School holidays

Winter break 2026

Exact school-holiday ranges by canton or school group, with planning links and subscription options.

Answer

When is it?

Winter break 2026 is staggered by canton or school group. The first range is 24 January 2026 - 1 February 2026 for GL and TG; the cards below show every group.

Exact dates

By canton group

Full overview
GL and TG

24 January 2026 - 1 February 2026

Glarus Thurgau
9 days
School year 2025/26 40% · 145 days until winter break
SH

24 January 2026 - 8 February 2026

Schaffhausen
16 days
School year 2025/26 40% · 145 days until winter break
SO and ZG

31 January 2026 - 15 February 2026

Solothurn Zug
16 days
School year 2025/26 42% · 152 days until winter break
LU, NW, and OW

7 February 2026 - 22 February 2026

Luzern Nidwalden Obwalden
16 days
School year 2025/26 44% · 159 days until winter break
AI

13 February 2026 - 22 February 2026

Appenzell Innerrhoden
10 days
School year 2025/26 45% · 165 days until winter break
BL and BS

14 February 2026 - 1 March 2026

Basel-Landschaft Basel-Stadt
16 days
School year 2025/26 46% · 166 days until winter break
FR, JU, TI, and VD

14 February 2026 - 22 February 2026

Freiburg Jura Tessin Waadt
9 days
School year 2025/26 46% · 166 days until winter break
GE, GR, NE, and SZ

21 February 2026 - 1 March 2026

Genf Graubünden Neuenburg Schwyz
9 days
School year 2025/26 47% · 173 days until winter break
VS

21 February 2026 - 8 March 2026

Wallis
16 days
School year 2025/26 47% · 173 days until winter break
UR

28 February 2026 - 8 March 2026

Uri
9 days
School year 2025/26 49% · 180 days until winter break
Data basis

Official EDK dates, grouped by canton

The displayed date rows are grouped from official EDK school-holiday data. Movable school-free days, local arrangements and school-specific deviations are still separate checks.

EDK school-holiday regulation EDK holiday calendar
What to do next

Use the date, then plan around it

Winter break should be checked together with sports break, ski-region demand, childcare and the canton school calendar.

Families

Childcare first

School-free weekdays still need childcare or approved leave.

Work

Not automatically off

School holidays do not replace employment leave rules.

Travel

Expect demand peaks

Starts and ends can affect traffic, booking windows and family destinations.

FAQ

Common questions about winter break

Short answers about canton differences, work leave and planning.

Are winter break dates the same in every canton?

No. Winter break dates differ by canton or school group. The table on this page shows the exact range for each group.

Do winter break mean parents are automatically off work?

No. Winter break affect school schedules and childcare planning, but work leave still depends on employment rules and approved vacation days.

How should I plan around winter break?

Winter break should be checked together with sports break, ski-region demand, childcare and the canton school calendar. Use the planner for public holidays, calendar weeks for project timing and the calendar subscription for ongoing updates.