Events

Few Alpine resorts can rival Zermatt for the breadth and quality of its annual events. Each April, as the winter season draws to a close, the village comes alive with the celebrated Zermatt Unplugged acoustic music festival, drawing musicians from across the world to perform across thirteen intimate venues woven throughout the resort. Every two years in spring, Zermatt also serves as the dramatic starting point for the Patrouille des Glaciers, a legendary ski touring race in which hundreds of competitors undertake the formidable overnight journey on skis through the high mountains to Verbier.

Summer brings its own rich programme of cultural celebration. Throughout July and August, folk groups perform daily in the train station square, filling the heart of the village with traditional Alpine music. Festivals such as the Folklore festival and the Stafelalp festival honour age-old local customs, while Swiss National Day provides a moment of communal pride and festivity for visitors and residents alike.

As summer gives way to early autumn, Zermatt's mountain air takes on a different kind of magic. September sees the arrival of the Zermatt Music Festival, a prestigious gathering that unites classical musicians from around the globe for concerts and workshops held against the breathtaking backdrop of the high Alps. Taken together, this extraordinary calendar of events ensures that a stay in Zermatt rewards guests with cultural richness whatever the season.