Light trails and light shows in the canton of Bern 2026
Nowhere in Switzerland starts earlier: Bern (Bundesplatz) opens on Saturday, 17 October.
✓ Checked at the source · as of 12 October 2026
Light trails and shows in the canton of Bern
4 places, each with dates and a checked source
📅 4 light events 2026/27 — when they shine
2 of 4 begin on a Sunday — the day to keep free.
- Start
- 19:00
- Opening hours
- Daily at 7, 8 and 9 pm, about 30 minutes each
- Meeting point
- Bundesplatz, vor dem Bundeshaus
- Organiser
- Starlight Events GmbH
The 16th edition turns the Federal Palace into a living ecosystem: 36 evenings, three shows a day, admission 0 francs — and in front of the building a dedicated zone for wheelchairs and children so nobody blocks their view.
Good to know- Since 2022 using laser-phosphor projectors that save up to 30 % energy, powered by renewable electricity from Energie Wasser Bern. Funded by partners and donations.
- There are no toilets on Bundesplatz itself. It is a few minutes' walk from Bern station.
Everything on Bern · Bundesplatz→
Source: rendezvousbundesplatz.ch · checked on 12 October 2026
- Start
- 16:00–20:00
- Opening hours
- 19 November to 20 December Thu–Sun · 25 December to 3 January daily · 7 to 10 January Thu–Sun, 4–8 pm each day
- Meeting point
- Blausee-Shop beim Eingang des Naturparks
- Destination
- Bistro Wasserhaus
- In bad weather
- Bei böigem, stürmischem Wetter ist der Lichterweg nicht beleuchtet.
- Organiser
- Blausee AG
A lantern trail through the nature park: from the shop past moss-covered boulders and gnarled trees up to the Sommerau and down to the Bistro Wasserhaus, where mulled wine and raclette are waiting.
Good to know- Not suitable for prams or wheelchairs. Despite preparation there may be slippery patches; the Blausee recommends treaded soles. Dogs on a lead. Tickets in the Blausee online shop.
- The Blausee's five llamas, which the trail description mentions, spend the winter in their winter quarters in Aeschi according to the Blausee (moved on 18 September 2026).
Everything on Kandergrund · Blausee→
Source: blausee.ch · checked on 12 October 2026
- Start
- 17:00–22:00
- Opening hours
- Sunday 29 November 2026 to Wednesday 6 January 2027 · lit daily 5–10 pm
- Meeting point
- Parkplatz beim Start des Wiehnachtswägs, rund 150 m ab PostAuto-Haltestelle Aeschi b. Spiez, Wachthubel (Linie 62)
- Food and drink
- Wiehnachtswäg-Beizli mit Glühwein, Punch, Bratwurst und Raclette «bis gnue»
- Organiser
- Aeschi Tourismus
Six lovingly staged pictures tell the Christmas story, about an hour on foot — and the lanterns only guide discreetly: Aeschi Tourismus explicitly advises bringing your own torch.
Good to know- Valais raclette scraped straight from the wheel at the Beizli on Sat 5 Dec, Sat 19 Dec and Sun 27 Dec 2026.
- Arrival by PostBus recommended (line 62 from Spiez, hourly, to Wachthubel): the last bus back from Wachthubel leaves at 7.58 pm; later services from Aeschi Post, about 30 minutes on foot. Car park at the start CHF 5 flat rate, spaces limited.
Everything on Aeschi bei Spiez→
Source: aeschi-tourismus.ch · checked on 12 October 2026
- Start
- 17:00–22:30
- Opening hours
- From the first Sunday of Advent (29 November 2026) to 6 January 2027 · lanterns daily from 5 pm to about 10.30 pm, the stations are lit from 11 am
- Meeting point
- Bushaltestelle Hotel Alpenblick, Heiligenschwendi (Bus 31/32 ab Thun)
- Organiser
- Heiligenschwendi Tourismus
Nearly 150 lanterns on a 2.55-kilometre loop above Lake Thun, six stations telling the Christmas story — about three quarters of an hour, and the figures are lit from 11 am.
Good to know- Start and finish at the Hotel Alpenblick bus stop; 64 metres of climb. Parking is limited — take bus 31 or 32 from Thun.
Everything on Heiligenschwendi→
Source: interlaken.swiss · checked on 12 October 2026
🕐 Lighting times and closed days
When the lanterns burn and the shows run, as the organisers published them for 2026/27. Where a time is missing, we do not invent one.
Daily at 7, 8 and 9 pm, about 30 minutes each
19 November to 20 December Thu–Sun · 25 December to 3 January daily · 7 to 10 January Thu–Sun, 4–8 pm each day
Sunday 29 November 2026 to Wednesday 6 January 2027 · lit daily 5–10 pm
From the first Sunday of Advent (29 November 2026) to 6 January 2027 · lanterns daily from 5 pm to about 10.30 pm, the stations are lit from 11 am
🏘️ 4 municipalities with organiser
4 places in 4 municipalities of the canton of Bern. 4 of them have their own page with times, route and source.
- Bern · Bundesplatz — Rendez-vous Bundesplatz «Natur Pur», Starlight Events GmbH, 17 October 2026.
- Kandergrund · Blausee — Weg der 1'000 Lichter am Blausee, Blausee AG, 19 November 2026.
- Aeschi bei Spiez — Wiehnachtswäg Aeschi, Aeschi Tourismus, 29 November 2026.
- Heiligenschwendi — Weihnachtsweg Heiligenschwendi, Heiligenschwendi Tourismus, 29 November 2026.
📍 Start & getting there — where it begins
Where the route starts and how to get there, as the organisers describe it.
- Meeting point
- Bundesplatz, vor dem Bundeshaus
- Meeting point
- Blausee-Shop beim Eingang des Naturparks
- Destination
- Bistro Wasserhaus
- Meeting point
- Parkplatz beim Start des Wiehnachtswägs, rund 150 m ab PostAuto-Haltestelle Aeschi b. Spiez, Wachthubel (Linie 62)
- Meeting point
- Bushaltestelle Hotel Alpenblick, Heiligenschwendi (Bus 31/32 ab Thun)
🔦 Good to know before you go
Prams, weather, tickets, a torch: what the organisers announce themselves.
- Good to know
- Since 2022 using laser-phosphor projectors that save up to 30 % energy, powered by renewable electricity from Energie Wasser Bern. Funded by partners and donations. · There are no toilets on Bundesplatz itself. It is a few minutes' walk from Bern station.
- Good to know
- Not suitable for prams or wheelchairs. Despite preparation there may be slippery patches; the Blausee recommends treaded soles. Dogs on a lead. Tickets in the Blausee online shop. · The Blausee's five llamas, which the trail description mentions, spend the winter in their winter quarters in Aeschi according to the Blausee (moved on 18 September 2026).
- In bad weather
- Bei böigem, stürmischem Wetter ist der Lichterweg nicht beleuchtet.
- Good to know
- Valais raclette scraped straight from the wheel at the Beizli on Sat 5 Dec, Sat 19 Dec and Sun 27 Dec 2026. · Arrival by PostBus recommended (line 62 from Spiez, hourly, to Wachthubel): the last bus back from Wachthubel leaves at 7.58 pm; later services from Aeschi Post, about 30 minutes on foot. Car park at the start CHF 5 flat rate, spaces limited.
- Food and drink
- Wiehnachtswäg-Beizli mit Glühwein, Punch, Bratwurst und Raclette «bis gnue»
- Good to know
- Start and finish at the Hotel Alpenblick bus stop; 64 metres of climb. Parking is limited — take bus 31 or 32 from Thun.
📊 Days compared within the canton
Documented lights in the canton of Bern run from Saturday, 17 October 2026 to Sunday, 10 January 2027.
🗺️ 4 cantons compared
17 per cent of all the lights we have verified across Switzerland shine in the canton of Bern: 4 of 23.
For the canton of Bern we list 4 light trails, shows and illuminations in 4 municipalities, 4 of them with a published 2026/27 date. The rest are listed as open. We never write a date we have not read at the source.
| Canton | Events | date set | First date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bern | 4 | 4 | 17 October 2026 |
| Valais | 3 | 2 | 29 November 2026 |
| Zug | 3 | 3 | 27 November 2026 |
| Zurich | 3 | 3 | 5 November 2026 |
❓ FAQ about the canton
Every answer is calculated from the 4 verified entries for the canton of Bern.
All light trails in Switzerland
🗓️ At the same time in the canton of Bern
- 🏊 Winter swimming in the canton of Bernfrom Sat 24 Oct
- 🏮 Turnip lanterns in the canton of BernSun 1 Nov · Fri 6 Nov · Fri 13 Nov
- 🕯️ Candle dipping in the canton of BernWed 11 Nov – Sun 6 Dec
- ✨ Christmas markets in the canton of BernThu 19 Nov – Sun 27 Dec
- 🛍️ Sunday shopping in the canton of BernSun 29 Nov · Sun 6 Dec · Sun 13 Dec · Sun 20 Dec
- 🚂 Festive rides in the canton of BernSun 6 Dec – Sun 20 Dec
- 🎅 St Nicholas in the canton of BernSun 6 Dec
How we check
Every date comes from the organiser's, the municipality's or the canton's own site — never from an aggregator, never copied over from last year. Next to each source is the date we last read it.
Something missing or changed? A note below is enough; we check it at the source.
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