Oct 24 – Nov 8, 2026
🎉 Festival · Basel · 🎨 Basel
Basler Herbstmesse
Switzerland's biggest funfair, spread over seven squares of Basel's old town, with rides, food stalls and the Hääfelimäärt pottery market. 2026 is its 555th edition.
Events calendar
Events in Switzerland: What's On
Short answer
The big events in Switzerland, with dates checked on official sites: Christmas markets, carnivals, ski races and festivals. This weekend: Basler Herbstmesse (Oct 24 – Nov 8, 2026).
October 2026
November 2026
Nov 19 – Dec 24, 2026
🎄 Christmas · Zurich · 🏙️ Zurich
Zurich Christmas markets
Polarzauber inside the main station, Bellevue Noël by the Opera House and the Münsterhof market in the old town.
Nov 19 – Dec 24, 2026
🎄 Christmas · Geneva · ⛲ Geneva
Noël au Quai, Geneva
Geneva's Christmas market on the Quai du Mont-Blanc, facing the lake and the Jet d'Eau.
Nov 19 – Dec 27, 2026
🎄 Christmas · Bern · 🏔️ Bernese Oberland
Bern Sternenmarkt
The Sternenmarkt on the Kleine Schanze, the first of Bern's three Christmas markets, near the UNESCO-listed old town.
Nov 20 – Dec 24, 2026
🎄 Christmas · Montreux · 🍇 Vaud
Montreux Noël
One of Switzerland's biggest Christmas markets, on the lakefront promenade, plus Santa's house up at Rochers-de-Naye by cogwheel train.
Nov 23, 2026
🎉 Festival · Bern · 🏔️ Bernese Oberland
Zibelemärit (onion market), Bern
Bern's famous onion market, held every year on the fourth Monday of November: braided onion strings, onion tart and confetti fights in the old town, from early morning to 18:00.
Nov 26 – Dec 23, 2026
🎄 Christmas · Basel · 🎨 Basel
Basel Christmas market
Often called Switzerland's most beautiful Christmas market, on Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz in the old town, daily 11:00–20:30.
Nov 27 – Dec 6, 2026
🎄 Christmas · Einsiedeln · ⛴️ Lake Lucerne
Einsiedeln Christmas market
A short, atmospheric market on the square in front of the Benedictine abbey, an easy day trip from Zurich or Lucerne.
December 2026
Dec 3 – 21, 2026
🎄 Christmas · Lucerne · ⛴️ Lake Lucerne
Lucerne Christmas market
The Lozärner Weihnachtsmärt on Franziskanerplatz in the old town, a few minutes' walk from the Chapel Bridge.
Dec 11 – 13, 2026
🎉 Festival · Geneva · ⛲ Geneva
Fête de l'Escalade, Geneva
Geneva celebrates the night of 1602 when it fought off the Duke of Savoy: costumed processions in the old town, mulled wine and chocolate marmites smashed with the words 'Ainsi périrent les ennemis de la République!'.
Dec 26 – 31, 2026
🏆 Sport · Davos · 🚂 Graubünden
Spengler Cup, Davos
The world's oldest international ice hockey club tournament (96th edition), played between Christmas and New Year's Eve, with the final at noon on December 31.
Dec 31, 2026
🎉 Festival · Zurich · 🏙️ Zurich
Silvesterzauber, Zurich
Zurich's free New Year's Eve party around the lake basin, with fireworks fired from boats after midnight. Public transport runs through the night.
January 2027
Jan 14 – 24, 2027
🎉 Festival · Lucerne · ⛴️ Lake Lucerne
Lilu light festival, Lucerne
Light installations and projections across Lucerne's old town and lakefront, every evening from 18:00 to 22:00. Free.
Jan 15 – 17, 2027
🏆 Sport · Wengen · 🏔️ Bernese Oberland
Lauberhorn races, Wengen
The longest downhill on the World Cup calendar, under the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau: super-G on Friday, downhill on Saturday, slalom on Sunday. Tickets online only.
February 2027
Feb 1 – 14, 2027
🏆 Sport · Crans-Montana · ⛷️ Valais
FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, Crans-Montana
Two weeks of world championship ski racing in Crans-Montana, 40 years after the resort last hosted them in 1987.
Feb 4 – 9, 2027
🎉 Festival · Lucerne · ⛴️ Lake Lucerne
Lucerne Carnival (Fasnacht)
Six days of masks, Guggenmusik brass bands and parades, starting with the 5:00 'Urknall' bang on Schmutziger Donnerstag and ending with the Monstercorso on Tuesday night.
Feb 6 – 21, 2027
🏆 Sport · St. Moritz · 🚂 Graubünden
White Turf, St. Moritz
Horse racing on the frozen lake of St. Moritz on three February weekends (120th anniversary in 2027); race days on Sundays, family days on Saturdays.
Feb 15 – 17, 2027
🎉 Festival · Basel · 🎨 Basel
Basel Carnival (Fasnacht)
UNESCO-listed carnival: at 4:00 on Monday the city lights go out for the Morgestraich, then three days of lanterns, piccolos and drums.
March 2027
Mar 14, 2027
🏆 Sport · Maloja – S-chanf · 🚂 Graubünden
Engadin Skimarathon
The 56th edition of Switzerland's biggest cross-country ski race, 42 km from Maloja to S-chanf across the frozen Engadine lakes. The Marathon Week runs from March 6.