March is an interesting time in Switzerland. We find ourselves in that brief transition period where you can still catch the final winter sports high up in the mountains, but down in the valleys, the first signs of spring are already showing up.
It is a great month to get outside, whether you are looking for one last run on the slopes or are just ready for the weather to warm up. I have looked through the schedule for 2026 to bring you a solid list of what is happening around the country.
Here is the breakdown of events for this month:
1st of March
Engadin: Chalandamarz is an ancient Roman-rooted Engadin tradition on March 1st, where children parade with bells to drive away winter, with specific roles and costumes for each participant, and it is a celebration for everyone. The tradition is widely known through the book and movie “Schellen-Ursli”. Celebrated in various location in the region.
Zurich: Slow Food Market Zurich, taking over the StageOne hall in Oerlikon, this is the final day of the weekend-long market. Over 100 regional producers set up stands where you can taste and buy sustainable, artisanal foods.
4th of March
Geneva: Groove’N’Move 2026, an international urban dance festival, featuring high-energy battles, contemporary dance performances and workshops for all ages. Dates: March 4th-15th.
5th of March
Moudon: Les Brandons is a traditional carnival with masked balls, torchlight processions and Guggenmusik bands in the streets. The weekend includes funny floats, a confetti battle and parades for both children and adults. Dates: March 5th-8th
Lausanne: Les Printemps de Sévelin, a festival of contemporary dance through a mix of Swiss and international performances, including screenings, workshops and artist encounters. Dates: March 5th-22nd.
6th of March
Murten: The Carnival Murten, a traditional carnival celebration featuring parades, Guggenmusik performances and a lively atmosphere in the town of Murten. Dates: March 6th to 9th.
Zurich: Honold Easter Chocolate Tram. Confiserie Honold runs a vintage tram where you can sit back, drink hot chocolate and eat early Easter treats while riding through the city center. It runs until the 15th of March.
Geneva: Astral Festival, an electronic music event spreading across several venues in the city with DJ sets and themed parties. Runs until March 8th.
Neuchâtel: The Neuchâtel Trophy features high-level synchronized skating teams on the ice. Dates: March 6th-7th.
7th of March
Grindelwald: The Hori Sledge Race, a traditional two-man sledge competition on a descent from Alpiglen. The event atmosphere is amplified by live folk music and social festivities at the marquee throughout the afternoon and evening. Dates: March 7th. (The race starts at Alpiglen station and finishes at Schützenhaus Aellauenen, snow conditions permitting).
Rosswald: Nostalgia Race Rosswald, a charming throwback event where participants compete in vintage clothing and rare antique ski gear while navigating a fun obstacle course. The day includes musical entertainment, traditional food and prizes for the most authentic “old look” costumes. Dates: March 7th.
Davos: Davos Sledgends is a toboggan race down the Flüela Pass road. Participants ride their sleds down a 5-kilometer descent from the top of the pass into the valley. Dates: March 7th (The winners are the ones closest to the average time, so you don’t need to be the fastest to win!).
Lucerne: Fumetto International Comic Festival, one of Europe’s leading platforms for contemporary comics, featuring 50 exhibitions spread across the city. Dates: March 7th-15th.
Winterthur: ZKB Zürilauf Cup, a running event featuring routes through scenic forests and fields, offering everything from Kids Runs to a main 11.4 km race. Dates: March 7th.
Basel: Interfinity Festival, an interdisciplinary event combining science and music. Performances range from baroque to contemporary music across various venues like churches, restaurants and factory halls. Dates: March 7th-20th.
12th of March
Solothurn: WYYSO – Wyyfestival Solothurn with dozens of winemakers and importers at the Rythalle to offer tastings of hundreds of wines from Switzerland and across Europe. Alongside the wine, you can enjoy local food stands, acoustic live music, and late-night weekend afterparties. Dates: March 12th-15th.
Nyon: Festival du Film Vert de Nyon shows documentaries about ecology, nature, and the environment. Dates: March 12th-15th.
13th of March
Avenches: Carnaval Avenchois, the medieval streets and Roman arenas are filled with Guggenmusik, colorful processions and a giant confetti battle. This edition features a dedicated children’s parade on Saturday and the grand “humoristic” parade on Sunday, followed by festive evenings of fondue and music. Dates: March 13th-15th.
Yverdon-les-Bains: Brandons d’Yverdon is a local carnival to celebrate the end of winter with Guggenmusik bands, lots of confetti, a Saturday night parade where the “winter man” is defeated and a large Sunday procession. Dates: March 13th-15th.
Rapperswil: Circus Knie. The Swiss circus begins its 2026 nationwide tour here before moving to other cities.
Gstaad: Caprices Festival, a prestigious electronic music event held at 2,000 meters on the Eggli mountain, featuring glass stages with Alpine views and world-class DJs. Dates: March 13th – 15th & 20th – 22nd.
14th of March
Appenzell: Spark Saturday, a traditional custom where massive bonfires are lit across various villages to drive away winter, culminating in the dramatic explosion of the “Funkenbabe” firework effigy at the top. While the main event typically falls on Sunday, several local communities move their celebrations to Saturday, creating a spectacular pyrotechnic display popular with families and fire enthusiasts. Dates: March 14th (Head to villages like Steinegg or Gonten to witness the Saturday blazes).
Geneva: Festival Voix De Fête, a focus on the French-speaking music scene with nearly fifty concerts across several stages. Runs until March 21st.
Aigle: BD au Château Comic Book Festival brings comic art, artist signings and drawing workshops to the historic castle. Dates: March 14th – 15th, 2026 (Entry is free and a free shuttle runs from the train station to the castle!).
15th of March
Morgins: Rock The Pistes is a high-altitude music festival with live rock and pop concerts set directly on the ski slopes. You ski right up to the stages during the day and can catch more free shows in the villages afterward. Dates: March 15th – 21st.
18th of March
Locarno: Camelia Festival Locarno running until the 22nd, this is a major spring highlight in Ticino. The Parco delle Camelie right on Lake Maggiore displays over 200 varieties of camellias in full bloom.
Basel: Blues Festival Basel, 4 days of live performances by international and Swiss blues musicians. Runs until March 21st.
19th of March
St. Moritz: SunIce Festival Winter Edition, a winter electronic music festival located near the slopes of the Engadin valley. Runs until March 21st.
Zurich: Expovina Primavera is a large wine fair with tastings of over 1,800 wines from 20 countries. Dates: March 19th-26th.
Winterthur: Swiss Wine Festival, where you can taste Swiss wines from 60 winemakers representing all 6 wine regions of Switzerland. Runs until March 22nd.
20th of March
Bern: The Night of the Museums, for one night only museums and cultural institutions open their doors late into the night to offer unique programs and access.
Wattwil: Medieval Lenz Spectacle, a large-scale medieval fair complete with traditional crafts, food and historical entertainment. Runs until March 22nd.
Fribourg: FIFF International Film Festival shows diverse global films to build cultural understanding, with this edition highlighting Colombian cinema and movies about mothers. Dates: March 20th – 29th.
Zurich: After the Algorithm Festival, a newly introduced event exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and society through art and science. Runs until March 29th.
Zurich: m4music Festival focused on discovering new Swiss and international artists. Dates: March 20th-21st.
21st of March
Burgdorf: Let it Beer, a local gathering for craft beer enthusiasts featuring over 30 breweries and various food trucks.
Andermatt: King & Queen of the Mountain and Waterslide Contest is a freeride ski and snowboard race on the Gemsstock mountain. Athletes ride from the peak to the valley and then try to cross a pool of water at the bottom. The day finishes with music and an after-party.
23rd of March
Zurich: Neuchâtel Wines Roadshow. Neuchâtel winemakers are taking their regional wines on a tasting tour across German-speaking Switzerland. It stops in Zurich at the AMERON Bellerive au Lac on the 23rd, and then continues to Lucerne (24th), Basel (25th), Bern (26th), and Fribourg (27th).
24th of March
Bern: International Jazz Festival Bern, an ongoing festival featuring various jazz performances. Runs until May 30th.
25th of March
Morges: Divinum is a large wine fair at the Parc des Sports where you can taste over 1,300 wines from more than 150 producers. Winemakers from Switzerland and around the world are there to pour their wines and answer questions. This year, the focus is on wines from German-speaking Switzerland, especially Müller-Thurgau and Pinot Noir. Dates: March 25th-30th.
Château-d’Oex: World Dance Festival Orient’alp, a multi-day festival celebrating different dance styles from around the world. Runs until March 29th.
26th of March
Zug: Festival Viel Jazz, a local jazz festival presenting various artists and styles. Runs until March 28th.
Davos: Coverfestival Davos features top tribute bands playing famous rock and pop hits in the snowy mountains. Dates: March 26th-29th.
27th of March
Morges: The Tulip Festival is Switzerland’s largest flower event! You can walk among 140,000 tulips of 350 varieties, arranged this year under the theme “Tales and Legends.” The park also hosts a pottery market, live music and a few food stands during the event weeks. Dates: March 27th-May 11th (Entry is completely free and there is a large bulb sale at the end of the festival if you want to take some home!).
Lucerne: Lucerne Spring Festival, a series of orchestral concerts to welcome the spring season. Runs until March 29th.
28th of March
Zurich: Albi’s Country Festival – Celebrating its 40th anniversary at the Hallenstadion, this massive country music festival brings together 18 bands and global stars, including the legendary Bellamy Brothers. Runs until the 29th of March.
