A forerunner and actual starting signal for Basel’s Fasnacht (Carnival) festival is the largest festival in Kleinbasel, which takes place in January. Vogel Gryff (the griffin), Loewe (the lion) and Wilder Mann (the savage man) are the heraldic animals of the three Kleinbasel honour societies. At around 11 am the Wilde Mann boards a raft. As it floats down the Rhine, he pays his respects to Kleinbasel with a dance. Vogel Gryff and Loewe welcome him underneath the Mittlere Rheinbruecke bridge. The three symbols then make their way through the streets of Kleinbasel dancing their own dances. This custom, which harks back to military conscription, has been practiced since 1838.

Basel’s Museum Night, which takes place in January, is a much newer tradition. The majority of the over 30 museums keep their doors open at night too for once, and treat the large crowds of visitors to special exhibitions, performances, concerts and culinary pleasures well into the early hours of the morning.

The events (including “Drummeli” and “Charavari”) held in the run up to Carnival in Basel are extremely popular. It can be hard to get tickets; no wonder that new events have been introduced in recent years.

What an occasion! As the Morgenstreich march strikes up, early on Monday morning at four o'clock on the dot, the lights go out in the city, and the lanterns of the "cliques" (carnival groups) are lit. The Carnival Queen accepts the sceptre. For three whole days the city is turned on its head and carried along by the sound of thousands of piccolos and drums.

The world’s top 30 badminton players compete at this international Super Series tournament and over 20,000 visitors are also expected to attend.

Blues festival

April and May see Basel fall under the spotlight in the Jazz world. Numerous hopeful young talents, famous stars and top class “old masters” make their way to Basel. The list of participating musicians from the international jazz scene promises a music festival of the highest international quality year after year.

Athletics Meeting

International Open Air Music Festival

Art Fair

International Designer Fair

The Young Art Fair

20th and 21st century art

International Tattoo Festival

Switzerland’s National Day falls during the holiday period, on August 1st. The celebrations kick off in Basel the day before: over 100,000 people make their pilgrimage to the water sports shows and other spectacular highlights on the Rhine, the festival stalls on the banks of the river and the large fireworks display. The various occasions with speeches on the evening of August 1st itself tend to be rather more reflective.

For several years the city of Basel, at least in summer, has had a new stage: every year when thousands of Basel residents drift down the Rhine and the Rhine banks become a small Basel Riviera, for three weeks the culture float tempts the many people who have stayed at home during the summer onto the Rhine, where they can enjoy special concerts in a Mediterranean atmosphere at the heart of the city.

The Rhine is a great place to swim throughout the summer, but once a year it hosts the great Basel Rhine Swim. Young or old, thousands of people jump into the clean waters of the Rhine and go with the flow downriver.

Cinema under the skies!

Festival on the Klosterberg – on a Brazilian theme

Demonstration for jungle music and tolerance, parade through the city centre

A car-free event

Festival of electronic arts

Lovers of sophisticated music will find plenty to their taste at the Avo Session Basel at the Basel Exhibition Centre in November. Be it the Supremes or the Temptations, Bo Diddley, James Brown or Vanessa Mae - the biggest names in recent blues, jazz and soul history all pay a visit to Basel.

As the days begin to shorten, it’s not just the kids who look forward to Basel’s Autumn Fair. The festival is the largest gathering of market stall holders and fairground attractions in Switzerland. For two weeks bright lights and fragrant scents cast a spell over the city’s fairgrounds.

International tennis tournament

Christmas in Basel

Basel’s traditional city run takes place on the last weekend in November. Runners of all ages from all over the world race amongst the seasonal decorations at the heart of the city.

Santa Clauses on Harley Davidsons ride through the city centre

International volleyball tournament

Huge New Year’s fireworks display over the Rhine