August 1st in Verbier: National Day, the Kermesse, and Village Spirit

August 1st holds a special place on the Swiss calendar. And August 1st in Verbier takes on its own colour: a mountain village where everyone comes together, locals and visitors alike, at the crossing point of national tradition and a much-loved local event.

The origins of Swiss National Day

A little history first. August 1st marks the Federal Charter of 1291, the alliance formed between the cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden to come to one another’s aid. Curiously, the date wasn’t always a day of celebration for everyone: the first national commemoration only took place in 1891, on the 600th anniversary of the pact, and it took until 1899 for it to become an annual event. Even more surprising, August 1st only became an official public holiday across all of Switzerland in 1994, following a popular vote. A relatively recent history, then, and one that hasn’t stopped the day from becoming one of the most eagerly awaited moments of summer, in the lowlands as much as in the mountains.

Two days of celebration across the village

From midday on July 31st through to midnight on August 1st, the Kermesse sets the pace, and Verbier shifts into a different rhythm altogether. The Kermesse’s stalls stay open late into the night, the streets are draped in the national colours, and a festive mood settles over the village, carried along by both residents and the visitors spending their summer here. Local children mix with those just passing through, weaving between paper lanterns as the last light fades from the surrounding peaks. As elsewhere in Switzerland, the day comes with its familiar markers: an official address, alphorn music, the national anthem, moments of collective gathering. In Verbier, though, these elements aren’t scattered across different corners of the village. They’re folded into a single, unifying event, the Kermesse, which carries the evening and sets the tempo for the whole village.

The Kermesse de Verbier: 50 years of local tradition

The Kermesse de Verbier is far more than an evening’s entertainment: it’s the oldest event still running in the village, organised for decades by a local non-profit association. In 2026, it marks its 50th edition, half a century of history that has made it a genuine touchstone of identity for Verbier, a thread connecting today’s residents to those who came before them.

The celebration runs from July 31st to August 1st, 2026, on Rue de la Poste, taking the form of a lively market: food, drink and craft stalls, with live music animating the street as dusk falls. The programme carries forward the elements that have defined it for half a century, among them the traditional flag-throwing display and alphorn performances, before continuing into August 1st with a lantern procession followed by the official ceremony, complete with speech and national anthem. In recent years, this has closed not with a traditional fireworks display but with a light show, a different way of bringing the evening to its finale, no less memorable for it.

What truly sets the Kermesse apart is its ability to bring together people who don’t always cross paths the rest of the year: families who have lived in Verbier for generations, seasonal workers who arrived only months ago, homeowners loyal to the resort, and visitors discovering the Alpine summer for the first time. For one weekend, Rue de la Poste becomes shared ground where every version of Verbier’s story meets, the decades-old and the just-beginning alike.

Staying in Verbier for August 1st and the 50th Kermesse

To make the most of the evening, free of travel logistics or fixed schedules, staying right in the heart of the village is the obvious choice. A base close to Rue de la Poste means you can set your own pace: a quiet moment during the day, an easy walk home after the festivities, and the freedom to move between the buzz of the celebrations and the calm of your own space whenever you like.

Unsurprisingly, July and August rank among Verbier’s busiest months, driven by the Verbier Festival, National Day, and the eagerly anticipated Rocklette, organized by the Palp Festival. It follows, then, that booking ahead remains the best way to secure a well-located property during this busy stretch of summer. Our agency offers a curated selection of weekly chalets and apartments in the heart of Verbier, suited to a short summer stay as much as a longer holiday.

Questions, or ready to book? Get in touch with our team.

Banner photo : © Mark Shapiro