Festivals & events
42 celebrations through the year — pick a day to see what's on.
- New Year's Day (1 January · All regions · National) — National public holiday marking the start of the new year, celebrated across Switzerland with family gatherings and festive traditions.
- Vogel Gryff (13 January · Basel · Basel-Stadt) — A unique Basel carnival featuring three processions with the mythical figures of the Griffin, the Lion, and the Wild Man, representing Base…
- Épiphanie Festival (6 January · Various towns · Jura) — A religious celebration in the Jura region marking the revelation of Jesus to the Magi, featuring traditional processions and local customs.
- Unspunnen Festival (All May · Interlaken · Bern) — Held every 12 years, this iconic festival celebrates Swiss Alpine traditions with yodelling, wrestling, and traditional costume parades in…
- Labour Day (1 May · All regions · National) — National public holiday honouring workers and the labour movement, observed across Switzerland with parades and celebrations.
- Ascension Day (All May · All regions · National) — A national public holiday in Switzerland's Christian tradition, celebrating Christ's ascension to heaven 39 days after Easter.
- Whit Monday (All May · All regions · National) — National public holiday commemorating the Holy Spirit's descent upon the apostles, observed 50 days after Easter.
- Montreux Jazz Festival (All July · Montreux · Vaud) — One of the world's most famous jazz festivals, held on the shores of Lake Geneva with performances from international jazz legends and emer…
- Verbier Festival (All July · Verbier · Valais) — A prestigious international classical music festival in the Alpine resort of Verbier, featuring world-class orchestras and soloists.
- Paléo Festival (All July · Nyon · Vaud) — Switzerland's largest open-air music festival held on the shores of Lake Geneva, featuring rock, pop, indie and world music acts.
- Gstaad Menuhin Festival (All August · Gstaad · Bern) — One of Europe's leading classical music festivals, held in the elegant Alpine resort of Gstaad with chamber music and orchestral performanc…
- Swiss National Day (1 August · All regions · National) — National public holiday celebrating Swiss independence and the founding of the Swiss Confederation with bonfires, parades, and fireworks ac…
- Lucerne Festival (All August · Lucerne · Lucerne) — A world-renowned classical music festival held in Lucerne's stunning concert halls and lakeside venues, featuring leading orchestras and so…
- OpenAir St. Gallen (All July · St. Gallen · St. Gallen) — A major open-air music and culture festival in eastern Switzerland featuring rock, pop, indie and theatre performances in a beautiful natur…
- Zurich Street Parade (All August · Zurich · Zurich) — Europe's largest electronic dance music festival and parade, attracting hundreds of thousands to Zurich's streets for performances and cele…
- Grape Harvest Festival (All September · Neuchâtel · Neuchâtel) — A vibrant celebration of the wine harvest season in Neuchâtel with parades, wine tastings, and traditional grape-pressing ceremonies.
- Fête des Vendanges (All September · Vevey and Lavaux region · Vaud) — The Lavaux wine region's celebrated harvest festival featuring traditional costumes, wine tastings, and three weeks of festivities across p…
- Zürich Film Festival (All September · Zurich · Zurich) — An international film festival showcasing new films from around the world, held in September at venues throughout Zurich.
- Basel Fasnacht (All February · Basel · Basel-Stadt) — Switzerland's most famous carnival, a three-day extravaganza of elaborate costumes, satirical floats, and traditional music celebrating the…
- Lugano Festival (All April · Lugano · Graubünden) — A spring music festival in the Italian-speaking region featuring classical music, contemporary works, and performances in beautiful lakesid…
- Ritom Alpine Festival (All August · Ritom · Uri) — A unique high-altitude classical music festival held at the Ritom dam in Uri, featuring intimate chamber music performances in a stunning A…
- Neuchâtel Lakeside Jazz Festival (All July · Neuchâtel · Neuchâtel) — A summer jazz festival on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel featuring international and Swiss jazz artists in a scenic lakeside venue.
- Bellinzona Musica Festival (All September · Bellinzona · Graubünden) — An autumn classical music festival in the Ticino region showcasing orchestras, chamber ensembles, and soloists in historic venues.
- Schaffhausen Museum Night (All May · Schaffhausen · Schaffhausen) — An annual cultural event where Schaffhausen's museums stay open late with special exhibitions, performances, and guided tours throughout th…
- Gstaad Polo Club Tournament (All August · Gstaad · Bern) — A prestigious international polo tournament held in the exclusive Alpine resort of Gstaad, attracting world-class players and high society.
- Christmas (25 December · All regions · National) — National public holiday celebrating the birth of Christ with family traditions, carol singing, and festive gatherings across all of Switzer…
- Boxing Day (26 December · All regions · National) — National public holiday observed across Switzerland the day after Christmas, traditionally for rest and family celebrations.
- Appenzell New Year Festival (All January · Appenzell · Appenzell) — A traditional celebration of the New Year in Appenzell featuring the famous Säulirennen pig races and folk traditions unique to this Alpine…
- Zurich Book Fair (All November · Zurich · Zurich) — Switzerland's largest book fair and literary festival, bringing together international publishers, authors, and book lovers for readings an…
- Art Basel (All June · Basel · Basel-Stadt) — The world's leading modern and contemporary art fair, attracting galleries and collectors from around the globe to Basel for a prestigious…
- Willisau Jazz Festival (All August · Willisau · Lucerne) — An intimate jazz festival in the small town of Willisau showcasing innovative jazz musicians in a charming village setting near Lucerne.
- St. Gallen Spring Festival (All May · St. Gallen · St. Gallen) — A cultural spring celebration featuring theatre, music, art exhibitions and street performances across St. Gallen's historic old town.
- Geneva International Motor Show (All March · Geneva · Geneva) — One of the world's most important automobile trade shows, showcasing the latest vehicle innovations and luxury cars from global manufacture…
- Fribourg Medieval Festival (All June · Fribourg · Fribourg) — A vibrant celebration of medieval life in Fribourg's well-preserved old town with costume parades, traditional crafts, and period entertain…
- Locarno International Film Festival (All August · Locarno · Graubünden) — A prestigious international film festival held in the sunny Ticino region, featuring world cinema, documentaries, and premieres by the shor…
- Aargau Wine Festival (All October · Various locations in Aargau · Aargau) — A celebration of the Aargau wine region featuring tastings, vineyard tours, and culinary events showcasing local wines and traditional food…
- Solothurn International Film Festival (All January · Solothurn · Solothurn) — Switzerland's oldest and most prestigious film festival, held in January in the baroque city of Solothurn with focus on Swiss and world cin…
- Chur Christmas Market (All December · Chur · Graubünden) — A charming Alpine Christmas market in Switzerland's oldest city, featuring traditional crafts, mulled wine, and festive decorations in the…
- Zug Carnival (All February · Zug · Zug) — A charming regional carnival featuring masked balls, parades, and traditional Swiss carnival traditions in the picturesque town of Zug.
- Glarus Schenkifestival (All May · Glarus · Glarus) — A cultural festival celebrating Glarus traditions with folk music, dance, traditional food, and community celebrations in the Glarus Alps r…
- Thurgau Wine and Harvest Festival (All September · Various towns in Thurgau · Thurgau) — An autumn celebration of the Thurgau wine region's harvest with grape pressing, wine tastings, and regional culinary specialties.
- Jura Linden Festival (All July · Various towns in Jura · Jura) — A summer festival celebrating Jura's heritage with traditional music, dance, local crafts, and regional specialities in the scenic Jura mou…