From July 17 to 25, 2026, the show will return to the courtyard of the Kaserne Basel and bring formations from all over the world to the stage. The Basel Tattoo thus remains true to the historic venue and builds on previous editions, which transform the area into a backdrop of sound and light every summer.
To mark its 20th anniversary, the arena on the Kasernenareal is getting a complete update: the new "Arena.26" brings spectators closer to the action and makes the playing area more compact. This creates a denser, more emotional atmosphere in which the formations and choreographies can be experienced even more directly. In a total of eleven performances, supplemented by the Basel Tattoo Parade through the city center and Tattoo Street with food stalls, the festival can be discovered in its various facets over nine days.
The anniversary edition will feature a highly international line-up with acts from Europe, America, Africa and Oceania. Two of the British King's Guards will be taking part: The Band of His Majesty's Scots Guards and The Drums & Pipes of the Irish Guards. This sets a royal focus - over the years, all five Royal Guards have attended the Basel Tattoo. Also announced are the rock bagpipers The Red Hot Chilli Pipers, the Norwegian His Majesty's The King's Guard Band and Drill Team, the Basel Top Secret Drum Corps and the Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps from the USA - different soundscapes and show styles in one formation.
The march-in of the "Massed Pipes and Drums" remains a fixture, with over 200 bagpipers and drummers filling the barracks courtyard with Scottish Highland music. This is complemented by Highland Dancers and marching bands from countries such as South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, making the global nature of the festival even more apparent. The historic architecture of the barracks forms the backdrop for light shows and formation changes, before the evenings traditionally come to an end with the "Lone Piper" and a joint finale by all participants.