Year

Kanton Bern Public Holidays 2026

Switzerland

View the complete list of public holidays and bank holidays in Kanton Bern for 2026. Plan your year ahead with official dates, weekdays, and observances.

Turn a holiday into a long break

Choose how many days of leave you are willing to book. We work out which holiday gives you the longest run of days off for that spend, and mark the days to book in the calendar below. How this works →

How many days of leave will you book?

Showing the best break you can get with 2 leave days.

Best break this yearFriday, May 15, 2026

Nothing bookable is left in 2026 at this budget, so this past break is shown for reference.

Ascension Day

Thu, May 14 → Sun, May 17

4
days off in a row
1
leave day booked
We13
Th14
Fr15
Sa16
Su17
Mo18

Book the dashed days below. Combined with the holiday and the weekend around it, your 1 leave day turns into 4 days off in a row.

Other dates worth booking

10 of the 12 2026 holidays have already passed.

Public— 12Bank— 0Falls on a weekendToday
January 20262 holidays
No.MTWTFSS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
  • Thu
    01

    Neujahr (New Year's Day)

    Thursday, January 1, 2026

  • Fri
    02

    Berchtoldstag

    Friday, January 2, 2026

February 2026—
No.MTWTFSS
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
    March 2026—
    No.MTWTFSS
    9.
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    14.
      April 20263 holidays
      No.MTWTFSS
      14.
      15.
      16.
      17.
      18.
      • Fri
        03

        Karfreitag (Good Friday)

        Friday, April 3, 2026

      • Sun
        05

        Ostersonntag (Easter Sunday)

        Sunday, April 5, 2026

      • Mon
        06

        Ostermontag (Easter Monday)

        Monday, April 6, 2026

      May 20263 holidays
      No.MTWTFSS
      18.
      19.
      20.
      21.
      22.
      • Thu
        14

        Auffahrt (Ascension Day)

        Thursday, May 14, 2026

      • Sun
        24

        Pfingstsonntag (Pentecost)

        Sunday, May 24, 2026

      • Mon
        25

        Pfingstmontag (Whit Monday)

        Monday, May 25, 2026

      June 2026—
      No.MTWTFSS
      23.
      24.
      25.
      26.
      27.
        July 2026—
        No.MTWTFSS
        27.
        28.
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        30.
        31.
          August 20261 holiday
          No.MTWTFSS
          31.
          32.
          33.
          34.
          35.
          36.
          • Sat
            01

            Bundesfeiertag (Swiss National Day)

            Saturday, August 1, 2026

          September 20261 holiday
          No.MTWTFSS
          36.
          37.
          38.
          39.
          40.
          • Sun
            20

            Eidg. Dank-, Buss- und Bettag (Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer)

            Sunday, September 20, 2026

          October 2026—
          No.MTWTFSS
          40.
          41.
          42.
          43.
          44.
            November 2026—
            No.MTWTFSS
            44.
            45.
            46.
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            49.
            • Today
            December 20262 holidays
            No.MTWTFSS
            49.
            50.
            51.
            52.
            1.
            • Fri
              25

              Weihnachtstag (Christmas Day)

              Friday, December 25, 2026

            • Sat
              26

              Stephanstag (Boxing Day)

              Saturday, December 26, 2026

            About Public Holidays in Kanton Bern

            Public holidays in Kanton Bern, Switzerland are official observances that may affect government offices, schools, banks, businesses, and public services. These holidays often include national celebrations, religious observances, and important civic dates.

            This calendar helps residents, travelers, employers, and families plan vacations, work schedules, school breaks, and business closures around official holiday dates.

            All Public Holidays in Kanton Bern, Switzerland 2026

            DateDayHolidayType
            January 1, 2026ThursdayNeujahr (New Year's Day)Public Holiday
            January 2, 2026FridayBerchtoldstagPublic Holiday
            April 3, 2026FridayKarfreitag (Good Friday)Public Holiday
            April 5, 2026SundayOstersonntag (Easter Sunday)Public Holiday
            April 6, 2026MondayOstermontag (Easter Monday)Public Holiday
            May 14, 2026ThursdayAuffahrt (Ascension Day)Public Holiday
            May 24, 2026SundayPfingstsonntag (Pentecost)Public Holiday
            May 25, 2026MondayPfingstmontag (Whit Monday)Public Holiday
            August 1, 2026SaturdayBundesfeiertag (Swiss National Day)Public Holiday
            September 20, 2026SundayEidg. Dank-, Buss- und Bettag (Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer)Public Holiday
            December 25, 2026FridayWeihnachtstag (Christmas Day)Public Holiday
            December 26, 2026SaturdayStephanstag (Boxing Day)Public Holiday

            All Public Holidays in Kanton Bern, Switzerland 2027

            DateDayHolidayType
            January 1, 2027FridayNeujahr (New Year's Day)Public Holiday
            January 2, 2027SaturdayBerchtoldstagPublic Holiday
            March 26, 2027FridayKarfreitag (Good Friday)Public Holiday
            March 28, 2027SundayOstersonntag (Easter Sunday)Public Holiday
            March 29, 2027MondayOstermontag (Easter Monday)Public Holiday
            May 6, 2027ThursdayAuffahrt (Ascension Day)Public Holiday
            May 16, 2027SundayPfingstsonntag (Pentecost)Public Holiday
            May 17, 2027MondayPfingstmontag (Whit Monday)Public Holiday
            August 1, 2027SundayBundesfeiertag (Swiss National Day)Public Holiday
            September 19, 2027SundayEidg. Dank-, Buss- und Bettag (Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer)Public Holiday
            December 25, 2027SaturdayWeihnachtstag (Christmas Day)Public Holiday
            December 26, 2027SundayStephanstag (Boxing Day)Public Holiday

            Dates are calculated from each holiday's official rule (fixed date, Easter or lunar calendar) using the open-source date-holidays dataset.

            Last updated November 13, 2026. Governments can move or add holidays at short notice, so confirm important dates with an official source.

            Kanton Bern Holidays Explained

            Neujahr (New Year's Day) · January 1

            Neujahrstag (Nouvel an, Capodanno) is a public holiday in all 26 cantons. In six cantons, including Bern and Vaud, January 2 (Berchtold's Day) is a holiday too.

            Karfreitag (Good Friday) · April 3

            The Friday before Easter, when Christians remember the crucifixion of Jesus. Its date moves each year with Easter.

            Ostermontag (Easter Monday) · April 6

            The day after Easter Sunday, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. Its date moves each year with Easter.

            Auffahrt (Ascension Day) · May 14

            Ascension, called Auffahrt in German-speaking Switzerland, is one of only three holidays observed in every canton. It always falls on a Thursday, 39 days after Easter Sunday.

            Pfingstmontag (Whit Monday) · May 25

            The day after Pentecost, 50 days after Easter, which marks the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles.

            Bundesfeiertag (Swiss National Day) · August 1

            August 1 commemorates the Federal Charter of 1291 and is Switzerland's only federal holiday, a paid day off nationwide since a 1993 popular vote. It is celebrated with bonfires, fireworks, lantern processions and speeches by politicians across the country.

            Weihnachtstag (Christmas Day) · December 25

            Weihnachtstag (Noël, Natale) is a public holiday in every canton. December 26, St. Stephen's Day, is also a day off in most cantons, but not in Geneva, Vaud, Jura, Valais or much of central Switzerland.

            Stephanstag (Boxing Day) · December 26

            The day after Christmas. Its name is usually traced to the old custom of giving "Christmas boxes" to staff and tradespeople; today it is known for sports fixtures and sales.

            Other Observances in Kanton Bern, Switzerland 2026

            These dates are marked in Kanton Bern, Switzerland but are not public holidays, so most offices, schools and shops stay open. Bank holidays only close banks and some businesses.

            DateDayHolidayType
            April 2, 2026ThursdayGründonnerstag (Maundy Thursday)Observance
            May 10, 2026SundayMuttertag (Mother's Day)Observance
            June 7, 2026SundayVätertagObservance

            Frequently Asked Questions

            How many public holidays are there in Kanton Bern?

            Kanton Bern, Switzerland has 12 public holidays in 2026, 1 fewer than the global average of 13.

            Which public holidays fall on a weekend in Kanton Bern in 2026?

            2 public holidays fall on a weekend in Kanton Bern, Switzerland in 2026: Swiss National Day (Saturday, August 1), Boxing Day (Saturday, December 26). Kanton Bern, Switzerland gives no substitute day off for these, so these are lost.

            Does Kanton Bern give a day off when a holiday falls on a weekend?

            No — Kanton Bern, Switzerland does not give a substitute day off when a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday.

            What is the longest break possible in Kanton Bern in 2026?

            With up to 5 days of leave, the longest break in Kanton Bern, Switzerland in 2026 is 10 consecutive days off, March 28–April 6, by booking 4 days of leave. With just 1 day of leave, you can get 4 days off in a row, May 14–May 17.

            When is the next public holiday in Kanton Bern?

            The next public holiday in Kanton Bern, Switzerland is Weihnachtstag (Christmas Day) on December 25, 2026.

            Which holidays in Kanton Bern change date each year?

            Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, Ascension Day, Pentecost, Whit Monday, Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer do not fall on the same date every year in Kanton Bern, Switzerland, since they are set by a lunar or other variable calendar rather than a fixed date.

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            All public holidays for this country

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