Christmas in Lugano

After the success of last year, Ciani Park will once again feature the natural ice rink which this year returns under the name “AIL Ice Village”. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a new attraction: playing ice minigolf. These two experiences, designed for both adults and children, will turn the heart of Ciani Park into a true winter village, where fun blends with the magic of the Christmas season. A temporary pop-up structure in alpine-chic style will welcome guests for afternoon snacks and aperitifs. Along the lakeside promenade, the famous submerged Nativity scene will return, with statues lying on the bed of Lake Lugano that light up in the evening, creating a unique and enchanting spectacle.

Just a few steps from the park, the Asilo Ciani will be transformed into an enchanting Christmas-themed Family Village, easy to reach and with free admission. In this dedicated space, children will be able to immerse themselves in a festive and playful atmosphere, with games suitable for all ages and creative workshops organised by L’ideatorio USI and the Museo in erba. At the Teatro Foce, on 8 and 21 December the shows "Penny e il primo fiocco di neve" and "Natale a suon di hip hop" will be presented, with free entry, while on 14 December the "Senza confini" festival by Teatro Pan, in collaboration with LAC edu, will present "La regina delle nevi".

On Wednesday, 31 December, people will gather in Piazza della Riforma to wait together for the arrival of the new year and celebrate it with a toast under the Christmas tree. As per tradition, on Thursday, 1 January, the city authorities will meet the public at the Palazzo dei Congressi for a moment of greetings and togetherness that will officially inaugurate the new year. Further details will be provided on the Lugano Eventi website.

Natale in Piazza - Lugano Eventi

Perhaps not everyone knows that mapping is a creative technique that makes it possible to transform unusual surfaces, such as building façades, monuments or objects, by projecting images that enhance their architecture. This artistic discipline combines elements of architecture, technological innovation and creativity, making it possible to create bespoke visual experiences that blend harmoniously with the features and geometries of the surfaces onto which they are projected.

At Natale in Piazza, the buildings in Piazza della Riforma will feature mapping created by designer Davide Grampa, together with colleagues Marilena Pasini, Alberto Barone, Alicia Gonzalez and with the technical assistance of Angelini Service Sagl. The projections will be visible every day from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. The project, promoted by the City of Lugano and supported by UBS, BancaStato and BG Suisse Private Bank – all “inhabitants” of the square with their offices in the historic buildings – will turn the square into a real light show for the benefit of residents and visitors.

The Ticino designer wanted to pay tribute to the city by including, in the projections on the façade of Palazzo Civico, some of Lugano’s characteristic elements, which can be discovered from 27 November at 6 p.m., the moment when the Christmas tree and the projections will be switched on, marking the start of the festivities.

In addition to the projections in Piazza della Riforma, the historic Via Nassa will be transformed, from 27 November to 8 January, into an evocative scenic route between Piazza della Riforma and the entrance to Piazza Luini, with projections on the historic façades of the buildings, accompanied by a delicate backdrop of Christmas music that offers an immersive and refined experience. Lugano’s shopping street, Via Nassa, will be further enhanced by a red carpet under the arcades and 30 fir trees, guiding visitors along an elegant festive itinerary, while the street comes to life as a sophisticated weave of lights, sounds and flavours, where Christmas tradition meets timeless elegance.

At the centre of the street, in Piazzetta San Carlo, the Gourmet Chalet by Gastrosnack Bernasconi, in collaboration with Spirits of Wine, will be set up. The initiative is promoted by the Via Nassa Association, which will launch the first edition of “Natale tra le Stelle” on Thursday, 27 November at 6.30 p.m., shortly after the lighting of the Christmas tree in Piazza della Riforma.

Along Via Nassa there will also be the stalls of the city’s Christmas market.

Bellinzona, Locarno and Lugano, under the umbrella of the Ticino365 project, are joining forces to enhance and promote their respective initiatives “Natale in Piazza Lugano”, “Winterland Locarno” and “Natale in Città” in Bellinzona, with the aim of offering the public an integrated experience that allows visitors to discover the three cities in a complementary way.

The Events and Conferences Division of the City of Lugano, organiser of Natale in Piazza, would like to thank BancaStato, Lugano Region, AIL and media partner RSI for their support of the event. UBS, BancaStato and BG Suisse Private Bank are also thanked for their support, which made it possible to realise the video mapping in Piazza della Riforma.