What’s On In Zurich Beginning of January 2026
Wishing you all the best for the New Year. The tragic events in Crans Montana cast a dark shadow over the first day of the year and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone there.
The period between Christmas and just after New Year is typically quiet in Zurich, but there are a few places that are open over this time like Zurich Zoo, the Wildnis Animal Park, China Gardens and Uetliberg (all open 365 days a year) and places like the FIFA Museum and other Zurich museums like the Kunsthaus which are open on most days and of course the Grossmünster and the Fraumünster are always worth a visit.
For those wanting to step out into nature there are plenty of ski slopes close to Zurich and when the snow is better, you may want to check out these snowshoe hikes. If you fancy ice skating take a look here and the last of the Christmas attractions, the Touch of Lucy Lights and the Lucy Lights continue until 6th January, which of course is Three Kings Day.
For a festive holiday or New Year celebration you can check out Park Hyatt’s Turkey Takeaway here – it’s available till 6th January. It’s perfect for a celebration and stress free! If you’re still confused by the new tram routes take a look at all the changes to the Zurich trams here.
Explore Zurich and Beyond
If you’re looking for some travel inspiration in Switzerland from Zurich take a look here.
If you fancy going for an excursion here are some suggestions:
- 31 ideas and activities for children and teenagers
- 31 ideas for excursions from Zurich.
- Ideas for trips further afield in Switzerland (2 hours or more away)
- For cloudy or rainy days in Zurich, some ideas and for wet weather here.
New In Zurich – welcome!
If you have recently arrived in Zurich check out our top tips for newcomers here.
If you’re planning to leave Zurich take a look here.
Things To Do in Zurich Beginning of January 2026
EVENT LISTINGS
TOUCH OF LUCY LIGHT INSTALLATION TILL 6th JAN: The Touch of Lucy Light Installation in Paradeplatz is free to view until 6th January. See all the details here.
THREE KINGS DAY 6th JANUARY: Don’t forget to celebrate Three Kings Day ( Epiphany ) with a traditional Three Kings Cake. Find out more here.
LUCY LIGHTS IN BAHNHOFSTRASSE NOW ON TILL 6th JAN: The Lucy Lights will remain on now until 6th January 2026. See all the details here.
TURKEY TAKEAWAY FOR NEW YEAR & FAMILY GATHERINGS UNTIL 6th JAN: You can still order the Park Hyatt Turkey (and Goose) Takeaways for your New Year family gatherings and celebrations. You order 48 hours in advance and collect an expertly cooked turkey from the Park Hyatt Zurich on your day of choice! What could be more stress-free? See all the details here.
OPEN SPACE TANZ OPERA HOUSE 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th JAN: Open Space Tanz offers FREE, weekly contemporary dance workshops at the Opernhaus Zürich every Wednesday in January. Anyone aged 16 and older can join regardless of prior experience. See more details here.
8 BUILDINGS, 1 ENGINEER: THE ARCHITECTURE OF HEINZ HOSSDORF ON NOW – 20th FEB: This exhibition at gta Exhibitions highlights the work of Swiss structural engineer Heinz Hossdorf (1925–2006), presenting original archive material that reveals his approach to engineering and architecture from concept to execution. More information here.
ICE SKATING IN ZURICH & FREE ICE SKATING On 11th & 18th JAN: Check out the best places to go ice skating in Zurich and mark your diaries for some great places to go ice skating for FREE on 11th and 18th January. See all the details here.
FLOW – IMMERSIVE ART & MUSIC AT WASSERKIRCHE 9th JAN – 3rd FEB: From 9th January to 3rd February 2026, FLOW transforms the vaulted interiors of the historic Wasserkirche into a 360° immersive world of sound, light and moving images. Created by the Zurich-based artist collective PROJEKTIL, the experience reimagines Smetana’s The Moldau with orchestral brilliance, electronic elements and atmospheric visual projections that surround you from floor to ceiling. A powerful, sensory journey that lasts around 30 minutes and is suitable for adults and children from around five years old. Tickets from CHF 14.80. See all the details here.
SILVESTERKLÄUSE CELEBRATIONS APPENZELL 13th JAN: Don’t miss the cherished tradition of the Silvesterkläuse in Appenzell. The event next takes place on 13th January. See all the details here.
VULKANOLOGY & ARCHITECURAL HISTORY 13th JAN: As part of the exhibition Lava–Human. Stories from the Earth’s Interior, the Graphische Sammlung at ETH Zurich hosts a FOKUS talk exploring the links between volcanology and architectural history. Professors Olivier Bachmann (ETH Zurich) and Clive Oppenheimer (University of Cambridge) join the curatorial team for this English-language discussion. 18.30 – 19:30 at the Graphische Sammlung ETH Zürich.
EXHIBITION DEGACIATION – MEASURING THE ICE 18th JAN: The exhibition Deglaciation – Measuring the Ice at extract traces over 150 years of glaciological research. On 18th January, glaciologists from ETH Zurich will be on site from 12:00 to 15:00 to share insights into their work and answer questions. Admission is free and no registration is required. The exhibition continues until 12th July. More information here.
CHANEL⁵ – A PORTRAIT IN FIVE SCENES AT BELVOIRPARK 13th & 14th JAN: Experience the world of Coco Chanel in Chanel⁵ – Ein Porträt in fünf Szenen, an elegant evening of theatre, music, and fine dining at Restaurant Belvoirpark, Zurich. Conceived and performed by Jacqueline Fritschi-Cornaz, the performance is in German and celebrates Chanel’s legacy in five captivating scenes, paired with exquisite cuisine. Dates: 13th & 14th January 2026 all at Belvoirpark Restaurant, Zurich. Special OFFER Tickets: With code NewInZuerich ( please note extra e!) you get tickets for CHF 169 instead of CHF 189 (theatre & dinner). See the full details here.
LILU LIGHT FESTIVAL LUCERNE 15th – 25th JAN: The annual LILU Light Festival is back in Lucerne from 15th – 25th January. See all the details here.
VERNISSAGE IN SEEFELD 15th JANUARY: The exhibition The Company We Keep brings together the works of mother and son, Kristin Smith Cahn von Seelen and Francis. Through painting and sculpture, their distinct artistic voices explore how living beings connect and relate to one another. The evening includes an engaging discussion with the artists, followed by an apéro at the American Women’s Club Zurich Clubhouse. Be inspired by this intimate and thought-provoking exhibition. Register here today.
ZÜRCHER PHILOSOPHIE FESTIVAL 22nd – 24th JAN: Taking place at Mühle Tiefenbrunnen( in German) you can see all the details of the program for this festival here.
AMERICAN WOMEN’S CLUB OF ZURICH – WELCOME COFFEE 23rd JANUARY: New in Zurich or want to join a vibrant English-speaking community? Come to the AWCZ Welcome Coffee to meet members and learn about our 20+ monthly activities, philanthropy, and signature events. Open to all. Free breakfast & winter barista drinks. Friendly faces, great connections, and lots of fun. Click to register or learn more.
SNOW POLO ST MORITZ 23rd – 25th JAN: Don’t miss the Snow Polo on the frozen lake in St Moritz from 23rd – 25th January. Please note that free admission to the general grounds is only available on the Friday this year. For full details on the event please see here.
WORLD SNOW FESTIVAL GRINDELWALD 19th – 24th JAN: One of Switzerland’s best known snow and ice sculpture events is scheduled to take place from 19th – 24th January in Grindelwald. See all the details here.
CHATEAUX D’OEX BALLOON FESTIVAL 24th JAN – 1st FEB: This internationally renowned balloon festival is due to take place in Chateau d’Oex from 24th January to 1st February. See all the details here.
BURNS NIGHT – A CELEBRATION OF SCOTTISH CULTURE 25th JANUARY: Celebrate the life and legacy of Robert “Rabbie” Burns, Scotland’s beloved poet and the author of Auld Lang Syne. Join in at the AWCZ Clubhouse for a festive evening steeped in Scottish tradition. Enjoy a convivial supper, whiskey tasting, poetry, and traditional toasts in true Burns Night style. Proceeds benefit Cancer Support Switzerland. Find all the details and reserve your place today.
THE ICE AUTOMOBILE EVENT ST MORITZ 30th – 31st JANUARY: The ICE automobile event is taking place once again this year on the frozen lake. Find out all about it here.
PHIL COLLINS TRIBUTE CANDLELIGHT CONCERTS 6th & 7th Feb & 6th MAR: Don’t miss the Candlelight Concerts taking place at the Belvoir Park Restaurant. See details here.
WHITE TURF HORSE RACING ST MORITZ 7th – 22nd FEB: White Turf is taking place on 8th, 15th and 22nd February 2026. In addition, there will also be the FREE Family Days on 7th, 14th & 21st February. The event is set on a frozen lake in St Moritz and is a unique horse racing event offering glamour, excitement and lots of snow and ice. It’s a unique event in a unique setting. See all the details here.
WHERE TO FIND THE BEST FONDUE IN ZURICH: It’s that time of the year… but there is so much choice it’s hard to know where to go! Check out our Fondue Guide to Zurich here.
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GREAT SKI RESORTS NEAR ZURICH: Check out these great Ski Resorts which are easy to get to from Zurich. See our list here.
10 REASONS TO VISIT LUCERNE: Lucerne is not far from Zurich and always makes for a great trip. Discover the top attractions here.
ZURICH TRAMS BIGGEST CHANGES IN HISTORY: Forget all you knew about getting round Zurich by tram as from 14th December there have been some major changes to the Zurich Tram Network. To see all the details (and information on the price increases too) take a look here.
SAUNA AM FLUSS LIMMAT IN ZURICH: “Sauna am Fluss” brings a unique riverside sauna and cold-plunge experience to the Limmat. Until the end of April, four saunas transform the Haus am Fluss into a cosy urban retreat, perfect for unwinding with friends. The public textile sauna welcomes walk-ins, and a CHF 25 ticket gives you 2 hours of access to all areas, including bio and Finnish saunas, cold-plunge pools, cold showers with river views, a relaxation room and a small bistro. More info here.
THE HERZBARACKE FLOATING THEATRE AT BELLEVUE: The Herzbaracke is a floating theatre with dining and is moored off Bellevue. Find out all about it here.
WILHELM LEHMBRUCK – THE FINAL YEARS UNTIL ON NOW TILL 18th JANUARY 2026: The Kunsthaus Zürich presents Wilhelm Lehmbruck in an immersive installation by Yves Netzhammer – an intense artistic dialogue exploring vulnerability and what it means to be human. Tickets CHF 31. More details here.
BILLY ELLIOTT MAAG HALLE ZURICH ON NOW UNTIL 25th FEB 2026: Billy Elliott is back in Zurich at the MAAG Halle from 24th October to 25th February. For more info see here.
THE LEGEND OF TITANIC IMMERSIVE EXHIBITION LICHTHALLE MAAG ZURICH: The Legend of the Titanic immersive exhibition at the Lichthalle MAAG offers a really great experience with an amazing virtual reality experience too. See all the details here.
WIN TICKETS FOR MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL: The hit musical Moulin Rouge! The Musical will be coming to Zurich from 21st January 2026 and tickets are now on sale for what promises to be a very exciting musical. We also have a pair of tickets to the performance on January 28th to be won – the contest will be drawn at midnight on Sunday 4th January! See all the details here.
GASTHOF LUEGETEN FONDUE DOME OPEN NOW UNTIL MARCH: The new Fondue Dome at Gasthof Luegeten, high above Lake Zurich is now open until March. On our Instagram account we have a contest to win dinner for 2 and you can find out more about this new pop up here.
PARK HYATT FONDUE IGLOOS UNTIL 4th JAN: Outside the Park Hyatt you can find the some beautiful Igloos and it’s a wonderful spot to enjoy a fabulous fondue in style. See all the details here.
THE WIDDER WONDERLAND FONDUE GONDOLAS TILL 24th JAN: The Widder Wonderland in the secluded garden of the Widder Hotel with its stylish retro gondolas and refined fondue is open until 24th January. See details here.
SOULFOOD IGLOOS AT BELVOIR PARK RESTAURANT TILL 28th FEB: The colourful Soulfood Igloos at Belvoir park Restaurant are open until 24th February and offer a delicious Korean Hot Pot in a heated igloo in the shadow of a giant moon. See all the details here.
GONDOLA ISLAND AT LAKE SIDE OPEN UNTIL 28th FEBRUARY 2026: This winter, the terrace at Lake Side Zurich transforms into a magical Gondola Island, featuring real heated ski gondolas in cosy chalet style. Enjoy a private fondue experience with lake views, illuminated by light art from the creators of the LILU Light Festival Lucerne. Choose from Classic, Champagne or Truffle Fondue – perfect for friends, families or company dinners. See all the details here.
IT’S VERMICELLES TIME – ENJOY! Don’t forget it is also Vermicelles time right now! Find out more here.
IT’S ALSO MARRONI TIME: It’s also Marroni time – chestnuts are a traditional Swiss food, once known as the “bread of the poor”. Find out more here.
ALL YOU CAN EAT RIBS AT THE OUTBACK EVERY SUNDAY: There’s a new special at the Australian restaurant the Outback Lodge – all you can eat ribs! It takes place just once a week, all day on a Sunday and costs just CHF 48 per person, it’s a generous and mouth-watering feast that’s perfect for sharing — and for making your Sunday a little extra special. Where: Outback Lodge, Stadelhofen station, Zurich. See all the details here.
FRAU GEROLDS GARTEN WINTERGARDEN: The Wintergarden at Frau Gerolds Garten is open for cosy fondue nights and winter lights. See all the details of the Wintergarden here.
EXPLORE THE ALTSTADT IN ZURICH: If you’ve got visitors over, or you simply want to explore Zurich for yourself, why not spend a couple of hours of so in the beautiful old ton in Zurich. Find out more here.
LOOKING FOR A SUNSHINE BREAK WITH LOTS TO EXPLORE? Now is the perfect time to visit Costa Rica – find out more about this diverse and wonderful country here.
ULTIMATE RELAXATION AT THE ULTIMA GSTAAD MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY: If you’re longing for a relaxing, luxurious break the Ultima Gstaad ticks all the boxes. In addition, they currently have the amazing ZUMA pop up restaurant on their premises until 15th March. Find out all about this fabulous mountain hideaway here.
A RELAXING BREAK AT THE NEW LUXURY HUUS QUELL HOTEL: Just 90 minutes from Zurich you can enjoy a completely relaxing break surrounded by beautiful Swiss countryside. The hotel only opened in October and it not only boasts fabulous design, great gastronomy but a stunning wellness facility which offers bio hacking options as well. Find out more about this wonderful hotel here.
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FINDING YOUR FEET IN SWITZERLAND – HOW PAYROLLPLUS MAKES WORKING SIMPLE: New to Switzerland? Navigating work permits, taxes and social insurance can be overwhelming. PayrollPlus, a Swiss payroll service with over 35 years of experience, simplifies everything — whether you’re freelancing, working for a foreign employer, or contracting. They handle all payroll, compliance and benefits so you can focus on your career. Find out all about PayrollPlus here.
8 MUST VISIT MOUNTAIN TRIPS TO DO: Check out these 8 mountain locations in Switzerland which are great to explore before Winter sets in. See details here.
VISIT EINSTEIN’S LOCKER: Another interesting and FREE thing to do when in the city is to pay a visit to Einstein’s Locker at ETH. See all the details here.
FREE ZURICH ADVENTURE: DISCOVER THE SECRET DOORS OF ZURICH: Check out the archeological windows and the secret door of Zurich. It’s a free activity in Zurich and you can see all the details here.
ZURICH OPERA HOUSE PERFORMANCES: Check out the latest performances at Zurich Opera House here.
MUSIC AND JAZZ AT RANK ZURICH: See details of the upcoming music and entertainment at Rank Zurich.Take a look here.
TONHALLE ZURICH: See what’s on at the Tonhalle Zurich. See their latest program here.
INTERNATIONAL COMEDY CLUB IN ZURICH: The International Comedy Club Zurich has lots of new Stand Up events coming soon. Take a look her
ALPESSENCE: SWISS ALPINE SKINCARE & SWISS ARTIST CARMEL INAUEN: Created by Swiss artist Carmela Inauen, Alpessence is a new skincare range that blends Alpine-inspired design with cutting-edge Swiss cosmetic science. Developed with Microstech Switzerland, the collection features rare Swiss apple stem cells, nourishing goat’s milk and raspberry seed oil – combining performance, aesthetics and Alpine authenticity.
THINGS TO DO ON A RAINY DAY IN ZURICH: There’s plenty to do on a rainy or cloudy day in and around Zurich. Take a look here.
NEW IN ZURICH? NEW IN SWITZERLAND? See our top tips for newcomers here.
MORE TIPS FOR NEWCOMERS: Some more tips to help you feel at home here.
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT HAVING A PET IN SWITZERLAND: Did you know that there are special rules on keeping pets in Switzerland? Read all about having a Pet in Switzerland here.
FIND OUT ALL ABOUT PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN ZURICH HERE: Tips on the different public transport options and types of tickets available in Zurich. Read the details here.
SHARED LAUNDRY FACILITIES: Find yourself sharing laundry facilities in your new apartment? Find out all about this Swiss phenomenon here.
WHERE TO SELL ONLINE IN SWITZERLAND: Find out where you can sell stuff online in Switzerland here.
SPEEDING FINES IN SWITZERLAND: Things you need to know about Speeding in Switzerland. Read the article here.
EXCHANGING YOUR DRIVING LICENCE: As soon as you arrive in Switzerland and receive your Ausweis, you should make arrangement to exchange your driving licence. See all the steps you need to undertake here.
RECOMMENDED HAIRDRESSERS: See our list of recommended hairdressers in Zurich here.
TRANSITIONING TO SWITZERLAND WITH CHILDREN: Top tips when transitioning to Switzerland with children. Read the article here.
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Take a look at a reel of the Silvesterkläuse in Appenzell here:
