St Stephen's Day Christmas table in Switzerland

St Stephen's Day

Cantonal holiday 18 cantons + local areas Falls on: Saturday No automatic substitute

St Stephen's Day falls on Saturday, 26 December in 2026. It applies canton-wide in 18 cantons and additionally in specifically defined areas of Fribourg and Aargau; Appenzell Ausserrhoden does not observe it in 2026 because Christmas Day falls on Friday.

Author
Ferien-Kalender.ch editorial team
Last checked
Source basis
official sources and editorial review
St Stephen's Day 2026

Date, scope and what changes

St Stephen's Day under cantonal rules

Cantonal holiday. St Stephen's Day 2026 falls on Saturday, 26 December 2026. Canton-wide in Zurich, Bern, Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Glarus, Zug, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Schaffhausen, Appenzell Innerrhoden, St Gallen, Graubünden, Thurgau, Ticino and Valais. Under Article 7 of its work ordinance, Appenzell Ausserrhoden does not observe St Stephen's Day in 2026 because Christmas Day falls on Friday. In Fribourg it applies in Courgevaux, Fräschels, Greng, Kerzers, Meyriez, Muntelier, Murten, Ried bei Kerzers, Ulmiz and Mont-Vully, plus Flamatt and Sensebrügg. In Aargau it applies in the districts of Aarau, Baden, Bremgarten, Brugg, Kulm, Lenzburg, Zofingen and Zurzach, plus Kaiseraugst, Magden, Möhlin, Olsberg, Rheinfelden, Wallbach, Zeiningen and Zuzgen. Neuchâtel does not designate it as a statutory holiday in 2026.

The Saturday date creates no additional weekday off in 2026. In Appenzell Ausserrhoden, 26 December is not a public holiday in 2026; elsewhere rosters should treat it as one only within the stated cantonal or local scope.

Only Swiss National Day on 1 August has federal constitutional holiday status. St Stephen's Day is governed by cantonal and, in places, municipal rules.

Date
26 December.
Scope
18 cantons + local areas
Canton-wide in Zurich, Bern, Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Glarus, Zug, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Schaffhausen, Appenzell Innerrhoden, St Gallen, Graubünden, Thurgau, Ticino and Valais. Under Article 7 of its work ordinance, Appenzell Ausserrhoden does not observe St Stephen's Day in 2026 because Christmas Day falls on Friday. In Fribourg it applies in Courgevaux, Fräschels, Greng, Kerzers, Meyriez, Muntelier, Murten, Ried bei Kerzers, Ulmiz and Mont-Vully, plus Flamatt and Sensebrügg. In Aargau it applies in the districts of Aarau, Baden, Bremgarten, Brugg, Kulm, Lenzburg, Zofingen and Zurzach, plus Kaiseraugst, Magden, Möhlin, Olsberg, Rheinfelden, Wallbach, Zeiningen and Zuzgen. Neuchâtel does not designate it as a statutory holiday in 2026.
Planning
no extra weekday off
No automatic substitute
No automatic substitute

Apply the Appenzell exception before scheduling

St Stephen's Day falls on Saturday in 2026 and applies canton-wide in 18 cantons; Appenzell Ausserrhoden omits it because Christmas Day falls on Friday.

Treat 26 December as a holiday only in the verified scope. St Stephen's Day falls on Saturday in 2026 and applies canton-wide in 18 cantons; Appenzell Ausserrhoden omits it because Christmas Day falls on Friday.

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

Calendar effect
no extra weekday off
26 December.

Assumption: Monday-Friday working week.

Workplace applicability is not confirmed; no leave days are preselected. Local or partial employment entitlement for St Stephen's Day (2026-12-26) at the workplace in Switzerland must be confirmed with the municipality and employer.

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26 December

Check the canton for 26 December

In 2026, 26 December applies canton-wide in 18 cantons and in the listed local areas. Appenzell Ausserrhoden omits the holiday because Christmas Day falls on Friday.

St Stephen's Day in Switzerland
In 2026, 26 December applies canton-wide in 18 cantons and in the listed local areas. Appenzell Ausserrhoden omits the holiday because Christmas Day falls on Friday.

St Stephen's Day continues the Christian Christmas observance on 26 December. Whether it is a public holiday depends on the applicable cantonal or local rule.

The Christian feast commemorates Saint Stephen. Church services and local customs give 26 December a distinct place after Christmas Day.

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. Aargau Employment Law § 6 : current official district and municipality scope.
  7. Fribourg public holidays : current official Catholic and Reformed municipality scope.
  8. Neuchâtel official holidays : 2026 calendar with conditional 2 January and 26 December observance.
  9. Canton of Uri: public holidays 2026 : current official cantonal list for 2026.
  10. Appenzell Ausserrhoden Work Ordinance, Art. 7 : current official rule suspending St Stephen's Day when Christmas Day falls on Monday or Friday.
  11. Appenzell Innerrhoden: public holidays 2026 : current official cantonal calendar for 2026.
  12. Canton of Zurich: public holidays : Official source for the stated scope.
  13. Canton of Bern: Public Holidays Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  14. Canton of Lucerne: Rest Days Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  15. Canton of Uri: Public Rest Days Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  16. Canton of Schwyz: public holidays : Official source for the stated scope.
  17. Canton of Obwalden: Public Holidays Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  18. Canton of Nidwalden: Rest Days Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  19. Canton of Glarus: Rest Days Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  20. Canton of Zug: 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 Innerrhoden: Rest Days Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  25. Canton of St Gallen: Rest Days Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  26. Canton of Graubünden: Rest Days Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  27. Canton of Thurgau: Rest Days Act : Official source for the stated scope.
  28. Canton of Ticino: public holidays 2026 : Official source for the stated scope.
  29. Canton of Valais: Public Holidays Act : Official source for the stated scope.
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