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 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 A realistic-looking sculpture of Donald Trump in an orange jumpsuit and strapped to a cross has stirred discussion -- and smiles -- in Switzerland, where it went on display this week. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251105/sculpture-of-trump-strapped-to-a-cross-displayed-in-switzerland Wed, 05 Nov 2025 12:39:00 +0100 sculpture-of-trump-strapped-to-a-cross-displayed-in-switzerland From artisan markets to carrot and onion festivals, November in Switzerland offers something fun for everyone. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251021/whats-on-in-switzerland-10-events-not-to-miss-in-november-2025 Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:42:16 +0200 whats-on-in-switzerland-10-events-not-to-miss-in-november-2025 The Swiss town of Neuchâtel handed over to South Africa three artefacts that had spent more than a century in one of its museums. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251029/swiss-town-hands-three-artefacts-back-to-south-africa Wed, 29 Oct 2025 10:13:03 +0100 swiss-town-hands-three-artefacts-back-to-south-africa Autumn is a great month in Switzerland, with many markets, food festivals, as well as cultural events taking place around the country. So what's happening in the various regions of the country? https://www.thelocal.ch/20250922/whats-on-in-switzerland-this-october-nine-events-not-to-miss Mon, 22 Sep 2025 19:18:30 +0200 whats-on-in-switzerland-this-october-nine-events-not-to-miss Lots of great events are happening in various Swiss regions — from wine tasting to listening to Alphorn music. These are ones you shouldn't miss in September 2025. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250822/whats-on-in-switzerland-ten-events-not-to-miss-in-september-2025 Fri, 22 Aug 2025 13:48:02 +0200 whats-on-in-switzerland-ten-events-not-to-miss-in-september-2025 As summer continues, many festivals and other fun events take place throughout the country. This is what is happening in Switzerland in August. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250725/whats-on-eight-unmissable-events-in-switzerland-this-august Fri, 25 Jul 2025 13:17:55 +0200 whats-on-eight-unmissable-events-in-switzerland-this-august