As summer continues, many festivals and other fun events take place throughout the country. This is what is happening in Switzerland in August.
While all the other events are regional, one takes place in all of Switzerland:
The National Day, August 1st
On this day in 1291, the foundation of what would eventually become Switzerland was famously laid.
The official celebration takes place on the Rütli meadow in Uri, where representatives of the three founding cantons – Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden – came together on this day in 1291 to swear the oath of allegiance and sign the Federal Chapter (and no, William Tell was not there).
During the official ceremony, the current Swiss president (this year it is Karin Keller-Sutter), addresses the nation and the Swiss national anthem is sung.
Over in Bern, the parliament building is opening its doors to the public (8.30am – 4.30pm), allowing visitors a peek behind the scenes of what happens in parliament, with talks from Council of States and National Council presidents, guided tours and musical performances.
Elsewhere in the country, including in your local community, there are bonfires and fireworks. In some places, children parade through the streets with lanterns bearing the Swiss cross and their canton’s flag. There are parades with people in traditional costumes and with yodelling choirs, alphorns and flag-throwers.
The Great Alpine Festival, Riederalp, August 3rd
If you want to see something ‘typically Swiss’, then this annual Alp Festival will deliver, as it focuses on various customs and traditions of this Valais mountain community, such as yodelling and stone-throwing.
The highlight of the day is the grand parade through the village, featuring various bands and beautifully decorated floats
Floss Festival, Basel, August 5th – August 23rd
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.
This link will show you how many boat seats are still available for each concert.
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Locarno Film Festival, August 6th – August 16th
This annual open-air event is Switzerland’s most famous cinema festival, which takes in the city’s Piazza Grande.
About 8,000 seats, along with one of the largest screens in the world, are set up for film enthusiasts.
This year, 14 films, including four world premieres, plus two pre-festival screenings, will be shown at the Piazza Grande, with over 300 films shown at other venues across the city during the festival.
You can purchase tickets here.
Drumroll, please! It’s time to dive into the official selection of the 78ᵗʰ Locarno Film Festival and discover over 220 films across 11 sections – including three competitive ones – and so much more.
→ The official selection is live now on our website: https://t.co/Yi0NjnjM1r pic.twitter.com/cUzHAsbm1T
— Locarno Film Festival (@FilmFestLocarno) July 8, 2025
Thunfest, Thun, August 8th – August 10th
Every August, tens of thousands of people come to the town of Thun, at the foot of the Alps, 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.
Zurich Street Parade, August 9th
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.
Participants celebrate at Zurich Street Parade. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)
Zurich will also host a swimming event, which will hopefully bring a welcome relief in the midst of hot summer:
Zurich Limmat Swim, August 16th
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.
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The alternative date for the swim (in case of bad weather on the 16th, is August 23rd).
READ MORE: Do people really swim to work in Zurich?
Lake Lugano Crossing, August 17th
Over in Lugano, 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.
You can register for tickets here – they get more expensive the closer to the date you buy them.