From cantonal referendums to public holidays and the Eurovision song contest, here are the big events and changes to know about in Switzerland in May 2025.
May 1st: Labour Day
Like many other countries, Switzerland is celebrating Labour Day on May 1st (which has nothing to do with the Labor Day in the United States, which falls on the first Monday of September).
In Switzerland, it is also known as International Workers’ Day and May Day, and is mostly marked by trade unions and left-leaning groups.
It is not, however, a public holiday throughout Switzerland— it is celebrated in some cantons but not in others.
It is a holiday in Zurich, Basel–City, Basel–Country, Jura, Neuchâtel, Schaffhausen, Thurgau and Ticino.
In Aargau and Solothurn, people are usually given a half day off (from noon).
May 13th to 17th; Eurovision Song Contest (ESC)
Basel will host Europe’s largest song competition, The Eurovision, following Swiss artist Nemo’s victory in last year’s edition.
The contest, for which local authorities are earmarking 35 million francs after this budget was apprived in a local referendum, will be staged at St. Jakobshalle in the Munchenstein district on the edge of Basel.
Switzerland’s national railway company (SBB) will put 85 additional trains into operation to take ESC spectators to and from Basel for the concerts.
Advertisement
May 18th: Cantonal referendums
There will be no federal vote on this day, but some cantons will hold their own referendums.
These are some:
Aargau
The popular initiative called ‘Equal Pay in the Canton of Aargau – Now!’ calls for stricter gender pay analysis than mandated by federal law.
On the national level, Swiss firms with 100 or more employees must provide this wage analysis.
The Aargau initiative, however, goes a step further: it seeks to impose this requirement on companies with at least 50 employees.
Zurich
At stake at the ballot box will be a proposed amendment to the tax law, seeking to lower corporate income taxes by 1 percent.
The idea behind the move is to make Zurich more tax-attractive for companies and, consequently, create more jobs.
Basel-City
Voters will weigh in on the initiative calling for ‘Safe Cycling Routes’ throughout the canton.
It seeks wide, well-marked bicycle priority routes, along with safe crossings for bikes and pedestrians on public roads.
Geneva
One of the issues on the ballot: A more rapid transition to solar energy.
The initiative aims to make the installation of photovoltaic panels on suitable roofs and facades mandatory, with a target of complete deployment by 2035.
Advertisement
Travel news
Trains: From May 8th to May 10th, EC trains between Zurich and Munich will not run continuously on the Lindau–Munich route due to track renewal.
In the meantime, a change to regional services in Lindau will be necessary.
Planes: EasyJet flights from Zurich to the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, will begin on May 1st.
READ MORE: All the new flights from Swiss airports in Spring 2025
