Festivals in Switzerland: 2012
- Here's a list of the most important events in Switzerland for 2012. For more information about these and other events, please visit www.myswitzerland.com and www.whatsonwhen.com. Note that Catholic areas of Switzerland may observe different holidays than Protestant areas (as noted).
- NOTE: Before planning a trip around a festival, make sure that you verify the festival dates at the festival or local TI's website.
- Related travel information in Switzerland.
| Jan 1 | New Year's Day | Switzerland |
| Jan 2 | Harder Potschete (parade of masked children, awards) | Interlaken (Berner Oberland) |
| Jan 2 | Berchtoldstag (St. Berchtold Day) | Interlaken |
| Jan 6 | Epiphany (some closures) | Switzerland |
| Mid Jan | Lauberhorn Ski Races | Wengen |
| Mid Jan | Inferno Ski Race | Mürren |
| Feb | Mardi Gras (a.k.a. "Karneval" or "Fasnacht," parades, costumes, and other celebrations; dates vary — in Bern see http://fasnacht.be, in Zürich see www.zurichcarneval.ch, in Basel see www.fasnacht.ch) | Especially Luzern, Bern, Zürich, and Basel |
| March–May | International Jazz Festival | Bern |
| March 19 | Joseftag (St. Joseph's Day) | Switzerland |
| Mar 24-April 1 | Luzern Easter Music Festival (classical) | Luzern |
| April 6 | Good Friday (some closures) | Switzerland |
| April 8-9 | Easter Sunday and Monday (some closures) | Switzerland |
| April 16 | Sechseläuten (spring festival, parades, "winter" effigy burned) | Zürich |
| April 29 | Open-Air Parliament (public selection of delegates) | Appenzell |
| May 1 | Labor Day | Switzerland |
| May 17 | Ascension (closures) | Switzerland |
| May 27-28 | Whitsunday and Whitmonday (some closures) | Switzerland |
| Early June | Bern Dance Festival (Berner Tanztage, international performers) | Bern |
| June 7 | Corpus Christi "Fronleichnam" (religious festival, closures) | Catholic areas |
| June 15–July 8 | Zürich Festival (theater, opera, music, art exhibits) | Zürich |
| June 19-Sept 7 | William Tell Performance (open-air theater) | Interlaken |
| June 29-30 | Estival Jazz | Mendrisio |
| June 29-July 14 | Montreux International Jazz Festival | Montreux (Lake Geneva) |
| July 5-7 | Estival Jazz | Lugano |
| July | City Festival (art, music, theater, open-air performances) | Lausanne (Lake Geneva) |
| July 12-15 | Gurten Open-Air Rock Festival | Bern |
| July 17-22 | Paleo Music Festival | Nyon (near Geneva) |
| Aug 1 | Swiss National Day (speeches, music, sports, fireworks, bonfires, closures) | Switzerland |
| Aug 8–Sept 15 | Luzern Summer Music Festival (classical) | Luzern |
| Aug 15 | Feast of the Assumption (closures) | Catholic areas |
| Early Oct | Autumn Festival (Festa d'Autunno — food and wine festival) | Lugano |
| Nov | Traditional Onion Market Fair (Zibelemärit, farmers' market, confetti, jesters) | Bern |
| Nov 1 | All Saints' Day | Catholic areas |
| Nov 19-25 | Luzern Piano Music Festival | Luzern |
| Dec | Christmas Fairs | Switzerland |
| Dec 6 | St. Nicholas Day | Catholic areas |
| Dec 8 | Feast of the Immaculate Conception | Catholic areas |
| Dec 25 | Christmas (closures) | Switzerland |
| Dec 26 | St. Stephen's Day (closures) | Switzerland |
For up-to-date specifics, see the latest edition of the Rick Steves' Switzerland guidebook. We also offer free-spirited tours of Switzerland.