Village church on Ascension Day in Switzerland

Ascension Day

Public holiday All 26 cantons Falls on: Thursday 1 leave day = 4 days

Ascension Day falls on Thursday, 14 May in 2026. All 26 cantons designate it as a public holiday; the following Friday remains a normal working day.

Author
Ferien-Kalender.ch editorial team
Last checked
Source basis
official sources and editorial review
Ascension Day 2026

Date, scope and what changes

Thursday off, check Friday

Public holiday. Ascension Day 2026 falls on Thursday, 14 May 2026. All 26 cantons, with no municipal exception in the existing official overview.

Approved leave on Friday, 15 May creates a four-day break; without leave, the normal workplace and school rules apply on Friday.

Only Swiss National Day on 1 August has federal constitutional holiday status. Ascension Day applies in every canton through cantonal rules.

Date
39 days after Easter, always Thursday.
Scope
All 26 cantons
All 26 cantons, with no municipal exception in the existing official overview.
Planning
14 May 2026 to 17 May 2026
1 leave day = 4 days
1 leave day = 4 days

Use Friday leave after Ascension Day

Leave on 15 May links the nationwide Thursday holiday to the weekend; Friday itself remains a working day.

Confirm 15 May as a bridge day. Leave on 15 May links the nationwide Thursday holiday to the weekend; Friday itself remains a working day.

Leave, school closure and operator hours remain separate checks for the actual place.

Calendar effect
14 May 2026 to 17 May 2026
39 days after Easter, always Thursday.

Assumption: Monday-Friday working week.

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Thursday

Friday leave completes the four-day break

Ascension Day always falls on Thursday. A four-day weekend requires leave on the following Friday, which otherwise remains a normal school and working day.

Ascension Day in Switzerland
Ascension Day always falls on Thursday. A four-day weekend requires leave on the following Friday, which otherwise remains a normal school and working day.

Because Ascension Day always falls on Thursday, the following Friday is the natural bridge day. Friday is not itself a public holiday.

The feast commemorates Christ's ascension. Services and processions remain part of the observance, while many people use the spring day for outings.

Sources & further reading

  1. SECO: leisure and public holidays : Federal guidance distinguishing the nationwide holiday from cantonal holidays.
  2. Swiss Labour Act Art. 20a : Federal labour rule for canton-designated holidays.
  3. Federal Constitution Art. 110 : constitutional status of Swiss National Day.
  4. Historical federal compilation (2011) : Historical context only; not current scope authority.
  5. EDK school holidays : Cantonal school-holiday source.
  6. Federal Customs: holiday operations : Federal operations list; cantonal law controls holiday scope.
  7. Canton of Uri: public holidays 2026 : current official cantonal list for 2026.
  8. Canton of Ticino: public holidays 2026 : current official cantonal list for 2026.
  9. Canton of Zurich: public holidays : Official source for the stated scope.
  10. Canton of Bern: Public Holidays Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  11. Canton of Lucerne: Rest Days Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  12. Canton of Uri: Public Rest Days Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  13. Canton of Schwyz: public holidays : Official source for the stated scope.
  14. Canton of Obwalden: Public Holidays Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  15. Canton of Nidwalden: Rest Days Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  16. Canton of Glarus: Rest Days Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  17. Canton of Zug: Rest Days Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  18. Canton of Fribourg: public holidays : Official source for the stated scope.
  19. Solothurn Labour Inspectorate: public holidays : Official source for the stated scope.
  20. Canton of Solothurn: Rest Days Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  21. Canton of Basel-Stadt: Rest Days Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  22. Canton of Basel-Landschaft: Public Holidays Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  23. Canton of Schaffhausen: rest-day law : Official source for the stated scope.
  24. Appenzell Ausserrhoden: Work Ordinance : Official source for the stated scope.
  25. Appenzell Ausserrhoden: public holidays 2026 : Official source for the stated scope.
  26. Appenzell Ausserrhoden: working and rest times : Official source for the stated scope.
  27. Appenzell Innerrhoden: Rest Days Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  28. Appenzell Innerrhoden: public holidays 2026 : Official source for the stated scope.
  29. Canton of St Gallen: Rest Days Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  30. Canton of Graubünden: Rest Days Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  31. Canton of Aargau: working time and public holidays : Official source for the stated scope.
  32. Canton of Aargau: Public Holidays Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  33. Canton of Thurgau: Rest Days Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  34. Canton of Vaud: public holidays 2026 : Official source for the stated scope.
  35. Canton of Valais: Public Holidays Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  36. Canton of Neuchâtel: public holidays : Official source for the stated scope.
  37. Canton of Geneva: public holidays 2026 : Official source for the stated scope.
  38. Canton of Jura: public holidays : Official source for the stated scope.
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