Art Basel, Carnival and major events: Basel, a city of festivals
Art Basel, the world's most prestigious art fair
Every June, Art Basel turns the city into the global capital of contemporary art. Founded in 1970, the fair brings together over 250 galleries from every continent and draws some 90,000 visitors in four days. The halls of the Messe Basel, an architectural masterpiece by Herzog and de Meuron, showcase paintings, sculptures, photographs and digital installations by the most prominent artists on the international scene. Beyond the fair itself, the entire city buzzes with satellite exhibitions, private viewings and street performances.
Basel Carnival: three days of revelry
The Basler Fasnacht, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2017, kicks off every year on the Monday after Ash Wednesday at exactly 4 a.m. The «Morgenstreich» plunges the city into total darkness before thousands of «Cliques» parade to the sound of fifes and drums, illuminated by giant painted lanterns. For three days, satirical processions, floats and confetti take over the streets. Masked participants hand out «Zeedel», satirical poems in Basel dialect that skewer current political and social affairs with biting humour.
Other cultural highlights
The Basel summer brings a succession of open-air festivals. The Im Fluss festival takes over the Kaserne terrace on the Rhine with concerts, theatre and open-air cinema from July to August. Swiss National Day on 1 August is celebrated with fireworks launched from the river. In autumn, the Basler Herbstmesse, the oldest and largest fun fair in Switzerland, occupies seven city squares for two weeks. In December, the Christmas market with its 180 illuminated chalets on Barfusserplatz and Munsterplatz brings the year to a magnificent close.
Tips for enjoying the events
Book your accommodation several months in advance for Art Basel and the Carnival as hotels fill up very early. The BaselCard provides free access to public transport and makes it easy to travel between event venues. For the Carnival, arrive on Sunday evening and take your place along the Morgenstreich route before 3:30 a.m. Local restaurants serve the traditional flour soup and onion tart, unmissable Fasnacht dishes. From Basel-Mulhouse Airport, bus 50 reaches the city centre in 20 minutes.