https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Thousands of Queen fans sang, cheered and partied at the Freddie Mercury statue in Montreux, Switzerland, on Saturday to celebrate what would have been the legendary British singer's 80th birthday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260906/in-pictures-dont-stop-them-now-fans-party-for-freddie-mercurys-80th-birthday-in-switzerland Sun, 06 Sep 2026 15:12:42 +0200 in-pictures-dont-stop-them-now-fans-party-for-freddie-mercurys-80th-birthday-in-switzerland From Alphorn concerts to wine growing festivals - here's the best of what Switzerland has to offer in September 2026. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260826/10-unmissable-events-in-switzerland-in-september-2026 Wed, 26 Aug 2026 10:11:46 +0200 10-unmissable-events-in-switzerland-in-september-2026 From patriotic celebrations to music concerts and other open-air events - this is what's happening in Switzerland in August 2026. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260728/the-10-unmissable-events-in-switzerland-in-august-2026 Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:03:47 +0200 the-10-unmissable-events-in-switzerland-in-august-2026 From high-lining between mountain peaks to scores (no pun intended) of music festivals, these are some of the best events happening in July. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260622/whats-on-11-unmissable-events-in-switzerland-in-july-2026 Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:54:31 +0200 whats-on-11-unmissable-events-in-switzerland-in-july-2026 Art Basel made a splashy debut this week despite global turbulence, with an eight-figure sale for a Picasso during an invite-only VIP preview, and a David Hockney fetching $8.5 million. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260618/switzerlands-art-basel-sees-picasso-and-hockney-paintings-sold-for-millions Thu, 18 Jun 2026 09:24:31 +0200 switzerlands-art-basel-sees-picasso-and-hockney-paintings-sold-for-millions From religious holidays and music festivals, to art exhibitions - these are some of the events scheduled to take place across Switzerland in June 2026. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260526/whats-on-10-events-not-to-miss-in-switzerland-this-june Tue, 26 May 2026 14:40:45 +0200 whats-on-10-events-not-to-miss-in-switzerland-this-june Bulgaria won the Eurovision Song Contest on Sunday with Dara's catchy floor-filler "Bangaranga" sweeping the 70th edition of the world's biggest live televised music event and pushing into second place Israel, whose participation had triggered a major boycott. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260517/bulgarias-bangaranga-wins-eurovision-with-israel-second Sun, 17 May 2026 10:44:45 +0200 bulgarias-bangaranga-wins-eurovision-with-israel-second A Swiss museum made a splash on Friday by inviting in the public in their swimwear to enjoy Paul Cezanne's iconic paintings of people bathing. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260502/immersive-art-swiss-museum-goers-in-bikinis-dive-into-cezanne Sat, 02 May 2026 09:28:01 +0200 immersive-art-swiss-museum-goers-in-bikinis-dive-into-cezanne The Eurovision Song Contest is famous for celebrating everything from cross-dressing ballad singers to heavy metal bands in monster masks, but geopolitics is threatening its 70th anniversary edition. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260426/geopolitics-threatens-70th-anniversary-of-eurovision Sun, 26 Apr 2026 13:03:11 +0200 geopolitics-threatens-70th-anniversary-of-eurovision From a cheese festival to the ice hockey world championship - these are some of the events scheduled to take place in various Swiss regions this month. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260422/whats-on-10-events-not-to-miss-in-switzerland-in-may-2026 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:56:56 +0200 whats-on-10-events-not-to-miss-in-switzerland-in-may-2026 From solemn processions to festive markets, Swiss regions abound with special events during the long holiday weekend. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260313/nine-events-not-to-be-missed-during-the-easter-week-in-switzerland Fri, 13 Mar 2026 13:44:42 +0100 nine-events-not-to-be-missed-during-the-easter-week-in-switzerland Watching German-language movies and series can be one of the most fun and entertaining ways to improve your language skills. Here are a few to check out. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230503/10-must-see-films-and-series-to-help-you-improve-your-german Wed, 03 May 2023 17:14:12 +0200 10-must-see-films-and-series-to-help-you-improve-your-german A recent survey by the Pew Research Centre delved into what people feel proudest about in their country, with Europeans pointing to history, food and culture among the main reasons. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260228/culture-politics-food-what-makes-europeans-proud-of-their-country Sat, 28 Feb 2026 12:49:34 +0100 culture-politics-food-what-makes-europeans-proud-of-their-country The Swiss city of Basel's famous 'Fasnacht' carnival celebration kicks off at 4am on Monday, February 23rd. Here's what to know about the tradition and the key events. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240219/basel-fasnacht-what-you-should-know-about-switzerlands-largest-carnival Mon, 19 Feb 2024 14:17:42 +0100 basel-fasnacht-what-you-should-know-about-switzerlands-largest-carnival Paléo Festival, held every summer in the Swiss town of Nyon in Vaud, has been named the best music festival in Europe. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260116/swiss-music-festival-named-the-best-in-europe Fri, 16 Jan 2026 15:02:32 +0100 swiss-music-festival-named-the-best-in-europe From humble beginnings and a small production budget, "Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel" has become the seminal Christmas film across much of Europe - including Switzerland. https://www.thelocal.ch/20191222/this-christmas-film-is-the-most-watched-movie-in-swiss-history Sun, 22 Dec 2019 12:00:00 +0100 this-christmas-film-is-the-most-watched-movie-in-swiss-history John Howe, the illustrator who brought J. R. R. Tolkien's universe to life, is now inviting the world into his mind's eye by setting up his studio in a mediaeval prison-turned-museum in Switzerland. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251215/in-pictures-swiss-museum-offers-a-glimpse-inside-the-mind-of-tolkien-illustrator Mon, 15 Dec 2025 14:23:12 +0100 in-pictures-swiss-museum-offers-a-glimpse-inside-the-mind-of-tolkien-illustrator Yodelling, the traditional singing of herders in the Swiss Alps, was recognised by the United Nations on Thursday as part of the world's cultural heritage. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251211/swiss-yodelling-joins-world-cultural-heritage-list Thu, 11 Dec 2025 18:28:13 +0100 swiss-yodelling-joins-world-cultural-heritage-list Switzerland hopes to have yodelling recognised by the United Nations this month to help protect the ancestral sing-song tradition of the Alpine nation's herders and shepherds. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251205/its-our-culture-swiss-bid-for-yodelling-to-be-given-global-recognition Fri, 05 Dec 2025 12:33:47 +0100 its-our-culture-swiss-bid-for-yodelling-to-be-given-global-recognition There is no shortage of events that take place throughout in Switzerland in December - from Advent festivities to spectacular Christmas markets. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251124/whats-on-in-switzerland-10-events-not-to-miss-in-december-2025 Mon, 24 Nov 2025 12:52:06 +0100 whats-on-in-switzerland-10-events-not-to-miss-in-december-2025