Christmas and New Year in Wengen
.webp)
From 24 December 2026 to 1 January 2027, Wengen settles into its quiet festive season. The car-free village trades traffic for lantern light, carols and the smell of mulled wine, and the mountains do the rest.
In the village
The days before Christmas bring a mulled-wine festival to the village square, where you can stand with a warm cup and watch the light go off the peaks. The Wengen music society gives a Christmas concert, and on 25 December an open-air Christmas mass is held at the forest edge, with a bonfire and carols under the trees. Festive lights run the length of the car-free main street, the ice rink stays busy through the week, and the whole village keeps the slow, walkable pace that makes Wengen what it is at this time of year.
Into the New Year
The week between Christmas and New Year is made for short ski days, long lunches and early dark evenings. On 31 December the village gathers on the main street to see the year out, with a toast among neighbours and guests rather than a stage and a countdown clock. It is an easy, sociable way to cross into the new year, and you are never more than a few minutes' walk from your room when you have had enough of the cold.
Practical information
Dates: 24 December 2026 to 1 January 2027
Where: throughout the car-free village of Wengen
Christmas mass: 25 December, open-air at the forest edge, with a bonfire and carols
New Year's Eve: 31 December, gathering and toast on the village street
Note: the full 2026/27 programme is published closer to the date
Plan your stay
Wengen fills for the festive week, and staying at Victoria Lauberhorn, a Faern Collection Hotel, puts the square, the skating and the main-street celebrations a few steps from your door. From the centre of the village you can ski by day and walk home to warmth by evening, with the station and the Männlichen cable car right outside. Book your Christmas or New Year stay well ahead, as these are the busiest nights of the winter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do in Wengen over Christmas and New Year?
The car-free village settles into a quiet festive season of lantern light, carols and mulled wine. The days before Christmas bring a mulled-wine festival to the village square, the Wengen music society gives a Christmas concert, festive lights run the length of the main street and the ice rink stays busy through the week. The week between Christmas and New Year is made for short ski days, long lunches and early dark evenings.
What are the key dates in the festive programme?
The festive season runs from 24 December 2026 to 1 January 2027. On 25 December an open-air Christmas mass is held at the forest edge, with a bonfire and carols under the trees. On 31 December the village gathers on the main street to see the year out, with a toast among neighbours and guests rather than a stage and a countdown clock.
Do I need to book or buy tickets for the celebrations?
The celebrations take place throughout the village, and the full 2026/27 programme is published closer to the date. What you should book early is your room: Wengen fills for the festive week, and Christmas and New Year are the busiest nights of the winter. Check the programme once it is out for details of the individual events.
How do I get to Wengen for the holidays, and how do I get around?
Wengen is car-free and is reached by cog railway from Lauterbrunnen, with cars left in the Lauterbrunnen valley parking. Once you arrive, everything is on foot: the square, the skating, the festive lights and the main-street celebrations are all a short walk apart. You can ski by day and walk home to warmth by evening, never more than a few minutes from your room.
Why spend the festive week at Hotel Victoria Lauberhorn?
Hotel Victoria Lauberhorn puts the square, the skating and the main-street celebrations a few steps from your door, with the station and the Männlichen cable car right outside. The hotel has Wengen's largest wellness area for cold evenings, plus the hotel restaurant for half-board dinners and Pasta & More for a la carte. Book your Christmas or New Year stay well ahead, as these are the busiest nights of the winter.