Switzerland festivals surpass their mere music event status with idyllic locations, hard-to-score acts, and upcoming talents. From the famous Zurich Openair to the electronic-fueled Caprices Festival, these are the festivals you can’t miss.
Here’s your ultimate guide to the top festivals in Switzerland in 2023.
Zurich
When alternative rock, indie pop, and electronic talent gather to Switzerland’s scenic beauty, Zurich Openair rears its head. With no Burning Man shenanigans and Coachella dress codes, the festival stays dedicated to music only with collective experiences and budding talents.
Northeast Switzerland
Fuss-free but always ready to put the best urban beats on the table, Openair Frauenfeld is a big gun in the hip-hop music calendar. Considered Europe’s largest hip-hop event and Switzerland’s biggest open-air festival, Openair Frauenfeld never underdelivers when it comes to music performances.
Bern Area
Oh, the beauty of multi-genre festivals. With over 150 acts from different musical backgrounds, Gurtenfestival ensures that every attendee will experience their beloved beats, songs, and genres. From Megan Thee Stallion to Prix Garanti, there is something for everyone at the Switzerland festival.
Southwest Switzerland
Partying in the Swiss Alps would be nothing without electronic beats’ power – or so Caprices Festival says. Situated 2200m up in the mountains, the techno festival brings music heroes from all across Europe to keep the event alive 24/7.
Southeast Switzerland
Forget everything you know about traditional music festivals because Shankra Festival Switzerland is not one of them. A hippie at heart, the music event is a Burning Man surrounded by the Alps.
It celebrates psychedelic trance culture and promotes self-expression through art – two endeavors visible in everything the fest showcases.
Bern Area
Home to all things rock, Greenfield is one of the few Switzerland festivals that celebrate hardcore culture. The events’ lineups strike a balance between international acts and homegrown talent – a blend which attracts tens of thousands metalheads to Interlaken’s outskirts.
North Switzerland
For almost four decades, Baloise Session has been carrying its legacy as an all-inclusive festival. Boasting a diverse music repertoire – from soul to funk – the Switzerland event is reminiscent of New York’s legendary music clubs – intimate, fuss-free, and mysterious.
Zurich
Mystica Festival has one mission in mind – to take music lovers on a journey in outer space. With a soft spot for psytrance, the event is exactly how one would picture it – vibrant, full of hypnotic visuals, and mind-blowing.