Event

Carnival 2026

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 2026 includes these dates: Dirty Thursday: Thursday, 12 February 2026; Shrove Monday: Monday, 16 February 2026; Basel Carnival: Monday, 23 February 2026; Ash Wednesday: Wednesday, 18 February 2026. Not a nationwide public holiday. Local schools, municipalities, clubs or employers can have their own arrangements.

Status
Past

Carnival is already over for this year.

Exact dates

Carnival 2026

All events
12 Feb
Dirty Thursday Local custom

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

Thursday, 12 February 2026
16 Feb
Shrove Monday Custom

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

Monday, 16 February 2026
23 Feb
Basel Carnival Basel

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

Monday, 23 February 2026
18 Feb
Ash Wednesday Lent

Church-calendar marker; not a nationwide day off.

Wednesday, 18 February 2026
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.