Summer in the Swiss Alps is not just about hiking and breathtaking panoramas. It's also the season for prestigious cultural events, where classical music, jazz, cinema, literature and Alpine traditions come together in perfect harmony with the mountains. Here's an exclusive selection of the ten must-see Alpine festivals for summer 2025, offering unique cultural and artistic experiences in an exceptional frame .
1. Montreux Jazz Festival - Montreux (Vaud)
Dates: July 4 to 19, 2025
Created in 1967, this legendary festival on the shores of Lake Geneva welcomes the world's greatest musical legends every year. Open-air concerts overlooking the Alps, private jam sessions and ultra-VIP events orchestrated by Audemars Piguet make this a must-see event for a demanding audience of jazz, pop, rock and soul music fans.
For more information: https: //www.montreuxjazzfestival.com/fr/
2. Verbier Festival - Verbier (Valais)
Dates: July 16 to August 3, 2025
Verbier is the meeting place par excellence for alpine classical music. The 32nd edition features over 60 concerts and 100 masterclasses, welcoming such greats as Martha Argerich and Khatia Buniatishvili. The Salle des Combins, with its breathtaking view of Mont Blancguarantees an exceptional visual and auditory experience.
For more information: https: //www.verbierfestival.com/
3. Gstaad Menuhin Festival & Academy - Gstaad (Bern)
Dates: July 18 to September 6, 2025
Founded by violinist Yehudi Menuhin, this world-renowned festival takes over the churches and marquees of Saanenland for refined, intimate concerts. The program brilliantly blends international virtuosos and young talent, making the festival a must for lovers of elegant, authentic classical music.
For more information: https: //www.gstaadmenuhinfestival.ch/fr
4. Locarno International Film Festival - Locarno (Ticino)
Dates: August 6 to 16, 2025
Locarno transforms its Piazza Grande into a giant cinema under the stars, attracting actors and directors from all over the world. This prestigious festival offers a varied selection of films, from demanding auteur films to major premieres, in a glamorous and convivial atmosphere typical of the Ticino.
For more information: https: //www.locarnofestival.ch/home.html
5. Festival da Jazz - St. Moritz (Graubünden)
Dates: July 3 to 27, 2025
At an altitude of 1,800 meters, the Festival da Jazz offers intimate concerts at the legendary Dracula Club, offering unique proximity to jazz legends such as Diana Krall. With its musical brunches and improvised sessions facing the summits, the event is ideal for a select audience seeking exclusivity and authenticity.
For more information: https: //www.festivaldajazz.ch/en
6. Sion Festival - Sion (Valais)
Dates: August 15 to 31, 2025
Founded in 1964 by Tibor Varga, the Sion Festival combines classical music and contemporary creations in emblematic venues such as the new Noda cultural center. The event culminates in a day of non-stop concerts, offering total immersion in a varied and refined musical universe, much appreciated by a cultivated and demanding public.
For more information: https: //sion-violon-musique.ch/sion-festival/
7. Zermatt Music Festival & Academy - Zermatt (Valais)
Dates: September 11 to 21, 2025
In the shadow of the Matterhorn, this festival combines music education and top-class concerts under the direction of the prestigious Scharoun Ensemble. Church concerts, Alpine serenades at 2222 meters and free events make up a program that values transmission and excellence in a spectacular Alpine setting.
For more information: https: //zermattfestival.com/
8. Festival International de Littérature de Loèche-les-Bains - Leukerbad (Valais)
Dates: June 20 to 22, 2025
This unique festival combines contemporary literature and Alpine relaxation. Poetic readings during hikes, philosophical debates in the thermal baths and exclusive meetings with international writers make Leukerbad an unmissable destination for lovers of literature and intellectual well-being.
For more information: https: //literaturfestival.ch/
9. International Alphorn Festival - Nendaz (Valais)
Dates: July 25 to 27, 2025
The world's biggest event dedicated to the alphorn, the Nendaz Festival celebrates Swiss folklore with refinement and authenticity. High-altitude musical competitions, traditional processions, folk dances and local gastronomy attract a high-end audience in search of deeply Swiss cultural emotions.
For more information: https: //www.nendazcordesalpes.ch/
10. Origen Festival Cultural - Riom/Julier (Graubünden)
Dates: July-August 2025
This avant-garde arts festival transforms the Engadine into a cultural stage. Innovative performances in ephemeral theaters at an altitude of 2300 meters, contemporary operas and original creations in unusual sites (the White Tower of Mulegns) appeal to an aesthetic, curious and cultured public with a taste for out-of-the-ordinary experiences.
For more information: https: //www.origen.ch/
These ten exceptional Alpine festivals make up a unique cultural summer season 2025. They elegantly blend classical music, intimate jazz, auteur cinema, living literature and revisited folk traditions, in a sublime natural frame . Each carefully selected festival guarantees an unforgettable experience for a high-end audience in search of authenticity, prestige and intense artistic emotion.
From the refined glamour of Montreux and Locarno, through the warm authenticity of Nendaz and Verbier, to the bold avant-gardism of Origen, Summer 2025 promises moments of wonder and deep culture in the heart of the Swiss Alps. Whether you're a discerning music lover, a demanding film buff, a lover of literature or simply an epicurean in love with the mountains, these festivals will transform your stay into an exceptional experience.
Plan your cultural trip now and let yourself be inspired by Alpine creativity. This summer, the Swiss Alps invite you to experience culture at its best.
