Region

Ascona

Ascona is a picturesque, elegant and romantic former fishing village with many small streets where you can find local shops and galleries. The car-free lake promenade invites you to stroll and enjoy. Numerous events take place here, such as the Jazz Festival, the Street Artists Festival or the Chestnut Festival. Let yourself be enchanted by this jewel

Locarno, the valleys and the lake

Locarno, the charming small town on the shores of Lake Maggiore, has become famous for its annual film festival in Piazza Grande. But also the old town with the numerous small shops is absolutely worth seeing.

An excursion into the picturesque valleys around Lake Maggiore is an absolute must. Here you can go on relaxing hikes, visit idyllic old villages and deep gorges and explore unique landscapes. Visit the famous Valle Verzasca, the mysterious Valle Onsernone, the wildly romantic Maggiatal or take the popular narrow-gauge railway through the ravine rich Centovalli.

Events selected for you

Camellias 2025

19.03.2025 - 23.03.2025

"Camelie Locarno", the spring event, will take place in Locarno's Camellia Park. The 26th edition lasts from 19 to 23 march 2025

The focus is on the exhibition, where, in addition to the interesting exhibition on the species, the traditional and popular collection of cut flowers of over 200 varieties of camellia will be displayed and, as always, staged with great care.

The exhibition venue is the Camellia Park in Locarno. Included in the Gardens of excellence by the International Camellia Society, the park is home to about a thousand camellia plants in almost as many varieties. From March to April, the garden is in full bloom. You can shop at the plant market and a bar invites you to linger.

A number of fringe events are also planned, such as the camellia concerts.

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Jazzfestival Ascona 2025

26.06.2025 - 05.07.2025

Since 1985, JazzAscona is one of the world's leading events dedicated to New Orleans Beat, attracting and thrilling a large audience every year, whith the diversity of its rich programme, but also the festival's holiday ambience, and the spectacular scenery of Ascona.

JazzAscona is the only big european festival, offering a full immersion into New Orleans’ music, culture and cuisine.

Some 200 concerts take place during 10 days, non-stop from midday to late at night on the four stages along the lakefront as well as in bars, restaurants, alleys, and piazzas throughout the picturesque old-town Borgo.

Since 2022 all concerts are free.

The festival offers a unique musical mix. From New Orleans jazz to swing, blues through R&B, gospel and soul, all genres related to jazz’s and Afro-American music’s great traditions are represented.

JazzAscona is the only festival in Europe officially supported by the City of New Orleans. Ascona and New Orleans are also "Sister Cities", the official twinning was signed during the festival’s 2022 edition, by the mayors of the two cities.

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Moon and Stars 2025

10.07.2025 - 20.07.2025

The Moon&Stars in the Piazza Grande is an integral part of Locarno's summer programme, and not without reason.
Pop and rock stars who are familiar with the world's biggest stages come to the cobbled Piazza Grande and turn the heart of Locarno into a bubbling cauldron.
Once again, well-known stars will provide a captivating open-air atmosphere. Just behind the Piazza Grande, in the Piazza Piccola, in the Food&Music Street, the icing on the festival cake, bars and food trucks line up and concerts by national and international musicians are organised.

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Locarno Film Festival

06.08.2025 - 16.08.2025

Locarno Film Festival is the most significant cinematographic event in Switzerland and among the most important in Europe. Numerous are the movies presented in four different sections: Concorso internazionale, Concorso Cineasti del presente and the sections Pardi di domani (national and international).

The Festival's heart is surely the daily evening projection in the magnificent Piazza Grande, which transforms itself into the "most beautiful movie-theater under the stars".

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80. Settimane Musicali Ascona

02.09.2025 - 23.10.2025

The Settimane Musicali di Ascona, with its rich programme of symphony concerts, chamber music evenings and single instrument recitals, has come to represent, over the last 80 years, the most important classical music festival in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. The world's most renowned artists have visited Ascona at least once, with many others returning several times.

The concerts take place in the picturesque setting of the churches Collegio Papio in Ascona and San Francesco in Locarn

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Ascona Polo Cup

05.09.2025 - 07.09.2025

From 5 to 7 of September 2025 the appointment with the Ascona Polo Cup is renewed, the unmissable event that this year reaches its 14th edition.

Six teams present, with more than 80 horses that will compete offering a show to say the least adrenaline that will give unforgettable moments to all present.

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CSI Ascona

11.09.2025 - 14.09.2025

The international horse riding competion (CSI Ascona) will take place also this year on the vast fields of Ascona's former airstrip, which are set to be completely transformed for the occasion. Some of the finest mens and ladies riders in the world will feature spectacular show jumping competitions. Over four days, spectators can enjoy a sporting program of the very highest order. Along with the amazing exhibitions from the splendid thoroughbreds and their riders, there are lots of events to keep everyone entertained.

The entry is free on all days!

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