Comprehensive Carnival overview 2026

From Schmutzigen Donnerstag to Ash Wednesday, it's carnival time in the municipalities of Zug. We have thereby compiled a (non-definitive) list of what's happening, when and where.
Guggen balls, Fasi pubs, parades and gifts for children: the ‘fifth season’ – for many the most beautiful season –is celebrated extensively in the canton of Zug. Our carnival overview is proof of this diversity. But the list is by no means exhaustive!
 

Wednesday, 11th February

Baar: Crescendos Ball in the Gemeindesaal (community hall), doors open at 8.30 pm, admission from 18 years of age.
https://www.crescendos.ch/crescendosball/

Cham: ‘Hülsepresser’ float in front of the Schwinghalle;
Fasiwagen pub on the Rigiplatz in the evening (also on Thursday and Friday).

Menzingen: Carnival in the clubhouse of the Vereinshaus des Seniorenkreises (Menzingen Senior Citizens' Association), 2 pm to 5 pm.

Walchwil: HudivatAir Fasi-Beiz at the parish hall (Kirchgemeindesaal), from 4 p.m.
The Fasi-Beiz is open daily from 4 p.m. until Güdeldienstag (Shrove Tuesday) and from 9 am and 10 am, respectively, on Saturday and Sunday.
https://fasnacht-walchwil.ch/termine
 

Schmutzigen Donnerstag (Dirty Thursday), 12th February

Hünenberg: ‘Chesslete’ (early morning start to carnival), 6 am at the village car park (Parkplatz Dorf); followed by ‘Eierete’ (egg bashing competition) in the foyer of the Heirisaal;
Guggemusik Quaker at the Maihölzli stairs, 10.15 am;
Visit to the Lindenpark retirement home (Alterszentrum), 12 noon.
https://www.eichezunft.ch/

Menzingen: 53rd Bergspiegel under the motto ‘Menzikus and the Wild Gauls’ in the Schützenmatt with cabaret artist Peter Pfändler, 6.30 pm.

Steinhausen: Senior citizens' afternoon at the Chilemattzentrum, 2.30 pm;
Schnitzelbänke (humorous songs about local events) in various restaurants, from 8 pm.
https://steigrind.ch/?page_id=106

Oberägeri: Seniors' carnival at Hofstettli, 2 pm; Grand Ägerital Monster Concert on the Dorfplatz, 7 pm; Schüttler Ball at the Gasthaus Bären, 8 pm.

Unterägeri: Children's parade from 2 pm, followed by children's carnival in the Ägerihalle; Schmudo Ball from 5 pm at the Sunnehof.
https://wylaegeri.ch/programm-sponsoren/

Walchwil: Carnival for young and old at the Mütschi retirement home, 2 pm.

Zug: Zuger Chesslete, Tagwache on the Landsgemeindeplatz from 5 am;
'Familien-Zmorge' (family breakfast) in the Rathauskeller near the Fischmarkt and Guggen-breakfast in the Chesslete tent, 6 to 8 am;
Guggenmusik concerts at Metalli, on the Bundesplatz and other locations in the city of Zug, from 9 am;
Face painting for children on the Bundesplatz, 10 am to 12 pm;
Risotto on the Bundesplatz and Guggenmusik, 11.30 am;
Large school parade between the Kolinplatz and the Bundesplatz, followed by a confetti fight, 2.30 pm;
Children's carnival on the Landsgemeindeplatz with Guggenmusik, 4 pm;
Fiirabigmusik (music after work) at Zug railway station and in the B&B Sportsbar, 4.10 pm;
Chesselwy in Zug's old town and on the Landsgemeindeplatz, 7.30 pm.

The wait is almost over: Zug Carnival finally begins on Dirty Thursday.      Photo: Maria Schmid
No carnival without Guggen music. Pictured here at last year's carnival parade in Hünenberg.    Photo: Stefan Kaiser
Colourful and vibrant: the carnival parade in Neuheim took place at the end of January          Photo: Boris Bürgisser
A confetti bath at the Hauptseerfasnacht parade in Morgarten at the end of January     Photo: Mathias Blattmann
‘Mier liebe Legor’: Oberägeri carnival parade       Photo: Stefan Kaiser
 

Carnival Friday, 13th February

Alosen: Fyrabigball  ‘Goldruusch am Chäsbärg’, Meier garage, from 6 pm.

Baar: Frösche Ball of the Fröschenzunft Ebel, community hall, 8 pm.

Cham: Hänselbar in the Zunfthütte (guild hut) in front of the Schwinghalle, bar with special guests, from 8 pm.

Hünenberg: Chlämmer Ball with the Cocorico Guggenmusik in the Heirisaal, motto ‘De Pfau wird grupft’ (The peacock is being plucked), admission from 18 years of age, from 8 pm.

Rotkreuz: Chnöpfli parade with the motto ‘Down under – everything is upside down’, 3 pm, followed by a confetti battle at the Fasi-Beiz.

Steinhausen: Parade from 2 pm; followed by Guggernacht on the Dorfplatz.

Carnival Saturday, 14th February (also Valentine’s Day)

Allenwinden: ‘Faschall’ parade with stage performances, followed by gifts for children, 1.30 pm;
‘Verknall Ball’ in the Aula (auditorium), 8 pm.

Baar: Beizendorf Schränzegg (pub village), open continuously from 4 pm until Ash Wednesday, performances by Guggen bands;
Carnival service, St. Martin's Church, 6 pm;
Torchlight procession to 'Aamuesetä' with festivities, Guggenmusik and confetti fight on the Rathausplatz after the service.

Cham: Family Hänslete, children's carnival at the Mandelhof and in the Zunfthütte (guild cabin), 3 to 5 pm; https://www.griitehirsezunft.ch/
Warm-up with monster concert and Hänselbar, 5.30 pm;
Fasi-Ball ‘Müüürig’ with the Holdriofäger Guggenmusik band in the Lorzensaal under the motto ‘Packed, shipped – now you can deliver it!’, admission from 18 years of age, from 8 pm;
Schnitzelbänke in various restaurants, from 7.30 pm.

Hünenberg: Carnival service in the Heilig Geist church, 5.30 pm, followed by village night in and around the Heirisaal from 6 pm.

Oberägeri: ‘Usrüerä’ in the village, 4.30 pm, followed by pub carnival in the village in various restaurants, from 8 pm.
https://legor.ch/

Walchwil: Sale of Cheschtänä hedgehogs on the Dorfplatz.

Zug: Fasiumzug parade by the Letzibuzäli guild in the Hertiquartier, 2 pm;
Carnival service, St. Johannes Church, 6 pm; festivities and musical entertainment in the Markthalle (market hall) on the Stierenmarktareal, after the parade.
 

Carnival Sunday (Fasnachtssonntag), 15th February

Baar: ‘Räbefasnacht’ parade followed by an open-air concert on the Rathausplatz, 2.30 pm; Belcantos Ball with the theme ‘Baarbaren – an die Bar’ (Barbarians – at the bar), Gemeindesaal (community hall), admission from 18 years of age, from 8 pm.

Rotkreuz: Carnival service in the Catholic church, 10.15 am;
Parade through the village centre, 2 pm.

Rumentikon: Parade and Wagendorf (float village) at the Gartekafi, 2 pm.

Steinhausen: Carnival service, Chilematt centre, 10.15 am.

Unterägeri: Wylägerer Narrenfasnacht parade, 1.45 pm, followed by stage performances and gifts for children;
Bar open on the Fäschtplatz (festival grounds) from 3 pm.

Walchwil: Carnival service in the Catholic parish church, 10 am, followed by drinks on the Dorfplatz;
Parade at 2 pm, followed by carnival celebrations in the Gemeindesaal (community hall), on the Dorfplatz and in the Fasi-Beiz (pub).

Güdelmontag, (Carnival Monday) 16th February

Alosen: Morgenstreich (early morning carnival), 4.30 am;
Parade followed by stage play, children's gifts, street carnival and musical entertainment, 1 pm;
Carnival burial (Fasnachtsvergraben), 6.30 pm.

Baar: Children's parade, 2.30 pm, followed by Children's Carnival Ball in the Pfarrheim St. Martin (parish hall).

Hünenberg: ‘Kreis der Gemütlichen’ in the Heirisaal, from 2 pm.

Steinhausen: Children's ball in the Chilematt centre, 2 to 4 pm.

Zug: Greth Schell parades through the old town with her seven Löli, starting at the Theatre Casino at 4.15 pm.  https://www.schreinerzunft.ch/

Güdeldienstag (Shrove Tuesday), 17th February

Baar: Torchlight parade through the Räbe metropolis and burning of the 'Räbechüng' (carnival mascot), starting at the Rathausplatz at at 7.45 pm.

Hünenberg: Eiche Fasnacht parade from 2.30 pm, followed by a monster concert on the Dorfplatz;
Burning of the 'Eichefrässer' (carnival mascot), 5.50 pm, followed by 'Uslumpete' in the Heirisaal and Fasi-Off.

Oberägeri: Legorenfasnacht parade, starting at the Gasthaus Hirschen, 1:15 pm;
followed by stage play, children's gifts, 'Usrüere' and 'Fasnachtsvergraben' on the Dorfplatz, 6:35 pm.

Steinhausen: 'Grindverbrennung' (burning the carnival mascot), Mattenstrasse, 6:30 pm;
'Uslumpete' at the Restaurant Rössli, 7 pm.

Unterägeri: 'Uslumpete' and 'Hudirott' on the Dorfplatz, 4 pm;
'Abelüpfete' and burning of the 'Badjöggel' (carnival mascot) on the Dorfplatz, 7.15 pm.

Walchwil: Children's carnival in the community hall, 2 to 5 pm; followed by 'Uslumpete' in the Fasi-Beiz near the parish hall.

Note
Further information on carnival events and parades can be found on: www.zug-tourismus.ch and on the websites of the carnival societies.
Are you organising an event that’s not on the list? Please register it with the Zuger Zeitung newspaper on redaktion-zugerzeitung@chmedia.ch.