Flag days in Switzerland 2026 and 2027

Switzerland has no flag law that sets flag days for the whole country. Fixed dates exist for federal buildings: the Federal Council’s instructions on flags on federal buildings of 20 April 2016 determine which flag flies there and when. In addition, some cantons celebrate their republic on holidays of their own, and cantons and communes call for flags on special occasions. The table below brings both together.

Flag days 2026 and 2027

The table lists the days on which the federal instructions provide for a particular flag, and the cantonal holidays that commemorate the founding or restoration of a cantonal republic. Cantonal and communal calls to fly flags for individual occasions, such as anniversaries or festivals, are not included.

1 August

The National Day is, under Article 110(3) of the Federal Constitution, the only public holiday set by the Confederation. Under Article 4 of the instructions, the Swiss flag is raised on that day on every federal building with a flagpole throughout Switzerland. Where the equipment exists, banners in the national colours are flown as well, and all 26 cantonal flags hang from the north balcony of the Parliament Building.

The flags are raised on the last working day before 1 August and taken in on the first working day after it. When 1 August falls on a weekend, the flags fly for longer:

Many private households also put out their flag on 1 August, often as a hanging flag on a balcony or façade. More about the National Day and the cantonal holidays is in the guide to flags on holidays.

Europe Day and United Nations Day

On Europe Day (5 May), the flag of the Council of Europe is flown on the Bundeshaus West in Bern under Article 8 of the instructions, and on United Nations Day (24 October) the United Nations flag. The same rule applies as on 1 August: the flags are raised on the working day before and taken in on the working day after. If cantons or communes order the European or UN flag to be flown on their public buildings, this also applies to the federal buildings in their area that have a flagpole.

Cantonal holidays linked to the republic

The Federal Office of Justice’s list of public holidays includes three cantonal holidays that recall a canton’s history as a republic:

• 1 March, Canton of Neuchâtel: Instauration de la République, the proclamation of the republic in 1848.
• 23 June, Canton of Jura: Commémoration du plébiscite jurassien, the commemoration of the vote of 23 June 1974 that led to the founding of the canton.
• 31 December, Canton of Geneva: Restauration de la République, the restoration of the Republic of Geneva after French rule in 1813.

In the Canton of Glarus, the Näfels pilgrimage (Näfelser Fahrt) in April is also a public holiday. How flags are flown on these days is decided by the cantons and communes. Under Article 5 of the instructions, their calls to fly flags for important public ceremonies apply by analogy to the federal buildings in their area.

Other flags at the Federal Palace

Under Article 3 of the instructions, the two southern domes of the Parliament Building fly a Swiss flag all year round. During the sessions of the Federal Assembly, a further Swiss flag hangs from the north balcony above the main entrance (Article 6). Parliament publishes the session dates on its website. For official visits, the Protocol of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics decide on the flags case by case.

Half-mast

Switzerland has no fixed half-mast days. The instructions list occasions, such as the death of a serving member of the Federal Council, and in the event of disasters or events of particular significance the President of the Confederation orders half-mast. More in the guides to half-mast and flags in mourning.