From patriotic celebrations to music concerts and other open-air events – this is what’s happening in Switzerland in August 2026.
August 1st: National Day
As every year, the Swiss will celebrate their National Day on August 1st, marking 735 years since Switzerland as we know it was created.
The date marks an important and defining moment in Switzerland’s history: August 1st 1291, when cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Nidwalden pledged autonomy from foreign powers – the promise that has been holding true, and celebrated, ever since.
This year, however, due to prolonged drought, traditional fireworks and bonfires may not be authorised.
Where sausages are served, they will be cooked on gas or electric grills – the use of charcoal is prohibited in many places.
Each municipality will inform residents of any restrictions in place.
READ MORE: Why does Switzerland celebrate national day on August 1st?
August 2nd: Geneva tour in a historic tram
Yes, there are plenty of ‘regular’ (that is, modern) trams spanning the breadth and width of Geneva, but on this day you can ride a vintage one from the 1920s.
You can climb aboard on one of the many stops along the way – at Lancy Bachet Gare, Palettes, Lancy-Pont-Rouge, gare/Etoile, Plainpalais, Gare Cornavin, Bel Air, or Place de Neuve – for an unusual ‘retro’ tour of Geneva.
The tram runs from 1:40 pm till 5:03 pm.
August 4th – August 22nd: Floss Festival, Basel
This open-air music festival, featuring local and international acts, takes place on a floating stage on the Rhine, with 50,000 spectators watching the artists from seats set up on the steps of the Kleinbasel river bank for free.
Or, if you want to get closer to the action on the water, you can pay for a seat on a skiff boat.
August 5th – August 15th; Locarno Film Festival
This annual open-air event is Switzerland’s best-known cinema festival, which takes in the city’s famous Piazza Grande.
About 8,000 seats, along with one of the largest screens in the world, are set up for film enthusiasts.
This year, 103 world premieres will be shown at the Piazza Grande, and at other venues across the city during the festival.
August 6th – August 9th: Thunfest, Thun
Every August, tens of thousands of people come to the town of Thun in the Bernese Oberland, for Switzerland’s largest town festival.
The event is split into distinct zones, offering something for everyone, from Swiss bands and DJs to a host of family-friendly activities.
August 8th: Verzasca Country Festival
There are countless reasons to visit Ticino’s beautiful Verzasca valley, from going bungee jumping like James Bond to crossing the romantic Ponte dei Salti, and bathing in the icy river.
However, if you’re looking for something unique the Verzasca Country Music Festival in the no less beautiful village of Sonogno is worth a trip.
(By the way, ‘Countyr Music’ here refers to the US kind, not yodelling).
August 8th: Zurich Street Parade
Touted as the World’s Largest Techno Party, it is a lively, high-vibe event with thousands of music fans dancing on the streets of Zurich to the sounds of electro beats.
The 2-km parade starts at Utoquai in Zurich’s Seefeld district before rolling around Lake Zurich.
Zurich will also host a swimming event, which will hopefully bring a welcome relief in the midst of hot summer:
August 15th: Zurich Limmat Swim
As they do every year, swimmers from across Switzerland will gather in Zurich at noon to swim in the Limmat river where this activity is normally prohibited throughout the year.
If you’d like to snag one of the tickets to this event, you will need to be quick. because only a limited number of spaces is available so the tickets tend to sell out quickly.
They go on sale three days in advance of the event from 5pm sharp.
The alternative date for the swim (in case of bad weather on the 15th, is August 22nd.
READ MORE: What you need to know about swimming to work in Switzerland’s big cities
And there is more swimming…
August 16th: Lake Lugano Crossing
Over in Ticino swimmers have been taking part in the annual 2.5-km swim across Lake Lugano since 1932.
Fit swimmers over the age of 14 are eligible to take part in the crossing which culminates with a pasta party on the other side of the lake.
August 22nd – 23rd: Lausanne Afro Fusions Festival
What better way to close off August than by attending Lausanne’s exciting Afro Fusions Festival? (Ok, that was a rhetorical question).
The festival is the largest African cultural event in the canton of Vaud and includes a top-tier musical programme alongside fun artistic, educational, and cultural activities and exhibitions.
