The peak of summer is clearly already here and are awesome events also this month! We are talking about several festivals in and around the city and even the famous Street Parade and the River Crossing!
1st of August
The Swiss National Day celebration with music, alphorns, yodeling, a military salute and a keynote speech, followed by a family afternoon with children’s entertainment and food from different Swiss cantons. Date: August 1, from 11:30- 16:00 at Stadthausanlage near Bürkliplatz.
Rundfunk.fm is a summer radio festival where national and international DJs broadcast live from the courtyard of the Swiss National Museum, accompanied by bars, food stands and a relaxed after-work atmosphere. Dates: July 16–September 5.
5th of August
Winterthurer Musikfestwochen in the old town, a lively open-air festival featuring both Swiss and international artists. Dates: August 5 to 16, nine festival days are free, while the final three evenings require tickets
7th of August
Rapperswil-Jona: Seenachtfes, a lakeside festival with live music, air shows, family entertainment, food and market stalls, and two large fireworks displays on Friday and Saturday at 10:30 p.m. Dates: August 7-9, along the Rapperswil-Jona waterfront and as far as I understood tickets are required.
Zurich: Lethargy Festival is an audiovisual and electronic music festival featuring live concerts, DJ sets, performances and immersive art installations at Rote Fabrik. Dates: August 7–9.
8th of August
Zurich: Street Parade is the world’s largest techno parade, with 30 Love Mobiles, major stages and hundreds of DJs to the streets around Lake Zurich.
13th of August
Zurich: Zürcher Theater Spektakel is an international performing arts festival with contemporary theater, dance, music, street art, and open-air performances in a lively lakeside setting at Landiwiese. Dates: August 13-30.
15th of August
The 60th Zürcher Limmatschwimmen gives participants the rare chance to swim legally through the Limmat, floating from Frauenbadi past the historic Old Town to Oberer Letten. When: From noon- 16:30 (backup date: August 22).
19th of August
The Hirsebreifahrt is a centuries-old tradition held only once every ten years, recreating the historic boat journey from Zurich to Strasbourg with a pot of millet porridge, supposedly delivered still warm to demonstrate how quickly Zurich could assist its ally. When: from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. at Lindenhof with live music, an Alsatian folk-dance group, and free millet porridge and Alsatian wine.
22nd of August
Wädenswil: Chilbi Wädenswil is one of the largest fairs on Lake Zurich, featuring around 40 rides and game booths plus around 100 food and market stands throughout the town center. Dates: August 22-24.
23rd of August
Sommerfest 2026 is a family festival at the Open Racetrack in Oerlikon featuring live concerts by Dodo, Marc Sway, and Naomi Lareine, a children’s program, fun park, Ninja Warrior course, street soccer, and market stalls.
26th of August
Weltklasse Zürich brings the world’s top athletes to the city, beginning with women’s pole vaulting inside Zurich Main Station on August 26 and continuing with the main Diamond League meeting at Letzigrund Stadium on August 27. Dates: August 26-27.
27th of August
Beer at Binz is a craft beer festival hosted by Dr. Brauwolf, featuring seven breweries, three food trucks, and a relaxed indoor-outdoor atmosphere at the Tic Tric Trac building. Dates: August 27-28.
28th of August
Dörflifäscht in the Niederdorf and Old Town, turning them into a lively neighborhood festival with live music, DJs, street food, bars and market stalls. Dates: August 28-30.
30th of August
Swiss Wine Tasting brings around 150 exhibitors to Kunsthaus Zürich, offering visitors the chance to sample both current releases and mature premium wines from across Switzerland. Dates: August 30-31.
