There is a place, on summer season, where culture meets play, creativity blends with discovery, and time spent together becomes a shared experience.
This is the Family dimension of Lugano LongLake Festival, which from 9 to 26 July will present more than 100 free events dedicated to children and families, reaffirming its position as one of the festival’s greatest strengths. Accessibility and intergenerational connection have always been at the core of the event.
Within a programme featuring more than 250 events overall, the festival places special focus on children aged 0 to 12, offering 36 different activities including performances, workshops, installations and participatory experiences. At the centre of this programme is the Family Village, located between the Palazzo dei Congressi and Parco Ciani: an open, welcoming space where children can play, experiment and let their imagination run free every day.
Among the most eagerly anticipated highlights is Pindarico by Terzostudio, a travelling performance combining transformation theatre and illusion on stilts, bringing theatre beyond conventional venues and directly into public spaces. Music becomes a tool for connection through the engaging Community Drum Circle, a participatory workshop led by Vincenzo Vona, where participants come together to form a spontaneous orchestra of drums and percussion.
The programme also explores themes of inclusion and coexistence through Nuvole a tratti, a storytelling and puppet theatre performance presented by Teatro Danzabile. Meanwhile, the magic of theatrical craftsmanship comes to life in Appeso a un filo, an elegant production by the company Di Filippo Marionette.
One of the most original new additions to the 2026 edition is DivinOvo, an immersive and interactive installation inviting visitors to engage with a surprising “contemporary oracle” on a journey through art, imagination and participation.
For those who love movement and dance, every Sunday morning Parco Ciani hosts Family Groove Club, a lively event designed for adults and children to enjoy together to the rhythms of electronic music.
The Family programme also intertwines with the vibrant atmosphere of the Buskers Festival. From Atelier Manoamano, a participatory workshop dedicated to collectively decorating one of the festival’s stages, to the street performances, acrobatics and artistic acts that will animate the city centre from 22 to 26 July, there is something for everyone to discover.
More than simply a programme for children, LongLake’s Family offering is an invitation to experience the city in a different way: through play, discovery and togetherness. It is an opportunity to spend quality time as a family, combining culture and entertainment in a festival that, for eighteen days, transforms Lugano into a large open-air space dedicated to families.
Discover the full programme at: www.longlake.ch
