Celebrations for the National Day of 1st August in Lugano

National Day is a particularly cherished event, bringing together local residents while offering visitors the opportunity to discover the traditions associated with this celebration. Against the stunning backdrop of Lugano, on the picturesque shores of Lake Lugano (Ceresio), the festivities on 1 August become a convivial occasion where historical memory meets the present through a rich programme of events.

The day's celebrations officially begin at 6:00 a.m., when the streets of the city centre come alive with the traditional reveille performed by the Tamburini Luganesi. At 10:15 a.m., the official gathering of the authorities takes place at Palazzo Civico in Piazza della Riforma. Escorted by the Corpo dei Volontari Luganesi, the participants then proceed on foot to Piazza Indipendenza, where a laurel wreath is laid at the Independence Obelisk in tribute to Lugano's history. The morning concludes at 11:00 a.m. with a concert by the Filarmonica di Castagnola in the courtyard of Palazzo Civico.

The afternoon musical entertainment, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., will be provided by the Beat Band.

The Lüganiga Band will accompany the evening programme, bringing up the rear of the parade before performing two concerts in Piazza Manzoni: the first at 6:00 p.m. and the second after the fireworks display.

The evening programme begins in earnest at 8:45 p.m. with the traditional parade of the authorities and local associations departing from Via Nassa and proceeding to Piazza della Riforma.

The parade is led by officers of the Municipal Police and the Cantonal Police, followed by the Corpo dei Volontari Luganesi, the authorities and guests of the City of Lugano, as well as local organisations and associations. Upon arriving in the square, at around 9:15 p.m., Marco Chiesa, Member of the City Council of Lugano, will deliver the official address. This will be followed, at approximately 9:45 p.m., by a concert from the Civica Filarmonica di Lugano.

At 10:30 p.m., fireworks will light up the Gulf of Lugano with the pyrotechnic show "Symphony of Light", created by the Ticino-based company La Pirotecnica Sagl of Colombo, which is committed to minimising the environmental and acoustic impact of its productions. The materials used for the fireworks are made of rice paper or fully biodegradable paper, together with environmentally friendly plastics. From an acoustic perspective, the sound emissions of the display will comply with current European and international standards and regulations.

Programme Updates

In the event of adverse weather conditions, the fireworks display will be postponed until the following day, while the rest of the event programme may be subject to changes. Updates will be communicated promptly through the official channels, the media and the Lugano Region information office: +41 58 220 65 00.

Celebrations in the Districts

In addition to the events in the city centre, celebrations will also take place in the following districts of Lugano:

Friday, 31 July
6:00 p.m.–1:00 a.m. | Playground, Carabbia — Waiting for 1 August

Saturday, 1 August
10:00 a.m.–2:00 a.m. | Piazza, Piandera — National Day Celebration
6:30 p.m.–12:00 midnight | Piazza della Chiesa, Carona — National Day Celebration

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