From 10 to 27 July 2025, Lugano LongLake Festival is back – the Summer City Festival that, with its contagious energy, will light up the height of summer on the shores of Lake Lugano. Now in its 15th edition, it stands as one of Switzerland’s most important urban open-air festivals, offering a rich, multidisciplinary programme with over 300 events.

Among the many free activities for children aged 0 to 12, you’ll find shows, creative workshops, and a daily open play area. From 23 to 27 July, the festival will also feature performances by Buskers artists, bringing the streets of Lugano to life.

Since its inception, Lugano LongLake Festival has been designed as an inclusive experience for all generations. With over 300 multidisciplinary events, the festival reserves a large and vibrant space every year for children and their families. It offers an engaging experience at the heart of summer – with activities designed for children aged 0 to 12 – full of fun games, magical performances and creative workshops where imagination comes to life.

Family Village
For the occasion, the foyer of the Palazzo dei Congressi and the adjacent garden inside Parco Ciani transform into the lively and welcoming Family Village – a space filled with a serene, stimulating atmosphere and a wide range of curated games and books for all ages.

This year’s theme is the forest – a symbolic and enchanting place that invites discovery, imagination and connection with nature. The space is further enriched by evocative set designs created by students of CSIA Lugano (3D Decorators / Polydesign 3D), who have brought the forest's magic to life with creativity and sensitivity.

Open daily from 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm
A nearby street food area offers tasty options and picnic tables for enjoying a relaxed meal in the park.

Shows and Workshops
Every day at 6:00 pm, local and international artists will take the stagewith a wide variety of performances – from poetic physical theatre to clowning, shadow theatre, dance and music. The programme also includes numerous workshops in art, music, photography, film, and more.

Highlights:

Friday 11 July, Teatro FOCE: Tranquilli!!! by Teatro C’art Comic Education – a wordless performance full of irony and poetry by Brazilian actor and clown André Casaca, reflecting on the frenzy of daily life and our need to dream.

Saturday 12 July, Parco Ciani: Toni, a clown and slapstick show by Franco-Swiss company Paprika Royal, tells the story of quirky cohabitation between a park gardener and an eccentric wanderer with her goldfish.

Friday 18 July: WOOW! by Cie Bruboc – two clowns and their vehicle "Aurelio" invite the audience into a world of surreal comedy and surprise inspired by Chaplin and Keaton.

Sunday 20 July, Parco Ciani: Sphera by Teatro di Carta and Ombre Bianche Teatro – a magical shadow theatre experience followed by a hands-on workshop. On the same day, a cyanotype photography workshop will let kids create their own prints.

At the MASI Museum (LAC cultural centre), children accompanied by adults can enjoy a special journey through art. On 11, 15, 18 and 22 July, after visiting the exhibition on Swiss artists Ferdinand Hodler and Luigi Franzoni, young participants will explore and create in the workshop space.

From 23 to 27 July, the Buskers bring colour and cheer to the streets with acrobatics, street shows and captivating performances for children and adults alike.

All this and much more awaits you at Lugano LongLake Festival.

Discover the full programme in the For Kids & Families section on longlake.ch

Free