Public holidays and school holidays in Geneva: dates and significance for 2026

Official public holidays in Geneva

In 2026

New Year’s Day, Thursday 1 January 2026

Good Friday, Friday 3 April 2026

Easter Monday, Monday 6 April 2026

Ascension Day, Thursday 14 May 2026

Whit Monday, Monday 25 May 2026

National Day, Saturday 1 August 2026

Geneva Fast, Thursday 10 September 2026

Christmas, Friday 25 December 2026

Restoration of the Republic, Thursday 31 December 2026

What is Good Friday?

The Friday before Easter Sunday is known as “Good Friday”; it is a Christian religious observance. It marks the day of the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.

What is the Geneva Fast?

The Thursday following the first Sunday in September is a public holiday in Geneva; it is known as the Jeûne Genevois. Its origins are said to date back to the first recorded fast in 1567. It was customary to fast whenever a tragic event occurred, as an act of humility.

Federal Fast Day is a public holiday in the other cantons of Switzerland, and is observed on the third Sunday in September. However, Geneva has retained its own local fast day and does not observe Federal Fast Day.

Tradition has it that the only meal on this day of fasting is a prune tart!

Other important dates in Geneva

In 2026

Valentine’s Day, Saturday 14 February 2026
Palm Sunday, Sunday 29 March 2026
Easter, Sunday 5 April 2026
Mother’s Day, Sunday 10 May 2026
Pentecost, Sunday 24 May 2026
Father’s Day, Sunday 7 June 2026
Corpus Christi, Thursday 4 June 2026
Federal Fast Day, Sunday 20 September 2026
Reformation Day, Saturday 31 October 2026
Halloween, Saturday 31 October 2026
All Saints’ Day, Sunday 1 November 2026
Swiss Reformation Sunday, Sunday 8 November 2026
All Souls’ Day, Monday 2 November 2026
Eternity Sunday, Sunday 22 November 2026
First Sunday in Advent, Sunday 29 November 2026
Second Sunday in Advent, Sunday 6 December 2026
St Nicholas’ Day, Sunday 6 December 2026
Escalade de Genève, Saturday 12 December 2026
Third Sunday in Advent, Sunday 13 December 2026
Fourth Sunday in Advent, Sunday 20 December 2026
Christmas Eve, Thursday 24 December 2026
New Year’s Eve, Thursday 31 December 2026

School holidays in Geneva 2025–2026

Start of the school year, Monday 18 August 2025
Geneva Fast, Thursday 11 September 2025
Autumn holidays, from Monday 20 October to Friday 24 October 2025
Christmas and New Year holidays, from Monday 22 December 2025 to Friday 2 January 2026
February holidays, from Monday 23 February to Friday 27 February 2026
Easter holidays, from Friday 3 April to Friday 17 April 2026
Labour Day, Friday 1 May 2026
Ascension Day long weekend, Thursday 14 May and Friday 15 May 2026
Whitsun, Monday 25 May 2026
Summer holidays, from Monday 29 June 2026