Summer in Lugano
Summer has returned to the city, bringing with it the many traditions that are uniquely Luganese: evening strolls along the lakeside promenade closed to traffic, swimming at Parco Ciani or at the lidos, picnics in Parco del Tassino, barbecues on Monte Brè and Monte San Salvatore, and aperitifs in neighbourhood squares or by the water’s edge... The events that have shaped the city’s summer rhythm for many years are also back: the open-air cinema, the lake crossing swim, the fireworks on 1 August 2026, and, of course, Estival, Blues to Bop and Buskers, the flagship events of the LongLake Festival.
When you say summer, you think of water
© 2026 Iryna Butko, Hypnostudio Sagl
To enjoy the summer, it is not always necessary for something to be happening – an event or a festival. Sometimes all you want is a pleasant place where you can spend quality time, alone or with your circle of friends or family. With the summer heat, it is only natural to favour waterside destinations, ideal for cooling off.
Those who enjoy swimming in the lake (and perhaps carrying a stand-up paddle under their arm) can take advantage of the various free-access spots the city has to offer: from Parco Ciani to Villa Heleneum, from the calisthenics park in Cassarate to the large grassy area of Pian Casoro in Barbengo. Then there are the lidos: the historic one on Viale Castagnola, with its swimming pools and diving platforms up to 10 metres high, Lido Riva Caccia, a floating platform in perfect urban style, and Lido San Domenico, known for its alternative evenings with DJs and live music.
Some city parks offer bodies of water of various sizes, such as the large fountains in Parco del Tassino, much loved by children, or the spacious pools in the grounds of Villa Saroli, where you can dip your feet or let children cool off.
Those simply looking to stay close to the water can stroll along the Cassarate River as far as Piano della Stampa, relax on the beach in the Lanchetta area, drink from the city’s many fountains or, why not, enjoy the Aureola at Parco Vecchio Torchio in Viganello. For those who enjoy a more lively social scene, there are the vibrant “les pieds dans l’eau” evenings at Lugano Marittima and Lugano Riviera or, from 21 August to 13 September, the open-air cinema at Lido di Lugano.
July is LongLake month
The undisputed highlight of July is the LongLake Festival, which from 9 to 26 July brings concerts, performances and open-air literary events to the city’s parks and squares. The festival features three main programmes: the historic Estival, from 9 to 11 July, Blues to Bop, from 17 to 19 July, and Buskers, which from 22 to 26 July brings street artists, performers, cabaret acts and puppeteers to Lugano with shows that are also suitable for children.
Beyond these flagship programmes, countless events help define this 16th edition: from the literary encounters of Words to Urban Art tours and the more alternative offerings of Roam and Off.
For those who would like to narrow the focus and keep track of activities for families, there is the Family section, featuring shows, workshops and readings for children aged 0 to 12.
Consult the full programme and come into the city centre!
Walks in and around the city
The warmer season invites people to get walking, whether in hiking boots or with an ice cream cone in hand. Among the most popular urban routes are the paths winding through Parco Ciani and, in the evening, strolls along the lakeside promenade closed to traffic. Outside the city, there is no shortage of choice: the Lugano region, surrounded by mountains, offers countless trails suitable for children, seniors, beginners and experienced hikers alike. Lugano Region offers excursions of varying levels of difficulty.
Local festivals and village fairs
In summer, Lugano’s 21 districts come alive with music, food events and much more. In Davesco-Soragno, for example, Piazza in Festa takes place on 20 June, a convivial event open to the public. In the historic centre of Carona, the CaronAntica festival dedicated to early music continues (next concerts on 27 and 28 June, and on 1 and 7 July). Meanwhile, in Figino, in the park of the Fondazione Claudia Lombardi per il teatro, the gARTen festival returns from 1 to 3 July.
Outdoor sports
Until September, Lugano offers a wide range of sporting activities for everyone, adults and children alike. And for football enthusiasts, of course, the unmissable event of summer 2026 is the FIFA World Cup, available on giant screens.
At Lido di Lugano, events dedicated to sport, wellbeing and leisure are back, with activities designed for all ages.
On 27 June, 18 July and 8 August, Family Days offer three full days entirely dedicated to families. On Wednesday afternoons and Saturdays throughout July and August, Lido&Sport features a variety of activities.
On 28 July, under the full moon, the lido invites visitors to a midnight swim, while for the more adventurous, the traditional lake crossing takes place on 16 August, open to everyone, with departure from Caprino and arrival at the beach.
For registrations, updates and information on new activities, simply consult the MyLugano app.
For those wishing to take yoga or Pilates classes outdoors, the City of Lugano organises courses in various locations, including Parco San Michele and Lido di Lugano. For details, registrations and updates, simply visit the MyLugano app.
There is also no shortage of private initiatives: these range from the free classes organised by Yoga Dinamico every Sunday from 9:30 am to 10:30 am at Parco del Tassino, to the paid sessions at Lido San Domenico (on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30 am to 9:30 am) and at Lido Riva Caccia (every Sunday, from 5 July to 27 September, from 8:00 am to 9:00 am).
Until 19 July, the most eagerly awaited FIFA World Cup matches will be broadcast live on the big screen: the semi-finals (9–11 July) and the final for 1st and 2nd place (19 July) in Piazza Manzoni, while the 3rd–4th place play-off (18 July) will be shown at the Lugano Exhibition Centre.
The 1 August 2026 celebrations
National Day on 1 August is a deeply cherished occasion for the people of Lugano. It begins early in the morning with the traditional reveille by the drummers and concludes – after a series of events involving local authorities and associations – with the fireworks display over the lake, which attracts thousands of visitors every year.
Updates will be available on the City’s main online channels.
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.