Festival
Cheese Festivals and Markets in Switzerland
Switzerland's cheese festivals run from spring to late autumn, with most in October and November. Still to come in 2026: Käsefest Appenzell on 24 and 25 October, Käsefest Bern on 31 October, Rapperswil-Jona on 7 November, and alp cheese markets in Obwalden, Nidwalden and Uri in November. Entry to the town festivals is free; you pay for cheese and food at the stalls.
- Peak season
- October and November
- Next
- Appenzell, 24 and 25 October 2026
- Bern
- 31 October 2026
Dates
- 14 Nov 2026 to 15 Nov 2026Nidwaldner Alpchäs Märcht
- 28 Nov 2026 to 29 Nov 202620th Urner Alpkäsemarkt
The Käsefest Circuit
A group of town festivals runs under the cheese-festival banner, each with dozens of village dairies and alp cheesemakers on one square, usually with live cheesemaking, music and a cow-milking contest. 2026 dates:
| Festival | Where | 2026 | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Käsefest Basel | Barfüsserplatz | 11 April | 9:00 to 17:00 |
| Käsefest Thun | Bälliz | 26 September | 9:00 to 17:00 |
| Käsemarkt Huttwil | Brunnenplatz | 3 and 4 October | 10:00 to 17:00 |
| Käsefest Fribourg | Quartier du Bourg | 10 and 11 October | 9:00 to 17:00, Sunday 10:00 to 16:00 |
| Käsefest Luzern | Kapellplatz | 17 October | 9:00 to 17:00 |
| Käsefest Appenzell | Capuchin friary garden | 24 and 25 October | 10:00 to 17:00, Sunday 10:00 to 16:00 |
| Käsefest Bern | Waisenhausplatz | 31 October | 9:00 to 17:00 |
| Käsefest Rapperswil-Jona | Seequai | 7 November | 9:00 to 17:00 |
What Makes Each One Different
Lucerne calls itself the largest cheese market in central Switzerland, the place to compare Sbrinz AOP and Emmentaler AOP with small-dairy cheeses. Huttwil brings more than 20 dairies from the Emmental and Napf area over two days. Fribourg's 2026 festival was part of the Swiss Cheese Awards, with AOP cheeses from all over the country. Bern's comes with a cow-milking contest and a folklore programme, and in 2026 it is held alongside the World Cheese Awards. Appenzell has live cheesemaking in a kettle at 11:00 and 13:30 and the awards for the best alp cheese. Rapperswil-Jona sits on the lakefront.
Alp Cheese Markets
In late autumn the central Swiss valleys sell the summer's alp cheese at their own markets: the Muotitaler Alpchäsmärcht on 24 October 2026, the Obwaldner Alpchäsmärt on 7 November, the Nidwaldner Alpchäs Märcht on 14 and 15 November and the Urner Alpkäsemarkt on 28 and 29 November. Emmi's Kaltbach cave visitor centre holds an autumn market on 30 and 31 October.
Earlier in the Year
September has the Désalpe festivals and the Bagnes raclette festival (see Désalpe festivals), and the Säumerfest in Sachseln is in late August.
Cheeses to Taste Here
Where to Stay near Bern
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More in Switzerland
All of Switzerland
La Maison du Gruyère
Pringy-Gruyères, Switzerland
Watch Gruyère made in copper vats next to Gruyères station. Come in the morning.
Moléson Alpine Cheese Dairy
Moléson-sur-Gruyères, Switzerland
Cheese made over a wood fire in a 17th-century chalet, May to September.
Next: 1 May 2027
Emmentaler Show Dairy
Affoltern im Emmental, Switzerland
The home of Emmentaler AOP, open every day with a walk-through tour.
Appenzeller Show Dairy
Stein, Switzerland
Appenzeller made daily until about 3pm, with a tasting box included.
Maison de la Tête de Moine
Bellelay, Switzerland
Museum and wood-fire dairy in the grounds of Bellelay Abbey, where Tête de Moine began.
La Maison de L'Etivaz
L'Etivaz, Switzerland
Book a tour of the cellars where L'Etivaz AOP ripens, then taste in the cooperative's shop.
Questions People Ask
When is the Bern cheese festival?
Käsefest Bern is on Saturday 31 October 2026, from 9:00 to 17:00 on the Waisenhausplatz.
Are Swiss cheese festivals free?
The town Käsefeste are held on public squares and you don't need a ticket. You pay for cheese, tastings and food at the stalls.
When is Käsefest Appenzell?
On 24 October 2026 from 10:00 to 17:00 and 25 October from 10:00 to 16:00, in the garden of the Capuchin friary in Appenzell.
Official site: cheese-festival.ch/events. Dates, hours and prices checked 22 October 2026; confirm on the official site before you travel. See all cheese festivals.