Cycling events in Switzerland: These are the cycling highlights in Switzerland in 2026

Ever dreamed of taking part in the Tour de Swiss? This could now become a reality, as the Swiss have completely revamped their cycling events for 2026. For example, the Tour de Suisse itself has been shortened to five stages, but an amateur race has been added. The autumn event "Gravel Ride & Race Bern" has also been given a facelift: It is now called "Gravel Festival Bern" - because it has been expanded to include a number of exhibitor spaces and programme items. Here are all the important Swiss events, including dates and information addresses.

Gravel Trans Jura - from Baden to Nyon

• Route: 400 km / 12,000 metres altitude / 6 days
• Character: Self-support challenge for adventurers
• Date: 4 - 10 June 2026
• Info: Ride Gravel

Whether by gravel bike, mountain bike or e-bike - but in any case at your own pace: the Gravel Trans Jura is a 400-kilometre challenge with around 12,000 metres of elevation gain. The route climbs from Baden over the very scenic Jura mountains and crosses seven Swiss cantons. The highest point is marked by the Chasseral ridge (1606 metres) with its sensational 360-degree panorama. At Creux du Van, the route passes through a huge rock arena with vertical rock faces over 160 metres high, where chamois and ibex like to climb around, and Lac de Joux provides a refreshing summer dip. Shortly after Saint-Cergue, the final, sometimes challenging ascent to La Barillette (1528 m) begins. From up here, you can look out over Lake Geneva and see the white peak of Mont Blanc shining on the horizon before reflecting on the experiences of the last few days on the long descent to Nyon.

You have 6 days for this challenge, on which you have to be completely self-sufficient. However, the route is laid out in such a way that you pass bike-friendly accommodation and restaurants time and again. This means that you can organise the length of your stages to suit you. The GPS data and all important information about the tour is available in a detailed roadmap and in the specially developed app.

From April to November, you can also tackle the tour individually. The GPS data and the roadmap with all the addresses are also available from Ride Gravel.

Tour de Suisse

• Distance: 635 km / 11,953 metres altitude / 5 stages
• Character: professional races for men / women and 2026 new: for explorers
• Date: 17 - 21 June 2026
• Info: Tour de Suisse

This year, Switzerland's biggest cycling tour will be presented in a completely new format: instead of nine stages, there will be five in mid-June. Each stage will be a circuit with start and finish at the same stage location. The women's race will be held at a later date on the same days. This makes travelling as a spectator all the more worthwhile. Especially as the Tour de Suisse is one of the most important stage races in road cycling after the Grand Tours, the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España.

Also new this year: the "Tour de Suisse Explorer". Hobby cyclists can register here from April to September and receive the GPS data of the original race route to follow. You can track the kilometres you have covered via checkpoints and take part in an exclusive prize draw at the end.

The stage locations of the Tour de Suisse 2026:

• Sondrio - 17 June
• Locarno - 18 June
• Bad Ragaz - 19 June
• Aarburg - 20 June (time trial)
• Villars-sur-Ollon - 21 June (mountain stage)

Chasing Cancellara: Zurich - Andermatt

• Route: 195 km / 4200 metres altitude
• Character: Challenge series for beginners to semi-professionals
• Date: 27 June
• Info: Chasing Cancellara

From Zurich through Glarnerland and over the Klausen Pass to Andermatt - experience this classic race route through the eyes of two-time Olympic champion Fabian Cancellara. On this day, this is possible in four categories: Single, Relay (two team partners take turns), "Happy Threesomes" and Couples (teams, but ride together). In the evening on the Piazza Gottardo in Andermatt with a small festival with food and music for the whole family.

UCI Mountain Bike Enduro World Cup Aletsch Arena

• Character: Race, Spectator event
• Date: 16 - 19 July
• Info: World Cup Aletsch Enduro

Together with Bellwald, the Aletsch Arena organises an Enduro World Cup against the grand backdrop of the Great Aletsch Glacier. Here with two races on Saturday and Sunday. The route: from Riederalp and Bettmeralp via Fiesch-Eggishorn to Bellwald. There will also be a Swiss Enduro Series race on Saturday. The best spectator spots can be found on the organiser's homepage.

Grand Depart Tour des Femmes Lausanne

• Route: 195 km / 4200 metres altitude
• Character: professional race, spectator event
• Date: 1 August
• Info: My Switzerland

For the 5th time this year, the women will also start the Tour de France (1-9 August). The start in Lausanne on Lake Geneva should once again be a great spectacle for spectators. Especially as the first stage leads around Lake Geneva and the finish will be celebrated in Lausanne. Starting signal in the Avenue de Rhodanie in Lausanne-Ouchy.

Granfondo San Gottardo Ambri

• Route: 115 km / 3300 m elevation gain / 3 passes
• Character: Long road bike race for amateurs
• Date: 23 August
• Info: Granfondo San Gottardo

Of the total 115 kilometres of the route, 40 are all uphill - the Granfondo climbs from Ambri over the Gotthard Pass (2106 m), Furka Pass (2429 m) and Nufenen Pass (2478 m). It will burn your legs, but your eyes will also be travelling with you - and the views are magnificent: the Tremola Pass road, Rhone Glacier, Galenstock ridge and the 4000 metre peaks of the Bernese Oberland stand guard. There is also a shorter, 52-kilometre route for the less ambitious.

Swiss Cycling Alpenbrevet in Andermatt

• Route: 267 km / 6800 metres altitude / 5 passes
• Character: Road marathon
• Date: 5 September
• Info: Swiss Cycling Alpenbrevet

Sold out: You have to be early to register for this classic Swiss cycling marathon. But you can still be put on the waiting list for 2026. It's not about the competition, but about the experience on the most beautiful Swiss Alpine passes. Various event formats are available for every level of ability. These include the "Extended" version and the "Tremola by night", for which there are still places left! Start in Andermatt.

SlowUP Albula Pass (Filisur - La Punt)

• Route: 30 km / 1900 m altitude difference
• Character: Pass road closed to motorised traffic
• Date: 6 September, 10 am - 4 pm
• Info: SlowUP Albula

The car-free day on the Albula Pass (2312 m) is celebrating its 20th anniversary! Last year, 8,000 cyclists as well as roller skiers and skateboarders made a pilgrimage over the winding road between the Albula Valley and the Upper Engadine on this day. If you don't feel up to doing the whole pass, you can even shorten the route with the Rhaetian Railway. There are even people who come mainly for the various refreshment stands. They provide alpine kebabs, vegetarian dishes in Bergün, coffee and cake at Alp Weissenstein, Ghackes and Hörnli with apple sauce at the Albula Hospiz, fine barley soup at Alp Alesch and a large cake buffet in La Punt.

Gstaad Velo Classic

• Distance: 33.6 km / 692 m altitude difference
• Character: Joint ride with vintage bikes
• Date: 13 September
• Info: Gstaad Velo Classic

The Gstaad Velo Classic in and around Gstaad is an enjoyable, shared ride among like-minded people. It's not just the scenery and potholes in the road that are celebrated here, but also the bikes and outfits with a retro look. This also attracts former racers time and again. But the winner is the one who puts on the most authentic appearance.

Gravel Festival Bern

• Distance: 51 km / 940 m elevation gain (Race)
• Character: Festival with race, ride and side events
• Date: 17 October
• Info: Gravel Festival Bern

Gravel Festival Bern - sounds like a new event. In fact, it is the former "Gravel Ride & Race Bern", which has been celebrated as the "last big party of the year" since 2018. But there are a few differences: the expo area has been significantly enlarged and the event programme has been expanded to include some family offers.