Event

Carnival 2031

Carnival in Switzerland is strongly local. Basel, Lucerne, Solothurn, Catholic regions and schools can have very different dates and routines.

Answer

When is it?

Carnival 2031 includes these dates: Dirty Thursday: Thursday, 20 February 2031; Shrove Monday: Monday, 24 February 2031; Basel Carnival: Monday, 3 March 2031; Ash Wednesday: Wednesday, 26 February 2031. Not a nationwide public holiday. Local schools, municipalities, clubs or employers can have their own arrangements.

Upcoming date
1704 days until Carnival

Check local events, seasonal offers and family plans early.

Exact dates

Carnival 2031

All events
20 Feb
Dirty Thursday Local custom

Important in many carnival towns; exact dates need a local check.

Thursday, 20 February 2031
24 Feb
Shrove Monday Custom

Not a nationwide public holiday, but locally relevant for parades, school and transit.

Monday, 24 February 2031
03 Mar
Basel Carnival Basel

Starts on the Monday after Ash Wednesday; especially relevant for Basel.

Monday, 3 March 2031
26 Feb
Ash Wednesday Lent

Church-calendar marker; not a nationwide day off.

Wednesday, 26 February 2031
Data basis

Recurring date rule, legal status separated

The dates on this page follow recurring calendar rules. Public-holiday status is not inferred from the event name; it is kept separate and checked against Swiss statutory source context.

Labour Act Art. 20a EDK holiday calendar
Planning impact

Swiss carnival is primarily a local custom date.

Check city, canton, school, transit, parades and closures locally. A nationwide answer is rarely useful for Swiss carnival.

School

Check local school rules

School-free afternoons, parades or childcare often depend on municipality, school and local carnival date.

Traffic

Check transit and closures

Basel, Lucerne, Solothurn and other carnival towns can strongly affect transit, city centres and getting home.

Work

No automatic leave

Carnival does not create a nationwide day off. Time off comes from canton, municipality, employer, school or holiday leave.

Planning

Choose the region first

Morgestraich, parades, school breaks and local customs do not fall on the same dates everywhere.

Related planning

Open the right calendar view

These dates provide context. Use the focused tools when you need leave days, week numbers, school breaks or exportable calendar data.

FAQ

Common questions about carnival

Short answers about date, status and planning impact.

Is carnival a public holiday?

Not nationwide. Canton, municipality, school and employer are decisive.

Why is Basel important separately?

Basel Carnival starts on the Monday after Ash Wednesday, so it differs from many other carnival dates.

What should be checked locally?

Parades, transit, closures, school, childcare, start times and getting home.