With the lighting of the tree in Piazza della Riforma and the opening of the markets, Christmas in Lugano officially begins.Lugano in Piazza It's the event that, from November 27th to January 6th, transforms the city center and Ciani Park into a space dedicated to winter atmospheres. Lights, scents, music, and a variety of activities will mark the approach to the holidays, with an offering designed for both residents and visitors.
The start of the celebrations and the symbolic lighting
The countdown to the inauguration—led by RSI representatives Fabrizio Casati and Daiana Crivelli—draws a large crowd every year. On Thursday, November 27th, after the stalls open at 10:00 a.m. in Via Nassa, Piazzetta Maraini, Piazza Dante, and Via Luvini, the city welcomes its first guests, while the food stalls open at 3:00 p.m.
At 18 pm, Piazza della Riforma becomes the center of attention: the lighting of the tree and projections on the historic buildings mark the official start of the celebrations. The evening continues with the funk of Kashmere and a DJ set by Danny, creating the first convivial atmosphere of the season.
Christmas in Lugano: Start with a busy weekend
The program includes numerous initiatives already in the first four days of the event. The Via Nassa Association is inaugurating "Christmas among the Stars," a new illuminated trail dedicated to the famous shopping street, accompanied by background music. The launch is scheduled for Thursday at 18:30 PM at the Chalet Gourmet in Piazzetta San Carlo.
At Villa Ciani, on November 28th and 29th, "Vini in Villa" returns, a showcase of Ticino producers: around forty wineries will showcase over 200 labels, transforming the historic rooms into a tasting itinerary.
The center's evening program comes alive with DJ sets under the tree, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, while at Parco Ciani the public can access the ice skating rink and mini golf starting at 16 pm on the opening day.
Family activities and workshops
For younger visitors, the program includes two days of activities at the Ideatorio in Cadro, on November 29th and 30th, where creativity workshops will lead participants to create animated cards and recipes for an alternative holiday table.
On Sunday, Studio Foce hosts a sustainable Christmas market from 11:30 a.m. to 19:30 p.m., organized by Bazaar al Lago, an initiative that emphasizes local production and reuse. Also in the afternoon, between 15:30 p.m. and 18:30 p.m., the streets of the city center welcome Santa's sleigh, escorted by the Elf and the ever-present Grinch.
To facilitate shopping, shops will remain open on Sunday, November 30th from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Timetables and information
The current events can be found on nataleinpiazza.ch , while the complete program with activities, changes, and real-time updates remains available on luganoeventi.ch.
The city center markets are open daily until December 23rd from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, with extended opening hours in Piazza Manzoni until January 6th. The food stalls remain open until January 4th, with extended hours on weekends. The Parco Ciani rink and the ice minigolf course follow a specific schedule that varies between November and February and may be closed in case of inclement weather.
A network of partners for Christmas in Lugano
The City of Lugano's Events and Congress Division is coordinating the entire event, which is supported by several partners: BancaStato, Lugano Region, AIL, and RSI as media partners, in addition to contributions from UBS, BancaStato, and BG Suisse Private Bank, which are enabling the screenings in Piazza della Riforma.
