Two referendums and new health insurance premiums are on Switzerland’s agenda in September 2025.
September 10th and 21st: Geneva and Federal Days of Thanksgiving
Unlike in North America, where Thanksgiving is celebrated in the fall (October in Canada and November in the United States), the Swiss version – minus the turkey – is commemorated on the third Sunday of September.
Known as known as Eidgenössischer Dank-, Buss- und Bettag in German, Jeûne fédéral in French, Digiuno federale in Italian, and Rogaziun federala in Romansh, the Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer is celebrated all over Switzerland, with the exception of Geneva, which has its own comparable holiday, le Jeûne genevois, celebrated this year on September 10th.
READ ALSO: How does Switzerland mark its ‘Thanksgiving’ day?
September 14th: Autumn session of the Parliament begins
During this session, the deputies will, as a top priority, discuss an urgent issue: heatwave, drought, and water management for future summers.
A topic of particular importance for foreign nationals that will be debated by he Council of States’ Committee on Political Institutions is an immigration tax it wants to add to the arsenal of “safeguard clauses” within the future package of agreements with the European Union.
For employed individuals, the levy would be charged to employers but adults arriving in Switzerland under family reunification provisions would also be subject to the tax.
If the safeguard clause were to be triggered, the levy would also apply to nationals of third countries.
September 23rd: Autumn is here
The so-called Autumnal Equinox marks the official start of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.
In Switzerland, it will officially kick off at 2:05 am on this day.
It is too early to know ahead of time what the weather will be like once autumn officially begins, but after a summer with some extremely hot spells, most people are probably looking forward to sunny and cooler (but not TOO cool) days.
September 27th: Referendums
In the third round of Switzerland’s referendums of 2026, voters will have their say on two issues.
One is the ‘Neutrality Initiative’, instigated by the sovereigntist organisation Pro Schweiz – an offshoot of the populist Swiss People’s Party (SVP).
It seeks to better anchor Swiss neutrality in the country’s Constitution – concretely, by banning Switzerland from joining iNATO (or any other military alliances), except in the event of a direct attack against the country.
Additionally, the organisation seeks to restrict Swiss government’s right to impose sanctions on rogue nations.
READ MORE: The future of Swiss neutrality to be decided at the ballot box
The second issue on the ballot is the “Food Initiative,” spearheaded by an environmental activist Franziska Herren.
It states he Swiss population must have access at all times to high-quality, affordable food in sufficient quantities. The government must create the conditions necessary to achieve this. Currently, Swiss agriculture meets just under half of the country’s food needs, the instigators say; the remainder is imported.
Swiss agriculture must also meet a range of requirements to protect the environment, biodiversity, and drinking water.
Latest polls predict that both initiatives will be rejected.
End of September: Health insurance premiums will be revealed
As it does each year at this time, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) will reveal the increase in the health insurance premiums that residents of Switzerland will pay in 2027.
According to an analysis carried out by Comparis consumer platform, these rates are expected to rise by 3.7 percent nationally (and more in some cantons) – which is lower than the 4.4-percent increase in 2026.
