Last updated: 16 April 2026
The flowers are blooming and the hay fever is out in full force—but who can really complain when the sun is back and the city is looking so good? April is where the major outdoor festivals of the year start creeping up, a packed lineup of concerts, and the start of hiking season in the lower-altitude valleys.
Most notably, April marks the return of Watches & Wonders, the biggest event in the global watchmaking world, where Geneva is taken over by all things watches.
We also have the long Easter weekend to look forward to (3–6 April). It’s the perfect excuse to explore beyond the canton and discover some of Switzerland’s most historic Easter fairs and markets. While Geneva stays quiet—with most shops closing from Friday through Monday—the German-speaking cantons come alive with noteworthy traditions and festivals that are well worth the day trip.
- 28 Mar – 6 Apr | Festival PAKATRAP A family-oriented festival featuring creative egg hunts in the Old Town, chocolate-making workshops, and “wine & seek” events in local vineyards where kids hunt for eggs while parents can enjoy wine tastings.
- 2 Apr | Paul Mirabel: “Par Amour” (Geneva Arena) One of France’s hottest comedians, Paul Mirabel is bringing his highly anticipated new show to the Geneva Arena for a night of awkward, and relatable humor.
- 2 – 3 Apr | Holy Week Processions in Mendrisio (Mendrisio, Ticino) UNESCO-recognized processions that take place on Holy Thursday and Good Friday.
- 3 Apr | Weeping women of Romont (Romont, Fribourg) Haunting tradition on Good Friday where black-veiled women process through the streets carrying the instruments of the Passion.
- 3 – 6 Apr | Polymanga 2026 (Beaulieu, Lausanne) Huge manga, video game, pop-culture convention, featuring international guests, cosplay competitions, and more.
- 3 – 19 Apr | Chaplin Circus Show (Vevey) The Chaplin Circus is back with a new and exciting show, tailored specifically for families with kids. Funfair games and snacks are also available to complete the experience.
- 4 – 5 Apr | Marché de Créateurs (Halles de l’Île) The perfect place to pick-up locally crafted jewellery, clothes, art, and so much more.
- 5 Apr | Carouge Flea Market (Rue Saint-Joseph, de la place d’Armes to la place du Marché) If you’re a treasure hunter, you won’t want to miss the Carouge Flea market, which is held on the first Sunday of each month. A number of shops will also be opened (a rarity for Switzerland!) at the same time, so this is the perfect Sunday activity in Geneva. From March to December only.
- 6 Apr | Bremgarten Easter Market (Bremgarten, Aargau) This is the largest Easter market in Switzerland, featuring over 400 stalls through the beautiful old town of Bremgarten. It’s been running for almost 800 years!
- 6, 11–12, 19, 26 Apr | Combat de Reines (Valais) A unique Alpine tradition where powerful Hérens cows compete for the title of “Queen” in regional qualifiers. These festive events move through different Valais villages and offer a unique experience of local culture, food, and mountain life.
- 7 – 11 Apr | Zermatt Unplugged (Zermatt) A unique acoustic music festival at Matterhorn, with major headliners like Tom Odell, Placebo, Kings of Convenience, and more.
- 10 – 18 Apr | Cully Jazz Festival (Cully) Jazz festival in the heart of the Lavaux vineyards. Enjoy jazz concerts from international artists, while enjoying wine at some of the local wine cellars.
- 11 Apr | Marché du Vin 34 Swiss winemakers from Geneva, Vaud, and Valais will bring their wines to the Marché du Vin, where you can taste and bring your favorites home. Tickets are CHF 15.
- 11 Apr | Basel Cheese Festival (Basel) The city transforms into a paradise for cheese lovers with regional specialties, tastings, and traditional music.
- 12 Apr | MURMURATION (Geneva Area) A hypnotic, geometric dance performance featuring 50 dancers moving in perfect synchronization.
- 14 – 20 Apr | Watches & Wonders (Palexpo) The most prestigious watchmaking event in the world, open to the public during the final 3 days of the event. Tickets need to be purchased online, no ticket sales on-site. There are also a series of events and workshops in the city, you can check the full program here
- 16 & 25 Apr | Bourses aux vélos (Bike Exchange) (UNIGE, Vernier) If you’re looking to buy or sell second-hand bicycles, check out the bike exchange that’s organized by Pro Velo Geneva. There are several bike exchanges throughout the year, usually Spring and Fall.
- 17 – 26 Apr | Archipel festival (Community Hall Plainpalais & other location) International festival of music creation and sounds. You can check out instrumental and vocal concerts, performances, sound installations, workshops, and more all around the theme of sound during the 10 day festival.
- 17 – 26 Apr | Visions du Réel (Nyon) Nyon turns into a film center with this documentary film festival, where you can catch the screening of some of the top international documentaries.
- 18 – 19 Apr | Annecy Marathon (Annecy) Considered one of the most beautiful races in Europe – even if you’re not running, the vibes will be an experience, with stalls around the lake and a cheering crowd.
- 19 Apr | Charlie Chaplin World Record (Vevey) To celebrate the museum’s 10 year anniversary, a special event will be held in attempt to break the world record for most Charlie Chaplin’s in one location. If you’re a die-hard Charlie Chaplin fan, you won’t want to miss this.
- 20 Apr | Sechseläuten (Zurich) This is Zurich’s legendary spring festival featuring a massive guild parade and the explosive burning of the “Böögg” snowman.
- 23 Apr | Mobb Deep feat. Havoc A can’t-miss concert for hip hop lovers!
- 23 Apr | Vanessa Paradis (Geneva Arena) French pop icon Vanessa Paradis is making her big return and will perform tracks from her new album along with her iconic hits.
- 24 – 26 Apr | Soapbox Race in Bern (Bern) Three days of fun and chaos with this beloved soapbox race that takes place in the old town of Bern.
- 25 – 26 Apr | Grand-Saconnex en Fête! (Parc Sarasin) Fun local festival over 2 days that features tons of family-friendly activities (learning about plants, gardening, food-waste), repair café, flea market, live music, food and more.
- 24 Apr – 3 May | Printemps Carougeois (Carouge, Geneva) Two-week cultural festival at the heart of Carouge, with music, arts, and tons of performances. There is a huge agenda with everything from jazz concerts to immersive exhibitions, with activities for kids and also adults!
- 24 Apr – 3 May | BEA Spring Festival (Bern) Switzerland’s largest spring fair is a massive mix of agricultural shows (including a petting zoo with 600 animals!), gourmet food tastings, shopping, and an outdoor amusement park.
- 29 Apr – 23 May | Marché de Plantons (Parc Beaulieu) The greenhouses in Beaulieu park and Belle-idée will host their traditional plant markets during the spring.
- 30 Apr – 5 May | Solothurner Biertage (Solothurner) Enjoy beer tasting from over 50 Swiss breweries at the Solothurner Biertage.
- 24 Mar – 30 May | International Jazz Festival (Bern) One of Europe’s longest-running jazz events, which spans over 10 weeks, featuring world-class musicians in the legendary, intimate settings.
- 27 Mar – 10 May | Morges Tulip Festival (Vaud) The stunning Morges Tulip Festival is continuing from now until 10 May 2026. The theme this year is ‘Tales & Legends’ and will feature more than 140,000 tulips of nearly 350 varieties.
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