BASEL THIS WEEK 28 JULY – 3 AUGUST 2025
Activities of the week:
1. Aktiv! im Sommer — Dance Together
2. Aktiv! im Sommer — Yoga
3. Swiss National Day on the Rhine
4. The Tension Electronic Music Festival
5. Circus: Accademia Dimitri – Varieté Miraculus
6. Allianz Open-Air Cinema
Aktiv! im Sommer — Dance Together
Date: Mondays – July 28 2025
Place: St. Johanns-Park, Elsässerstrasse 34, Basel
Time: 19:00-19:50
Price: Free participation, no registration required
Website: https://www.basellife.com/event/aktiv-im-sommer-lets-dance
Gsünder Basel (Healthier Basel), a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting good health for people in the Basel area, offers a variety of classes inviting the public to exercise in the beautiful parks of the Basel region this summer. The Dance Fitness program takes place on Monday evenings in St. Johanns-Park, providing an enjoyable 50-minute workout that combines dance, fitness, and fun to music from around the world.
The sessions guarantee a party mood while offering an accessible way for Basel residents and visitors to stay active during the summer months. This outdoor fitness initiative exemplifies Basel’s commitment to public health and community wellness, utilizing the city’s beautiful green spaces to encourage physical activity. The program runs throughout the summer on a weekly basis, making it easy for participants to establish a regular fitness routine in a social, energetic environment without any financial barriers or administrative hurdles.
Aktiv! im Sommer — Yoga
Date: Wednesdays – July 30 2025
Place: Erlenmatt Park, Erlenmattstrasse 22, Basel
Time: 19:00-20:00
Price: Free participation, no registration required
Website: https://www.basellife.com/event/aktiv-im-sommer-yoga/
Gsünder Basel (Healthier Basel), a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting good health for people in the Basel area, offers a variety of classes inviting the public to exercise in the beautiful parks of the Basel region this summer. The outdoor yoga program takes place on Wednesday evenings in the urban Erlenmattpark, providing participants with a peaceful hour of relaxation and mindfulness.
The yoga sessions are designed for beginners and experienced yogis of all levels, with mats provided for convenience. This initiative embodies the philosophy that yoga brings harmony and well-being to body, mind, and soul, offering Basel residents a tranquil escape from urban life in one of the city’s modern parks. The program extends into early September, allowing participants to maintain their wellness routine as summer transitions to autumn, all while fostering community connection through shared outdoor practice.
Swiss National Day on the Rhine
Date: July 31, 2025
Place: Rhine riverbank – from Johanniter to Wettstein Bridge (Little Basel) and Johanniter to Middle Bridge (Greater Basel), extending to Schifflände and Marktplatz
Time: 17:00 – 23:00 (fireworks at 23:00)
Price: Free entry
Website: https://www.bs.ch/en/pd/marketing/messenundmaerkte/swiss-national-day
The “Bundesfeier am Rhein” takes place on the evening before Switzerland’s National Day, July 31st, and attracts around 100,000 festival visitors from the entire region to this city festival. This massive celebration transforms Basel’s Rhine riverbank into a festive wonderland with over 90 food stalls and vendors alongside numerous live concerts providing entertainment from 5 PM onwards.
The highlight of the evening comes at 11 PM when spectacular fireworks are launched from two ships on the Rhine, creating a breathtaking display reflected in the water. The festival area spans both sides of the Rhine, stretching along the Kleinbasler shore from Johanniter to Wettstein Bridge and on the Grossbasel side from Johanniter Bridge to Middle Bridge, extending inland to Schifflände and Marktplatz. This free public celebration serves as Basel’s traditional warm-up to Switzerland’s National Day, bringing together the entire regional community in a spirit of Swiss patriotism and festivity along one of Europe’s most beautiful urban river settings.
The Tension Electronic Music Festival
Date: July 31 – August 2, 2025
Place: Gartenbad St. Jakob, Basel, Switzerland
Time: Festival schedule varies by day
Price: From CHF 62.00 (www.tension-festival.ch)
Website: https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/experiences/events/tension-electronic-music-festival-2025
The Tension Festival returns for its 14th edition from July 31 to August 2, 2025, transforming the Gartenbad St. Jakob in Basel into northwestern Switzerland’s biggest electronic music happening. This year’s event is 18+ only and features an impressive lineup of international DJs and electronic music artists including I Hate Models, Nora En Pure, Elderbrook, Mathame, Hugel, and Francis Mercier.
The festival takes advantage of its unique urban setting, offering attendees not just world-class electronic music but also access to swimming facilities, diverse food and drink options, and a vibrant cultural marketplace. VIP tickets are available as combination passes for both day and night sessions with free choice of location, while regular tickets provide access to the main festival experience. The event has grown significantly over the past decade, establishing itself as a premier destination for electronic music enthusiasts in Switzerland.
Circus: Accademia Dimitri -Varieté Miraculus
Date: Saturday, August 2, 2025
Place: Station Circus, Münchensteinerstrasse 103, Basel
Time: 20:00-21:15
Price: CHF 28 (adults), CHF 18 (students), CHF 12 (children up to 16)
Website: https://www.basellife.com/event/circus-accademia-dimitri-variete-miraculus/
The Accademia Dimitri returns to Station Circus, presenting the two final pieces of the current year’s program with “Varieté Miraculus”. This special evening showcases the talents of Switzerland’s renowned theater and circus academy, featuring a vibrant and captivating group of young musicians in performances that simultaneously mark both a conclusion and a new beginning.
The Accademia Dimitri, based in Verscio, Ticino, is famous for its innovative approach to physical theater, circus arts, and movement training. This 75-minute performance promises to deliver the academy’s signature blend of artistic excellence and creative storytelling, making it an ideal cultural experience for families and theater enthusiasts alike. Station Circus provides an intimate venue perfectly suited to the academy’s expressive and dynamic performance style, creating an unforgettable evening of contemporary circus arts in Basel’s vibrant cultural landscape.
Allianz Open-Air Cinema
Date: August 2-25, 2025
Place: Münsterplatz, Basel
Time: Various showtimes
Price: Ticket prices available via website (https://basel.allianzcinema.ch/de/programm )
Website: https://www.basel.com/en/basel-inspires/summer/open-air-cinema
The Allianz Cinema on Münsterplatz runs from August 2-25, 2025, featuring blockbusters, film classics, and exclusive premieres in Basel’s most spectacular open-air cinema setting. The historic Münsterplatz transforms into an atmospheric cinema hall under the starry sky, with diverse film programming and fine gastronomy creating an unforgettable summer movie experience.
Among the special screenings, “Burn After Reading” (2008), the Coen Brothers’ crime comedy starring Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, and George Clooney, tells the story of fitness trainers who discover a CIA agent’s memoirs and attempt blackmail. “Materialists,” featuring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal, is shown as an exclusive German-Swiss premiere on August 3 at 21:30, presented by Jsotta Senza Movie Night. This romantic comedy follows an ambitious New York matchmaker torn between her ex-boyfriend and one of her clients, produced by A24 and directed by Celine Song.
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