Spring is finally back, and Switzerland is shifting from the end of the winter season to the first spring festivals. Here is a list of the main events happening across the country this month.
1st of April
Morges: The Swiss Tulip Festival, while the event technically opens in late March, you might want to wait until mid-April to actually see the tulips in full bloom rather than as closed buds.
Zurich: Märlitram Spring Edition (for kids) Running until the 26th of April. For the first time, the traditional children’s fairy-tale tram is offering a spring ride, with a friendly Böögg character welcoming kids aboard.
Geneva: The Pakatrap Festival organizes various Easter activities like egg hunts and wine tastings, treasure hunts and chocolate-making workshops. Dates: March 28th–April 6th.
Maienfeld: The Cheese Fondue Carriage Ride takes passengers on a guided tour through the Bündner Herrschaft wine region in a heated, horse-drawn carriage while they share a traditional Bad Ragaz cheese fondue and regional wine. Dates: till April 12th, with daily departures typically at 12:00 and 18:00 from the Maienfeld train station.
2nd of April
Mendrisio: The Holy Week processions in Mendrisio, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage event. Featuring the “fünziun di Giüdée” on Holy Thursday and the solemn “Entierro” procession on Good Friday, both illuminated by translucent canvas paintings. You can watch the processions from the streets or book a place on the stands in Piazza del Ponte.
Interlaken: One of Switzerland’s oldest classical music festivals, focusing on the development and promotion of young musical talents from April 2nd–21st.
3rd of April
Lausanne: Street food festival with different food trucks featuring yums from around the world. Dates: April 3rd-6th.
Lausanne: The CGN Easter cruises offer a “Lunch on the lake” experience, with the stunning views of the Riviera, including the Lavaux vineyards and Chillon Castle. Dates: April 3rd–6th.
Courtelary: Easter Weekend at Camille Bloch features hands-on chocolate workshops where visitors can make their own Ragusa bunnies or Torino nests, or enjoy an Easter egg hunt and a brunch. Dates: April 3rd–6th.
Fribourg: The spring Luna Park returns to the Place de l’Etang from April 3rd–19th.
Arosa Lenzerheide: The “LIVE is LIFE” music festival, held on the first weekend in April, celebrates spring in the mountains with live music and a vibrant atmosphere across two valleys.
Lausanne: Polymanga, held annually at Easter, is Switzerland’s largest pop culture, video game, and manga event, featuring numerous special guests. Dates: 3-6.04.
Lugano: Easter in the City till the 6th of April with Easter markets, egg hunts and light family entertainment.
Crans-Montana: Giant Egg Hunt from the 3rd to the 6th for children over the Easter weekend.
4th of April
Pizol: Waterslide Contest- Experience a hilariously fun season finale with a dip at Pizol on the “Furt”. Here, the focus is on enjoyment rather than competition, as skiers and snowboarders start with a run of about 50m, gradually shortening with each round until only one person remains dry at the end.
5th of April
Bern: Every Easter Sunday, starting at 10:00 AM, the traditional “Eiertütschete” egg cracking competition takes place on the Kornhausplatz in Bern’s old town. Participants bring their own hard-boiled, decorated Easter eggs to compete against others. The winner of each round gets to keep the opponent’s cracked egg. No registration is required.
Engelberg: The Waterslide Contest at Bärghuis Jochpass in Engelberg is a fun event where participants on skis, snowboards, or funmobiles attempt to glide across a pool of water. The run-up is shortened after each round, increasing the challenge.
Zurich: Zürcher Museums-Bahn Osterfahrt on a historic steam train and a 1924 railcar from Zurich Wiedikon to the Sihlwald forest for an organized Easter egg hunt. Practical Info: departs at 10:44 from Zürich Wiedikon and the tickets must be purchased in advance.
6th of April
Zurich: “Zwänzgerle,” a traditional Easter Monday event, involves adults throwing 20-cent coins at hard-boiled eggs held by children. Children keep any coins that miss the egg. It takes place at Limmatquai and Rüdenplatz.
7th of April
Zermatt: Zermatt Unplugged, an acoustic music festival spread across 17 stages in the village and on the mountain till the 11th.
8th of April
Mürren: The Swiss Snow Happening with competitions like formation skiing, slopestyle, and giant slalom. Practical Info: Dates: April 8th–11th.
9th of April
Näfels: The Näfelser Fahrt, held annually on the first Thursday in April, commemorates the 1388 Battle of Näfels, where the people of Glarus defeated the Habsburgs. The event features processions, speeches and musical performances.
Bern: Street food festival with different food trucks is taking place between April 9th-12th.
10th of April
Cully: Cully Jazz Festival, from the 10th to the 18th. Jazz, R&B, and soul performances take over the Lavaux vineyard region with both paid main stages and a free OFF festival hosted in local wine cellars.
Olten: A Wine Fair takes place from April 10th to 12th, at the Stadttheater Olten. With 25 wine importers, vintners, and wineries showcasing their finest and latest wine creations.
11th of April
Basel: The “Käsefest” (Cheese Festival) transforms Barfüsserplatz into a paradise for cheese lovers, featuring dozens of Swiss dairies presenting a wide variety of regional and national artisan cheeses. Practical Info: Saturday, 09:00–17:00 at Barfüsserplatz.
Nendaz: Nendaz Snow Vibes Festival, Running over the weekend, this is a high-altitude music festival held at 2,200 meters to mark the end of the ski season.
Torgon: Before the end of the ski season, Torgon celebrates spring with the Tipi’s Waterslide, a fun event where skiers and snowboarders attempt to cross a water-filled pool dug into the snow. Entertainment starts at 11:00 AM.
12th of April
Lugano: The Lugano Cheese Festival with cheesemakers from across Switzerland to showcase their products and highlight the regional Ticino Alpkäse AOP. Practical Info: Sunday, 10:00–17:00 at Riva G. Albertolli.
Zurich: Zurich Marathon, running through the city center and along the lake. It includes a full marathon, half marathon, and a 10km city run.
15th of April
St. Gallen: The OFFA Frühlings und Trendmesse is Eastern Switzerland’s interactive spring fair, featuring diverse exhibitions on lifestyle, gardening, sports and regional food, alongside a traditional integrated horse fair. Dates: April 15th–19th.
17th of April
Lucerne: A Street food festival with different dishes from around the world is taking place between April 17th-19th.
Winterthur: The Gin Festival with over 150 regional, national and international gin varieties. Think indoor tasting with an outdoor food trucks area, live music and a mobile distillery that is accessible without a ticket. Dates: April 17th–18th at the Mehrzweckhalle Teuchelweiher.
18th of April
Geneva: Watches and Wonders, from the 18th to the 20th, a major trade show and exhibition dedicated to the global watchmaking industry and luxury horology.
Frauenfeld: The ACS Auto-Renntage is a national motorsport event featuring a 3.2-kilometer slalom racing course on the Grosse Allmend. Dates: April 18th–19th.
19th of April
Hofstetten bei Brienz: The Ballenberg Swiss Wrestling (Schwinget) is a traditional sporting event, where competitors face off in sawdust rings surrounded by historic Swiss chalets. It is a genuine display of Swiss heritage, complete with folk music and regional food. Practical Info: Sunday, Matches typically start in the morning around 08:30.
20th of April
Zurich: Sechseläuten, THE traditional spring festival right here in the city. The guilds parade through the streets, concluding at Sechseläutenplatz at exactly 6:00 PM with the burning of the Böögg to predict the summer weather. Graubünden is the guest canton for 2026.
Zurich: The Zurich Beer Festival, the largest international craft beer festival in Switzerland, features 40 breweries from 17 countries offering a wide range of beer styles. The entry fee includes unlimited tastings, a festival glass, workshops, games, and music. Dates: April 24th-25th.
24th of April
Zug: A Street food festival with different dishes from around the world is taking place between April 24th-26th.
Bern: BEA Bern, Switzerland’s largest spring fair, showcases agriculture, trade, and industry, featuring exhibits on building, living, food, leisure, and crafts, with daily animal shows and a petting zoo. Dates: April 24th-May 3rd.
Bern: The Grosse Berner Renntage, a traditional soapbox derby where children and teenagers race their custom-built, non-motorized cars down the Klösterlistutz in the Old Town. Dates: April 24th–26th.
Fleurier: Carnavallon is a large carnival in the canton of Neuchâtel, with traditional Guggenmusik and colorful street parades. Dates: April 24th–26th, the grand parade is on Sunday at 15:00.
Lucerne: Luga, also known as the Central Switzerland Spring Fair, will take place from April 24th to May 3rd. It’s a large regional marketplace with 450 exhibitors showcasing a wide variety of products and experiences.
Uster: The Walpurgis Medieval Spectacle is a historic market featuring artisan stalls, combat demonstrations and traditional live music. It leans into the Walpurgis Night theme with evening fire shows and mead taverns, providing a straightforward, immersive weekend for history and fantasy enthusiasts. Dates: April 24th–26th, Located at the Zeughausareal.
Valais: The PALP Festival is an extended, multi-location event that mixes live music, contemporary art and local food across the canton. Dates: April 24th–November 8th.
25th of April
Schaffhausen: The Schaffhausen Gourmet Festival, from April 25th to May 30th, features top restaurants showcasing culinary creations paired with wines from the Schaffhausen Pinot Noir region.
Winterthur: The Eschenbergschwinget is the traditional annual wrestling festival held on Winterthur’s local mountain, organized by the Schwingklub Winterthur. The young wrestlers kick off the event on Saturday at 10:00 am. The main wrestling matches featuring the active participants will take place on Sunday starting at 12:00 pm.
Salgesch: The Wine Springtime festival kicks off the season with a local barrique race, where teams compete by rolling 225-liter wine barrels through the village streets. After the morning race, attendees use a tasting pass to walk between participating cellars, sampling regional vintages alongside food offerings and live music. Practical Info: The barrel race begins at 10:00, followed by cellar tastings from 11:30 to 18:00 and evening entertainment until 22:00. The tasting pass costs CHF 29 and includes a souvenir glass and free entry to the local wine museum.
St. Gallen: The 22nd Honky Tonk in St. Gallen, features international bands playing at various locations throughout the city.
Estavayer-le-Lac: The Farm in Town (La ferme en ville) is a straightforward, family-oriented weekend where you can watch traditional animal shows and buy local products directly from Fribourg producers. Dates: April 25th–26th.
26th of April
Basel: The Konomi Festival is a celebration of Japanese culture and “taste” across various locations in Basel. The program includes sake tastings, workshops on bento boxes, sumi-e painting and ikebana. Dates: April 26th–May 2nd.
27th of April
Baden: The Baden Wine Days turn the city into a wine festival for a week. With historic cellars hosting a mix of regional wine tastings, multi-course dinners and cultural crossovers like “Wine & Yoga” or special cinema screenings. Dates: April 27th–May 3rd.
Basel: The Offbeat Jazzfestival is a month-long music event with international jazz, blues and world music. Dates: April 27th–May 26th.
28th of April
Zurich: The Pink Apple Film Festival is Switzerland’s largest queer film festival, presenting a curated selection of international LGBTQ+ feature films, documentaries, and shorts. The program includes panel discussions, filmmaker Q&As, and evening events. Dates: April 28th–May 7th.
30th of April
Solothurn: The Solothurner Biertage is an annual festival with over 40 Swiss breweries and more than 200 craft beers. Dates: April 30th–May 2nd, a day pass costs CHF 15.
