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.

On the evening of Saturday, 1 August, in conjunction with the fireworks display, traffic disruptions are expected due to the large number of people and vehicles travelling to the city centre.


Road closures
The lakeside road (Lungolago), from the LAC roundabout to Piazza Castello, will be closed from 6:00 pm on Saturday, 1 August, until 1:30 am on Sunday, 2 August.

In addition, Via Magatti, Via Albrizzi, Via della Posta and Via Nizzola will also be closed during the same period to allow the traditional official National Day procession to take place.


Available parking
For visitors arriving from the Lugano South motorway exit or from Ponte Tresa:

  • P&R Fornaci
  • Central Park Car Park
  • Via Maraini / Via Tassino Parking
  • Motta Car Park
  • LAC Car Park
  • P&R FFS
  • Bettydo Car Park
  • Piazza Pelli Car Park

For visitors arriving from the Lugano North motorway exit, Via Besso or the Vedeggio/Cassarate route:

  • Palazzo Congressi Car Park
  • Lido and Campo Marzio Parking
  • Balestra Car Park

For real-time information on parking availability, users are invited to consult the Parking section.


Illegal or obstructive parking
Drivers are strongly advised not to park outside designated parking spaces or in any manner that obstructs traffic or pedestrians.

The following will not be tolerated:

  • Parking on pavements, obstructing pedestrians
  • Parking on no-stopping lines
  • Parking on pedestrian crossings or the approach markings to pedestrian crossings
  • Parking within intersections
  • Parking in pedestrian zones
  • Parking in front of buildings or private accesses

In serious cases, obstructing vehicles will be removed at the owner's expense.

Police officers will also be present in the busiest areas and available to provide assistance whenever required.


Theft prevention
Large crowds make it easier for pickpockets to operate, especially when people are distracted by the event. To reduce the risk of theft, we recommend that you:

  • Keep your handbag or document bag securely closed and worn across your body.
  • Immediately report any suspicious or unusual incidents to the Police, even if they appear insignificant.
  • If you witness an incident requiring Police intervention, remain at the scene if possible, as your testimony may be valuable.


Road safety
Road traffic regulations are strictly enforced against drivers who fail to comply. Visitors are reminded not to drive if their blood alcohol level exceeds the legal limit.

The use of electronic devices while driving is prohibited, particularly for filming or photographing the fireworks display. Such offences will be reported to the Road Traffic Legal Office in Camorino, with the corresponding penalties being imposed.

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.

Other Useful Information

More information about boat services, food and beverage offerings, and travel by public transport is available in the press releases below (in Italian):

Comunicato stampa Festa nazionale del 1° Agosto 2026
PDF (95 KB)

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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The English version of this page was created with the aid of automatic translation tools and may contain errors and omissions.

The original version is the page in Italian.

Contacts

Città di Lugano
Eventi e congressi
Via Trevano 55
6900 Lugano
t. +41 58 866 74 40
[email protected]

See also