Several hundred people gathered without permission in the early hours of Saturday morning, with officers responding to reports of assaults facing a hostile crowd. Zürich city police were called to the Nordstrasse/Rosengartenstrasse junction in Kreis 10 just before midnight on Friday 18 April, after reports of an illegal party
Intendant Matthias Schulz has promised a season of magic and contrasts, with international stars and a Ballett Zürich programme spanning Shakespeare to turntables. The Opernhaus Zürich has announced its 2026/27 season programme, with Intendant Matthias Schulz describing it as a season built around strong emotions and unexpected contrasts. The
Research from property consultancy Wüest Partner shows a clear correlation between proximity to the new tram line and rising rental prices in western Zürich. A new study by property consultancy Wüest Partner has confirmed what many western Zürich residents already suspected: the arrival of the Limmattalbahn is driving rents higher
Stefan Fritschi of the FDP and Kaspar Bopp of the SP are heading into a knife-edge runoff for the city's top job, with analysts unable to predict a clear winner. Winterthur will elect its new Stadtpräsident on 10 May, with the race between FDP candidate Stefan Fritschi and
Rising fuel prices since the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East have pushed Swiss drivers towards electric vehicles in unprecedented numbers. Swiss interest in electric vehicles has surged dramatically since the outbreak of the Iran conflict drove fuel prices sharply higher. According to AutoScout24, Switzerland's largest car
Animal rights activists are returning to the streets this Saturday after videos of city rangers trapping and killing pigeons at Stadelhoferplatz sparked a wave of public outrage earlier this month. A second demonstration in support of Zürich's urban pigeon population is scheduled for this Saturday afternoon at Stadelhoferplatz,
A 35-year-old man has been handed a 50-month prison sentence after deliberately ramming a cyclist on the Rosengartenstrasse and throwing a burning flare into a crowd at a Travis Scott concert. The Bezirksgericht Zürich has sentenced a 35-year-old man to four years and two months in prison following two separate
A new initiative backed by the canton aims to reduce language barriers for the city's large expat community, with evening and weekend classes starting in September. The University of Zürich has announced a free German language programme for international residents of the canton, launching in September 2026 with
Water temperatures reached 18°C this week — three weeks ahead of the typical season — prompting the city to open its lakeside bathing areas from 1 May. The city of Zürich has confirmed that its lakeside bathing areas — including the popular Strandbad Tiefenbrunnen and Seebad Utoquai — will open on 1 May
The Zürich-based bank posted a net profit of $2.1 billion for the first quarter, ahead of analyst expectations, as it confirmed the Credit Suisse integration will be substantially complete by year-end. UBS reported first-quarter net profit of $2.1 billion on Tuesday, beating analyst consensus estimates of $1.85
Organisers say international interest in the festival has never been stronger, with submissions up 18% on last year and a new focus section dedicated to Alpine cinema. The Zürich Film Festival has received 210 feature film submissions for its 2026 edition — a record high and an 18% increase on the
A new programme targeting vacant commercial space in Oerlikon and Altstetten aims to add much-needed housing stock without requiring new construction land. The Stadtrat has approved a conversion programme that will transform underutilised office buildings in Zürich Oerlikon and Altstetten into approximately 800 residential apartments over the next four years.
Transport
City safety figures for the first quarter of 2026 show no cycling fatalities — a milestone attributed to the rapid expansion of protected bike lanes since 2023. The city of Zürich recorded zero cycling fatalities in the first quarter of 2026, the first time this has occurred in any quarter since
After months of public consultation, the vote brings a long-debated infrastructure project one step closer to breaking ground — but controversy remains. Zürich's city council has approved the extension of the tram network through the Langstrasse district by a vote of 82 to 36, bringing to an end a
Housing
Median rents for family-sized apartments have crossed a symbolic threshold, intensifying political pressure on the canton to accelerate affordable housing construction. New figures from the cantonal statistics office show that the median rent for a 3.5-room apartment in the city of Zürich reached CHF 2,820 per month in
Culture
Opening on 7 June, the landmark show draws on rarely seen private collections and challenges received narratives about Switzerland's place in 20th-century art. The Kunsthaus Zürich has announced its most ambitious summer programme in recent memory: a 200-work survey of Swiss Modernism from 1920 to 1980, drawing on
Transport
A long-requested improvement to the city's public transport network will arrive this autumn, benefiting shift workers and late-night travellers alike. The Zürcher Verkehrsverbund (ZVV) has confirmed that hourly S-Bahn services on lines S2, S8, and S14 will operate through the night on Fridays and Saturdays from 13 September
Environment
Annual water quality monitoring by the Amt für Abfall, Wasser, Energie und Luft (AWEL) has confirmed that the Limmat achieved its highest recorded water quality scores in 2025 since systematic monitoring began in the late 1970s. Key indicators including phosphate levels, oxygen saturation, and biological oxygen demand all improved significantly.
Business
Flughafen Zürich AG reported passenger volumes of 33.2 million for the 2025 financial year — a record high and a 7.4% increase on 2024. Net profit rose to CHF 312 million, with the board proposing a dividend increase of 8%. CEO Lukas Briner attributed the results to strong growth
Education
ETH Zürich has retained its position as Europe's top-ranked university in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, finishing 8th globally — ahead of Imperial College London, EPFL, and the University of Cambridge in the European standings. The rankings highlighted the institution's research output in quantum computing, climate
Culture
Tucked between the Hardbrücke and the city's Justice Centre, a new outdoor bar, restaurant and community space quietly opened its doors this April — and it's already one of the most interesting spots in the city. Zürich has a new gathering spot. Remise Rosa opened on 18
News
Monika Stocker, the first Green Party member to serve on Zürich's city council and the woman who transformed the city's social welfare system, passed away on 21 April. Monika Stocker, former head of Zürich's social affairs department and a pioneering figure in Swiss urban
Culture
The Neumünsterallee institution marks a remarkable anniversary this week with a special menu, an exhibition, and a message that its founding philosophy has never felt more relevant. Hiltl, the Zürich restaurant widely recognised as the oldest continuously operating vegetarian restaurant in the world, celebrated its 125th anniversary this week with
Environment
A referendum backed by three parties passed with 61% support, making Zürich one of the first Swiss cities to enforce the ban at public festivals and markets. The city of Zürich will prohibit single-use plastic cups, plates, and cutlery at all publicly licensed events from January 2027, following a referendum