April 13 – Friday, April 24, 2026
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Ascension Break: Thursday, May 14 – Friday, May 15, 2026
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Summer Break: Monday, July 6 – Friday, August 14, 2026
Canton of Zurich:
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School Start: Monday, August 18, 2025
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Autumn Break: Monday, October 6 – Friday, October 17, 2025
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Christmas Break: Monday, December 22, 2025 – Friday, January 2, 2026
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Sports Break: Monday, February 2 – Friday, February 13, 2026
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Spring Break: Monday, April 13 – Friday, April 24, 2026
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Summer Break: Monday, July 6 – Friday, August 14, 2026
Regularly checking the Swiss school holiday calendar is essential for optimizing family vacation planning. The cantonal diversity of holiday dates makes scheduling more complex but also more flexible for some families. For future years, such as the 2025-2026 Swiss school holiday period, planning ahead allows booking prime destinations while avoiding peak travel times.
Ultimately, being aware of Swiss school holiday dates is key to better balancing work life, school obligations, and family leisure. Updated and reliable information is available on official cantonal websites, ensuring optimal planning for everyone.
For more detailed information or potential changes, it is recommended to consult the official websites of the relevant cantons or municipalities. The website of the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (CDIP) also provides an overview of school holidays by canton.
For businesses planning to establish themselves in Switzerland, such as those supported by the corporate services provider My Swiss Company SA, considering school holidays is often an underestimated logistical factor. A good understanding of the school calendar can ease the integration of expatriate families and improve professional scheduling. My Swiss Company SA, specialized in business establishment in Switzerland, offers tailored services to meet these needs and ensure a smooth, efficient transition.