Festivals in Switzerland
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From international extravaganzas, to folk dancing jamborees in tiny villages, Switzerland — one of the most beautiful countries in the world — has masses of festivals and cultural events. As a result, there are a host of great things to do in Switzerland with kids. But this also means deciding the best time to visit Switzerland may well depend on the calendar of festivals in Switzerland. Read on for a run-down of exactly that.
Held in the third week of January, the Grindelwald Snow Festival features inventive snow sculptures created by artists from around the world.
In the last two weeks in January, the International Balloon Festival, held 15km east of Montreux, sees hot air balloons from twenty countries turn the wintry skies above Château-d’Oex into a riot of floating colours.
Montreux Panorama © Swiss Tourism
Celebrated around Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday), one of Switzerland’s biggest carnival events, Luzerner Fasnacht, is held in Lucerne for six days, from the Thursday before Mardi Gras up to Mardi Gras night.
Meanwhile, Bern’s carnival runs for two days, beginning on the Thursday evening after Mardi Gras.
One of the most famous festivals in Switzerland happens in Basel, where thousands of residents gather at 4am in the freezing cold, awaiting the four chimes of the city clock that announce the start of Baseler Fasnacht.
Festivities run for three days from the Monday morning after Mardi Gras.
Basel’s Fasnacht is one of the most famous festivals in Switzerland © Schweiz Tourismus/Christof Sonderegger
Browse more of the best places to stay in Basel.
Since getting around Switzerland is an affordable breeze, with a bit of planning, you could take in a few carnival experiences during a single trip.
Sacred music is the focus in the Easter run of events of the Lucerne Festival. Given that Lake Lucerne is the ultimate slow travel destination, you might want to extend your stay beyond the Easter events.
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Lucerne is the grand location of many festivals in Switzerland © F R M/Shutterstock
The Spring Festival in Zürich takes place in third week in April — expect energetic parades and dazzling fireworks.
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Held from late March to mid-May, the Interlaken Classic Music Festival in Switzerland's Jungfrau region boasts performances by leading orchestras and soloists.
Discover more places to stay in Interlaken.
Aerial view over Interlaken, Switzerland © 4kclips/Shutterstock
From the end of May to the beginning of July, Ascona, in the canton of Ticino, hosts a festival of chamber music beside Lake Maggiore.
May also heralds Ascona’s Street Artists Festival, a free, family-friendly jamboree of mime, theatre, dance, jugglers, tightropewal-kers, fire breathers, musicians, and clowns.
Explore more places to stay in Ascona.
For three days in mid-June, musicians from across the globe perform in the streets of Lausanne and Geneva under the Fête de la Musique umbrella. Every musical style is represented — from classical and electro-jazz, to rock, pop and world music.
Browse more places to stay in Lausanne.
Lausanne's Ouchy Waterfront hosts a number of Swiss festivals © shyshak roman/Shutterstock
Hosted in a different city every three years during the fourth week of June, Eidgenössisches Jodelfest presents a four-day showcase of Switzerland’s best yodellers, with Zug set to stage it in 2023.
Back in Ascona, late June sees the town host the lively Ascona Jazz Festival.
Geneva’s July 4th celebrations are the biggest outside the US.
Explore more of the best places to stay in Geneva.
Jazz is a feature of many music festivals in Switzerland © 13_Phunkod/Shutterstock
Held in the first week in July, the chilled-out Au Bord du Lac music festival takes place on the beach at Lac de Géronde near Sierre. With a reputation for family-friendly ambience and affordability, the setting is magnificent.
One of the largest jazz festivals in the world takes place in Lugano in the first week in July.
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Lugano is a hotspot for festivals in Switzerland © Shutterstock
Running from the end of June to mid-July, Montreux Jazz Festival has a longstanding global reputation. Now featuring as much rock, dance and world music as jazz and blues, and attracting a roster of top names, this might be the most well-known of all festivals in Switzerland.
Explore more places to stay in Montreux.
July also heralds the Lucerne Festival, one of the world’s greatest classical music jamborees, which incorporates three festivals across the year. As such, it’s the one of the best festivals in Switzerland for music-lovers.
Switzerland’s biggest outdoor music event, Paleo Rock Festival, is held in Nyon in the third week in July. It features 120 concerts spread over six days, with rock, world music, reggae, hip-hop and classical music all represented. There are plenty of a family events and street theatre performances, too.
Mid- to late July sees Bern host the Gurten Music Festival — expect around sixty DJs performing with bands from Switzerland and around the world, playing everything from pop, rock, electro and punk, to hip-hop and blues.
Aerial view of Bern - capital of Switzerland © 4kclips/Shutterstock
Browse more of the best places to stay in Bern.
In the last week of July Interlaken enjoys three days of street performances, including acrobats, comedians, jugglers and musicians at the Gauklerfest.
Visit Verbier in the Valais region from the last week in July to the first week in August for a world-renowned classical music festival.
Find more accommodation options in Verbier.
Verdant Verbier, Switzerland © Shutterstock
Festivals aside, Switzerland isn’t short of rewarding things to do in summer — it’s obvious why Switzerland made it into our run-down of the best places to visit in Europe in summer.
Summer is also the peak time to enjoy many of Switzerland’s best outdoor experiences. That said, the country isn’t short of sports and activities to enjoy throughout the year.
The country’s national day is celebrated with fireworks, folkloric shows and parades. Though marked in every part of the country, festivities are usually ramped up around the Rhine falls near Schaffhausen and the Rütli meadow along Lake Lucerne.
Held across eleven days during the first two weeks of August, the Locarno International Film Festival is one of the most prestigious film festivals in Europe. It attracts 160,000 filmgoers and hundreds of journalists and filmmakers from around the world.
Explore more places to stay in Locarno.
Head to Gstaad from mid-August to early September for top classical performances at the Menuhin Festival.
Glorious Gstaad, Switzerland © Eva Bocek/Shutterstock
If you’re into techno and dance, zip to Zürich in mid-August for the exuberant street parade.
Held from the second week in August until the first week in September, the Lucerne Festival is one of Europe’s leading classical music events. Performances by the festival’s own choirs and ensembles draw an audience of tens of thousands.
To experience traditional Swiss culture, head off-the-beaten-track to Switzerland’s scenic Alpen villages from late September to early October.
During Alpabfahrt season, you’ll see cows decked out in flower headdresses and jangling bells being led from their mountain summer pastures to winter quarters in valley farms. And all to the tune of oompah bands and yodellers, with street fairs and farmers’ markets providing extra reasons to visit.
Head to the Swiss Alps in autumn for Alpabfahrt processions © 4kclips/Shutterstock
Come mid-October, Geneva’s Vernier Sur Rock Festival puts on three nights of live music at the Salles des Fêtes du Lignon, with punk, reggae and heavy metal predominating.
Head to Lucerne in the last week in November to enjoy the atmospheric winter instalment of the city’s famous festival. The focus is on keyboard music — jazz and classical piano concerts, and organ and harpsichord recitals.
The fourth Monday in November sees Bern host a lively onion market which doubles as the town fair. As festivals in Switzerland go, this might sound pretty eccentric, but it presents a great opportunity to sample a variety of Swiss fare — eating and drinking in Switzerland has plenty to keep foodies satisfied.
On the Friday to Sunday closest to 12th December, Geneva comes alive with the Fête de L’Escalade. Commemorating the failed attempt by the Duke of Savoy to seize Geneva by surprise in 1602, citizens don period costumes and take to the streets with torchlights and drums. As such, it’s one of the top festivals in Switzerland for history buffs.
Geneva's grand skyline © Benny Marty/Shutterstock
If you’re planning to enjoy festivals in Switzerland, you’ll want to read up on accommodation in Switzerland and book somewhere to stay well in advance.
For more Switzerland inspo and info, read The Rough Guide to Switzerland, and arm yourself with our Switzerland travel tips. Our run-down of things not to miss in Switzerland will also help you plan.
Not a fan of planning? Consider booking a hassle-free tailor-made trip to Switzerland, with customisable itineraries curated by local experts covering everything from unforgettable highlights of Switzerland, to touring the Grand Circle.
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