Annual leave and public holidays in Switzerland 2026
How many paid days off you get in Switzerland depends on the legal minimum, your contract and the public holidays that fall on working days. The calculator above counts them for your own case. Below you will find the legal minimum, the 2026 public holidays and the family leave rules.
Your annual leave
The legal minimum in Switzerland is 20 working days a year on a five-day week. In 2026, 8 public holidays fall on working days (national, on working days). In the example (25 days of leave in the contract) that makes 33 paid days off in all.
At least 4 weeks of paid holiday a year (5 weeks up to age 20); many contracts give 5 weeks. Only 1 August is a public holiday everywhere: the cantons set the others (up to 8 a year count as equal to Sundays), so the list of the selected city is shown.
Public holidays 2026 in Switzerland
| Date | Holiday | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Thu 1 Jan | New Year’s Day | Take Friday off → 4 days in a row |
| Fri 2 Jan | Berchtold’s Day | |
| Fri 3 Apr | Good Friday | |
| Mon 6 Apr | Easter Monday | |
| Fri 1 May | Labour Day | |
| Thu 14 May | Ascension Day | Take Friday off → 4 days in a row |
| Mon 25 May | Whit Monday | |
| Sat 1 Aug | Swiss National Day | weekend |
| Fri 25 Dec | Christmas Day | |
| Sat 26 Dec | St Stephen’s Day | weekend |
Family leave
- Maternity leave: 14 weeks from the birth (Geneva: 16 weeks) · Pay: 80% of pay, at most CHF 220 a day (income-loss insurance, EO)
- Paternity leave: 2 weeks (10 working days) within 6 months of the birth · Pay: 80% of pay, at most CHF 220 a day
- Family allowances: Monthly per child, from the employer’s family compensation fund · Pay: At least CHF 215 per child (CHF 268 in education from 16 to 25); many cantons pay more
- Sick pay: By law the employer pays for a limited time (3 weeks in the first year, longer with service); most employers have daily sickness insurance instead · Pay: 100% (law) or usually 80% for up to 720 days (insurance)
Frequently asked questions
How many days of annual leave do I get in Switzerland?
At least 20 working days a year on a five-day week. Many contracts and collective agreements give more.
How many public holidays are there in Switzerland in 2026?
10 national public holidays, of which 8 fall on working days. Regional holidays can add more.
What leave do parents get?
For example, Maternity leave: 14 weeks from the birth (Geneva: 16 weeks) (80% of pay, at most CHF 220 a day (income-loss insurance, EO)). The table above lists the main family leave types.
Are these figures exact?
They follow the national rules for 2026. Your contract, a collective agreement or regional holidays can give more days off.
Rules and official sources: see “Rules applied (2026)” above. Last checked: October 2026. The amounts are estimates for information, not financial or legal advice.