Last updated: 28 August 2026
As the ‘August Exodus’ kicks in, local businesses shut their doors, and everyone heads for the coast or countryside to start their summer vacation. You’d think this means the city would be quieter but actually, open-air festivals are swinging into full gear, lakeside beaches are buzzing, and there are so many events happening each week that you’re spoiled for choice of things to do.
From sunset banquets in the countryside to world-class sports and music across Switzerland and nearby France, we gathered all the best August events to add to your agenda.
Some things to note for August:
- 1 August, Swiss National Day is a public holiday marking the founding of the Swiss Confederation. Things will be closed on Saturday, so get your shopping in before the end of the week! We wrote a detailed guide on all the festivities that will happen around the city, including where you can see fireworks.
- Geneva will be hosting the finish and start of the highly anticipated Tour de France Femmes (8 August). It is going to be a huge event for the city, with tons of amazing activities, a fan zone, and much more to check out. You can expect traffic disturbances during the event, and should definitely plan ahead if traveling on those days.
- The much anticipated Solar Eclipse will fall on Wednesday, 12 August! While we won’t experience a full eclipse here in Switzerland, about 92.7% of the sun will be covered for a partial eclipse. Check out the best spots to see the partial eclipse in Geneva here! Remember to wear protective eyewear and not to stare directly at the eclipse.
- Other helpful summer guides to check out:
🎵 Music Festivals & Concerts
- 6 – 8 Aug | Eren Festival (Saint-Prex, VD) Open-air music festival heldat Plage du Chauchy in Saint-Prex, featuring live indie pop, electro, DJ sets.
- 6 – 8 Aug | Into The Corn (Carrouge, VD) First-edition open air music festival set inside an actual cornfield, featuring indie rock, pop, and electronic music.
- 7 – 8 Aug | Jazz sur la plage (Hermance, GE) Open-air musical festival featuring jazz, soul, and world music.
- 8 Aug | On The Water Festival (Geneva) Electronic music festival held ON the lake, where festival-goers can enjoy the party on boats, paddleboards, and kayaks!
- 8 Aug | Zurich Street Parade (Zurich, ZH) The world’s largest techno and electronic music parade.
- 13 – 15 Aug | OSR Festival (Genève Plage) Open-air festival hosted by the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, which features classical works, live-concert screenings, and jazz performances at the Genève Plage.
- 13 Aug – 13 Sep | Lucerne Festival (Lucerne, LU) A classical music festival featuring elite international orchestras, conductors, and virtuoso soloists.
- 14 – 16 Aug | PIZ PALÜ Festival (Plan-les-Ouates, GE) A grassroots open-air music festival featuring an eclectic mix of emerging Swiss and international rock, pop, and electronic performances.
- 19 – 23 Aug | Openair Gampel (Gampel, VS) One of Switzerland’s largest rock and pop open-air festivals, with international headliners like Kygo, Sombr and more.
- 21 Aug | Leman Blues Festival (Annemasse, France) Free open-air music festival which celebrates blues, rock, and soul with live performances, food trucks, and more.
- 22 Aug | Garden Party (Jardin des Nations, Geneva) Free, day-long festive gathering featuring music, food, activities and workshops, like yoga, embroidery, treasure hunts, and more.
- 27 – 29 Aug | Paillote Festival (Morges, VD) Free, open-air musical festival featuring regional rock and pop artists.
- Until 16 Aug | Les Aubes Musicales (Bains des Pâquis, Geneva) The beloved acoustic sunrise concert series at Bains des Pâquis.
- Until 21 Aug | Scène Ella Fitzgerald (Parc La Grange, Geneva) Free concert series at Parc La Grange all summer long.
- Until 31 Aug | Concerts d’été à St-Germain (Old Town, Geneva) A beautiful, free concert series highlighting chamber and classical music in the Old Town.
🎬 Film, Visual Arts & Culture
- 1 Aug | Fête du Lac d’Annecy (Annecy, France) One of Europe’s largest pyrotechnic shows, which combines fireworks, synchronized music, water jets, and light projections.
- 2 Aug | Geneva tour in historical tram (Geneva) Enjoy seeing Geneva on a historic tram!
- 5 – 15 Aug | Locarno Film Festival (Locarno, TI) One of Europe’s most prestigious film festivals, famous for its massive open-air evening screenings in the iconic Piazza Grande.
- 6 – 8 Aug | Buskers Bern (Bern, BE) A street music and performance festival with dozens of international acrobats, and musicians performing in Bern’s historic old town.
- 12 – 28 Aug | Far Festival (Nyon, VD) A performing arts festival that transforms public spaces across Nyon into performance spaces for contemporary dance, experimental theater, circus acts, and more.
- 14 – 26 Aug | Festival International des Artistes de Rue (Vevey, VD) Outdoor street arts festival held throughout the old town of Vevey, where dozens of international jugglers, acrobats, clowns, mimes, and fire performers compete and perform.
- 18 – 28 Aug | Imperial Annecy Festival (Annecy, France) Performing arts festival held at the prestigious Impérial Palace, with shows that feature jazz, classical, and comedic performances – many which are free!
- 21 – 23 Aug | Dahlia Festival Anniversary Weekend (Morges, VD) The Dahlia Festival is celebrating its 30th edition with tons of entertainment, food, music, and of course, dahlias.
- 21 – 23 Aug | Kiyo Festival (Gland, VD) Outdoor Japanese pop-culture festival that showcases anime, manga, gaming through movie screenings, performances, food markets and more.
- 23 Aug | La Belle Dimanche (Châtel, France) Traditional alpine festival that celebrates local shepherd culture and alpine heritage, where you can see cattle adorned with flowers, folk music, alphorns, craft demonstrations, food stalls and more.
- 25 Aug – 13 Sep | La Bâtie – Festival de Genève (Geneva) A multidisciplinary contemporary arts festival that takes place in different venues across Geneva. Expect contemporary dance, theater, live music, performance from local and international artists.
- 28 Aug – 13 Sep | Cirque Knie (Plaine de Plainpalais) Cirque Knie is Switzerland’s largest and most famous circus, so you can expect a grand spectacle filled with exciting acrobatics, performances and large-scale productions.
- Until 16 Aug | Ciné Transat (Perle du Lac, Geneva)The beloved open-air cinema at Perle du Lac, where popular and classic films are screened from July to August.
- Until 6 Sep | Théâtre de l’Orangerie (Parc La Grange, Geneva) This summer-only greenhouse theater hosts an eclectic, rotating program of contemporary plays, live concerts, and more exciting performances!
⚽ Sports, Food & Lifestyle
- 2 – 3 Aug | Tour de France Femmes (Geneve / Lausanne / Aigle) Geneva will be hosting the finish and start of the highly anticipated Tour de France Femmes. You can catch the cyclists racing through the city, and enjoy the fan zones, food trucks, and other fun activities around the lake.
- 8 Aug | La Plus Grande Tablée de Suisse (Epesses, VD) Outdoor banquet set along a single giant dining table in the Lavaux vineyards, where guests (up to 1000) can enjoy local wines, regional foods, and live music.
- 5 – 16 Aug | Lausanne Sur Mer (Lausanne, VD) Summer sports and outdoor activity event, which offers nearly 90 free or low-cost sports activities—ranging from stand-up paddleboarding and wakeboarding to urban climbing, yoga, and street sports.
- 13 – 16 Aug | NK Nyon Festival (Nyon, VD) Outdoor urban sporting culture festival that features skate ramps, outdoor bouldering, live DJ sets, and more.
- 20 – 23 Aug | Nyon Street Food Festival (Nyon, VD) Les Quais de Rive will transform into a food village, with over 40 food trucks, bars, and more.
- 20 – 23 Aug | Coupe du Monde UCI Mountain Bike (Les Gets, France) The world’s top mountain bikers compete in high-speed Downhill and Cross-Country races in Les Gets.
- 21 Aug | Athletissima (Lausanne, VD) Annual world-class track and field event where you can catch Olympic champions, and top international stars bringing their best.
- 29 – 30 Aug | Festi’Terroir (Geneva) Three-day festival celebrating local organic agriculture and regional gastronomy. There will be a massive farmers’ market, craft food stalls, local wines, and live music.
- 28 – 30 Aug | La Vogue de Carouge (Carouge) Carouge’s last big summer party with live music, brass bands, food stands, rides, and more.
- 30 Aug | The Tavolatas of Geneva (Bernex, GE) An outdoor food event where over 300 guests share a long communal table to enjoy local dishes and regional wine pairings.
- Until 14 Aug | Français en été (Multiple parks, Geneva) If you’re looking to practice your French speaking, free, basic French classes for adults will take place in different parks around town. No registration required AND there’s free on-site childcare provided.
- Until 14 Aug | Goats’ Tour 2026 (Zermatt, VS) If you’re in Zermatt this summer, be sure not to miss the herds of long-haired Valais Blackneck goats parading down Zermatt’s main street each morning and afternoon (around 9:00 & 16:30)
- Until 16 Aug | La Canopée (Quai Gustave-Ador, Geneva) This pop-up summer pavilion offers an incredible lineup of entirely free wellness classes (including yoga, pilates, and cardio boxing), alongside free Thursday night stand-up comedy, Wednesday children’s game days, and a food and drink stall. Perfect place to hangout in the summer.
- Until 13 Sep | Les Chapiteaux enchantés (Multiple communes, Geneva) Wonderful traveling festival brings interactive tents to seven different Geneva communes, offering free, drop-in morning workshops, storytelling, and sensory play entirely tailored for toddlers (ages 0 to 4) and their parents.
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