What's on in Switzerland: September 2026

September always feels a bit like an in-between month in Switzerland. Summer isn't quite over, but the holiday season is slowly coming to an end. Most people are back at work, weekends get a little quieter and in some places it feels like Switzerland is breathing out again after the busy summer months.

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That's exactly what makes September such a nice month. There's still plenty to do, it's often still lovely to be outside, and at the same time everything feels a little less busy than in July and August.

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Here are three things to get out of Switzerland this month.

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Events in September

The big summer festivals are slowly coming to an end, but other fun things take their place: more culture, local traditions, village festivals and events that suit the beginning of autumn.

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A few events that stand out this month:

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The Knabenschiessen (12 to 14 September) is Zurich's biggest public festival, with a tradition going back to the sixteenth century. Officially it revolves around a shooting competition for Zurich teenagers, but for most visitors it's mainly a big festival with a funfair at the Albisgütli. Free to visit, and the whole of Zurich turns out for it.

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During the Zurich Design Weeks (17 to 27 September) the city is all about design for over a week, with exhibitions, installations and events at all kinds of locations. Also free, and fun to just walk into when you're in town anyway.

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And from 24 September the Zurich Film Festival kicks off (until 4 October), the 22nd edition this year. Eleven days of premieres, international guests and films you wouldn't normally catch at the cinema.

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My tip: look beyond the big events in Zurich, Bern or Lucerne. The smaller village festivals and traditions in your own region are often the best way to get to know Switzerland better.

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The Alpabzug: the most beautiful end to summer

One tradition deserves its own section: the Alpabzug, called Désalpe in the French-speaking part. In September, the cows return from the mountains in many places, after a whole summer on the alpine meadows. They're decorated with flowers and big bells, and there's often music, food and a village festival around it.

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Especially if you're new to Switzerland, an Alpabzug is really something to experience once. It's Switzerland at its most Swiss: tradition, mountains, cheese and a whole village turning out. The processions are spread across the country and across several weekends, so check what's happening in your region. If you ask me, it belongs on your bucket list for your first year in Switzerland.

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takeoff community weekend in Grindelwald

In September we're also heading out ourselves. From 18 to 20 September there's a takeoff community weekend in Grindelwald, for Dutch physios in Switzerland.

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The idea is simple: a weekend in the mountains together, getting to know other physios and stepping out of the normal working week for a bit. We're staying at the youth hostel in Grindelwald, having dinner together and hiking towards Bachalpsee and the Faulhornhütte on Saturday. We deliberately keep the programme simple: hiking, being outside and good company. It's not the first time we've come together in Grindelwald: last winter there was also a community weekend in Grindelwald on the calendar.

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Especially if you've just moved to Switzerland, a weekend like this can be really nice. You meet others in the same situation. Everyone may work somewhere different, but you share the same adventure: living and working in Switzerland as a physio. That's exactly what the takeoff community is for.

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Because however beautiful Switzerland is, it often gets even better when you can share it.

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Making the most of late summer

September is the month of the last warm days, decorated cows, a funfair in Zurich and a mountain hut with familiar faces. The summer buzz is fading, but the country is still full of life. So go and soak up everything late summer has to offer.

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Still exploring what it's like to work in Switzerland? Check out our current vacancies for physiotherapists.

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