Schwägalp-Schwinget (Schwägalp Traditional Wrestling Festival) is a flagship Bergkranzfest in Schwägalp (Urnäsch), Switzerland, held each mid-August to celebrate Schwingen, the country’s traditional belt wrestling. Elite Bösen grapple in the sawdust ring for the coveted Kranz and Schwägalp victory, framed by the dramatic Säntis peak, with lively Alphorn tunes, regional crafts, and hearty festival fare like the early Schwingerzmorge breakfast.
Start with a quick trip form. Weekend in Appenzell or a Eastern Switzerland route—we’ll plan arena tickets & seating, event-day timing, cable car & mountain logistics, restaurant reservations, and a mountain-view stay near Schwägalp and Säntis.
Prefer to talk it through? Book a free intro call.
DATES & TIMES
• Event date (2026): Sunday, August 16, 2026. Official program.
• Key schedule times (official program, subject to change): ticket office opens 5:30 AM; wrestling starts 8:00 AM; resumes 1:15 PM; final (“Schlussgang”) around 5:00 PM; awards around 6:00 PM. Official schedule.
• Breakfast (“Schwingerzmorge”) is listed from 5:30–8:00 AM (requires a breakfast ticket). Official program · Breakfast ticket info.
LOCATION
• Schwägalp (Urnäsch), Switzerland (Säntis region). Open in Google Maps.
• The festival grounds (“Schwägalp nature arena”) are next to the Säntis cable car valley station. Säntisbahn map · Säntisbahn (venue area).
• Festival grounds plan (arena, tents, services, accessible areas): Official grounds plan.
• Regional visitor information: Appenzellerland Tourism.
TICKETS & ENTRY
• Official ticketing: Ticket shop · Tickets overview.
• The organizer states that standing tickets can be ordered online from April 1, 2026. Official presale info.
• Ticket price list (as published by the organizer): standing CHF 26; lawn seats CHF 35; chair grandstand CHF 47; banquet CHF 28; breakfast CHF 15. Official prices.
• Youth up to 16 years old: free admission to the standing areas (per organizer). Official entry note.
GOOD TO KNOW
• Public transit is included with an official presale wristband (all ticket categories) for travel from Ostwind zones to Schwägalp and back on event Sunday (per organizer). Official transit info.
• Free, supervised park-and-ride lots are listed in Urnäsch and Nesslau, with PostAuto connections to the festival grounds. Official park-and-ride info · Urnäsch map · Nesslau map.
• Accessibility: the grounds plan marks a wheelchair-accessible tribune and a wheelchair-accessible restroom. Official grounds plan.
ACCOMODATIONS
• The organizer publishes a list of nearby lodging options (including Schwägalp-area hotels/guesthouses) and a tourism office contact. Official accommodations list.
• Camping vehicles: designated parking spaces are available on the Schwägalp pass (no reservations; no on-site infrastructure); camping vehicles are not permitted to drive from the pass summit to the arena, and shuttle buses are listed from the camping parking to the festival grounds on Sunday morning. Official camping-vehicle info.
Tell us your dates, who’s coming, and what else you’d like to see. We’ll suggest a Switzerland route that includes the Schwägalp Schwinget at the right moment, with realistic travel days and comfortable home bases.
Prefer to start with a call? Book a free intro call.