A significant rise in business bankruptcies across the whole of Switzerland
Between January and June 2026, 7,603 companies filed for bankruptcy in Switzerland. This is equivalent to an increase of 53.9% compared with the same period of the previous year. The Canton of Thurgau recorded the highest percentage increase, at +185.6%, followed by the Canton of Basel-Landschaft (+146.9%) and the Canton of Jura (131.4%). Schwyz was the only canton in which the numbers fell (-16.3%).
Most bankruptcies affected the construction industry (919 cases), the food and beverage sector (697), and the retail trade (587). There was an above-average rise in filings for bankruptcy in the real estate sector (+99%) and in financial services (+94%).
One reason for the sharp increase is a change in the law in Switzerland. Since 1st January 2025, tax debts for debtors registered in the commercial register can also be pursued to bankruptcy.
An increase in business start-ups in Switzerland
27,719 new companies were established in Switzerland in the first half of this year, which represents a 2.5% growth compared with the previous year. The steepest rise in the number of new start-ups was in the Canton of Ticino, at +15.6%.
The Canton of Zurich reported the highest number, at 5,078 new companies, followed by the Cantons of Vaud (2,562) and Bern (2,280).
The highest number of new business start-ups involved management consultancies (2,410), the real estate sector (2,048), and the construction industry (1,977). In the food and beverage sector (-22%) and the retail sector (-12%), there was a significant decline in the establishment of new businesses compared with the previous year.
About the survey
We have taken into account all those businesses that were first entered into or deleted from the commercial register, or that filed for bankruptcy, between 1st January and 30rd June 2026.
Filings for bankruptcy by sector (NOGA), January to June
| Noga | Description | 2026 | 2025 | +/- | As a percentage |
|
43 |
Specialised construction activities |
919 |
737 |
182 |
25% |
|
56 |
Food and beverage service activities |
697 |
517 |
180 |
35% |
|
47 |
Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles |
587 |
367 |
220 |
60% |
|
46 |
Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles |
539 |
330 |
209 |
63% |
|
41 |
Construction of buildings |
414 |
304 |
110 |
36% |
|
70 |
Activities of head offices; management consultancy activities |
410 |
220 |
190 |
86% |
|
64 |
Financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding |
330 |
170 |
160 |
94% |
|
68 |
Real estate activities |
321 |
161 |
160 |
99% |
|
62 |
Computer programming, consultancy and related activities |
308 |
188 |
120 |
64% |
|
45 |
Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles |
267 |
187 |
80 |
43% |
New start-ups by canton, January to June
| Canton | 2026 | 2025 | +/- | As a percentage |
|
Aargau |
1,782 |
1,677 |
105 |
+6.3% |
|
Appenzell Innerrhoden |
52 |
75 |
-23 |
-30.7% |
|
Appenzell Ausserrhoden |
156 |
141 |
15 |
+10.6% |
|
Bern |
2,280 |
2,179 |
101 |
+4.6% |
|
Basel-Landschaft |
745 |
716 |
29 |
+4.1% |
|
Basel-Stadt |
634 |
683 |
-49 |
-7.2% |
|
Freiburg |
962 |
974 |
-12 |
-1.2% |
|
Geneva |
2,166 |
2,212 |
-46 |
-2.1% |
|
Glarus |
105 |
109 |
-4 |
-3.7% |
|
Graubünden |
592 |
531 |
61 |
+11.5% |
|
Jura |
221 |
196 |
25 |
+12.8% |
|
Lucerne |
1,226 |
1,209 |
17 |
+1.4% |
|
Neuchâtel |
483 |
447 |
36 |
+8.1% |
|
Nidwalden |
151 |
158 |
-7 |
-4.4% |
|
Obwalden |
98 |
118 |
-20 |
-16.9% |
|
St. Gallen |
1,509 |
1,382 |
127 |
+9.2% |
|
Schaffhausen |
215 |
216 |
-1 |
-0.5% |
|
Solothurn |
705 |
691 |
14 |
+2.0% |
|
Schwyz |
813 |
751 |
62 |
+8.3% |
|
Thurgau |
699 |
790 |
-91 |
-11.5% |
|
Ticino |
1,292 |
1,118 |
174 |
+15.6% |
|
Uri |
75 |
71 |
4 |
+5.6% |
|
Vaud |
2,562 |
2,653 |
-91 |
-3.4% |
|
Valais |
1,388 |
1,285 |
103 |
+8.0% |
|
Zug |
1,730 |
1,668 |
62 |
+3.7% |
|
Zurich |
5’,78 |
4,987 |
91 |
+1.8% |
|
Total for Switzerland |
27,719 |
27,037 |
682 |
+2.5% |
