Leisure and cultural activities

Locarno Film Festival - 79ª edition
5 - 19 August 2026

The Locarno Film Festival is about more than just cinema; featuring over 300 screenings, events, and talks, it also hosts la Rotonda (with dozens of free concerts starting from 30 July) and the spin-off festival BaseCamp. Two weeks entirely dedicated to art, culture, and discoveries.

Offer for USI students and staff
Thanks to a special agreement, students and trainees under 30 can receive a 10% discount on dedicated rates by entering the appropriate promotional code at checkout.

• Discount code: LFF79STPROMO10
• Valid until 12 July 2026
• website: locarnofestival.ch

Pass types and discounted prices
Students & Trainees Festival Pass: Full access to all public events and Festival screenings, including evening screenings in the picturesque setting of Piazza Grande. This offer is reserved for students and trainees under 30. Discounted price: CHF 99.– (instead of CHF 110.–)

Students & Trainees Day Pass: Valid admission for a single chosen date, providing access to all scheduled public events and screenings for that day (including those in Piazza Grande). This offer is reserved for those under 30. Discounted price: CHF 27.– (instead of CHF 30.–)

Students & Trainees Festival Pass- PLUS: Includes all the benefits of the standard Festival Pass, alongside exclusive extra perks. Discounted price: CHF 117.– (instead of CHF 130.–)

Special travel offers: BusForFun Package (from Milan, Como, or Lainate)
For those wishing to reach the Festival from Italy, a special package is available in collaboration with BusForFun. This includes a return bus journey (from Milan, Como, or Lainate), admission to the evening screening in Piazza Grande, and a CHF 20 food & beverage voucher.
Available dates: 7, 8, 9, 14 and 15 August 2026

Early Bird (until 15 June): 65 €

Tickets and passes can be purchased directly from the official festival portal by entering the specified discount code. When tickets are checked at the Festival entrance, you may be required to present a student ID card (USI badge) or a valid identity document proving you are under 30 years old.

Thanks to our partnership with Moon+Stars, the USi community can benefit from two discounted tickets (from CHF 45) for a concert of your choice.

The offer is valid from 11 May to 8 June, while stocks last. Hurry and get your tickets before they run out at the following link https://moonandstars.ch/it/usi
Once you have logged in, you must first enter your personal discount code and click on "apply"; a dedicated section will then appear where you can add the two discounted tickets to your basket.

You can request the discount code by writing at:

Staff, services and collaborators: [email protected]
Students: [email protected]
View the programme

AG Cultura: The Under-26 Culture Pass

The AG Cultura Pass is available to young people under 26, with an annual fee of CHF 100, and guarantees unlimited free access to a wide range of events.

It covers over 374 partner venues in six Swiss cantons: Bern (BE), Fribourg (FR), Jura (JU), Neuchâtel (NE), Ticino (TI) and Valais (VS). Pass holders can therefore enjoy a wide variety of cultural offerings, ranging from concerts and theatre performances to festivals, exhibitions and film screenings.

For a detailed list of participating venues and to purchase the pass, please refer directly to the association's official website: agcultura.ch.

Bally Foundation
Villa Heleneum,
Via Cortivo 26 - Castagnola, Lugano
tel: +41 91 922 00 07

Free access for sStudents at the Bally Foundation

The Bally Foundation will be offering free admission to all students starting from 1 March 2024! Simply present a valid student ID card for the current academic year to avail of this opportunity. This initiative is aimed at promoting access to culture and art among students.

Visit us at Villa Heleneum, located at Via Cortivo 26 - Castagnola, Lugano, to explore our exhibitions and discover the wonders that the Bally Foundation has to offer..

For more information about the foundation and ongoing programming, please visit our website: www.ballyfoundation.ch, or contact us directly at +41 91 922 00 07 or via email at  [email protected]

Opening hours:
Wednesday - Friday: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Saturday - Sunday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Crion – esperienze outdoor con professionisti locali
www.crion.org

Crion è un ecosistema digitale svizzero che valorizza i territori meno conosciuti mettendo in contatto diretto viaggiatori e professionisti outdoor locali (guide alpine, maestri di sci e snowboard, istruttori MTB, accompagnatori trekking). L’idea è semplice: dare visibilità a chi vive e lavora sul posto e aiutare le comunità di montagna a crescere grazie a un turismo più autentico e sostenibile. Su Crion trovi esperienze in montagna e outdoor in Svizzera e in molte destinazioni alpine: sci, snowboard, trekking, MTB, arrampicata e molto altro.

Sconto riservato alla comunità USI (Studenti, docenti e staff): 10% sulla prima attività prenotata su Crion.

Metodo di prenotazione: vai su www.crion.org, registrati gratuitamente, scegli l’attività che ti interessa e, nella pagina dell’attività, inserisci il codice promo USI prima di premere "Checkout" per applicare lo sconto.

Student Discounts at Lux Cinema and Cinema Iride
USI students can enjoy discounted student tickets for movies at Lux Cinema in Massagno and Cinema Iride in Lugano. Simply present your USI badge at the checkout to receive the discounted price of CHF 13. This offer is valid for Bachelor and Master students only.

Cineclub Screenings
All USI students (Bachelor, Master, and PhD) can attend cineclub screenings in Ticino for free. Screenings in Lugano take place every Tuesday evening at Cinema Iride during the school year. The programme can be found on the Lugano Cinema 93 website.

Please note: All cineclub screenings are in the original language with subtitles in a national language (Italian or French).

Contacts:

Lux Art House
Via Giuseppe Motta 67,
6900 Massagno
+41 91 967 30 39

Cinema Iride
Piazza S. Rocco 3,
6900 Lugano
+41 91 922 96 53

Cinema Multisala Teatro
Via V. Vela 21
6850 Mendrisio
+41 91 646 16 44
www.mendrisiocinema.ch
[email protected]

USI students can benefit from discounted tickets for films at the Cinema Multisala Teatro in Mendrisio.
From Monday to Friday, just show your USI badge at the box office to receive the discounted price of CHF 11.90. The offer is only valid for Bachelor's and Master's students.

https://www.efswiss.ch/it/scontiUSI
Via Pioda 8, 6900 Lugano
tel. +41 91 923 33 73

Valid for students, professors and staff for all destinations (offer cannot be combined).

• 10% discount on intensive language travel or exam preparation courses of 1-week duration (adults 25 and older) or two weeks for young adults (13 and older) - up to 1.200 CHF.
• 8% discount on long-term intensive language travel or long-term exam preparation courses (6, 9 or 11 months) - up to 1'200 CHF
• Free flight up to 1,200 CHF for intensive language travel or exam preparation courses for a minimum duration of 12 weeks

Offer for families of students attending Università della Svizzera italiana.

"Enjoy Lugano" is a promotion specifically designed for students and their families. Suppose your loved ones decide to stay at least two nights in one of the participating hotels in the Lugano area. In that case, Lugano Region will treat them to an exclusive "Dine Around" experience. This special invitation is a unique opportunity to discover the flavours and culinary traditions of Ticino, sharing memories while dining.

More information about the offer can be found on the dedicated website of Lugano Region.

ISIC International Student Identity Card

The ISIC card and internationally recognised student ID, providing proof of student status and access to thousands of discounts both locally and worldwide.

If you are a student at USI, you can apply for the ISIC International Student Card at a 50% discount until the end of June using the promo code USI2026. While the regular price is 20 CHF, USI students can get the digital card for only 10 CHF during this period. No additional fees apply.

Apply for your ISIC International Student Card here:
https://isic.ch/en/get-your-card/

Explore available discounts:
https://isic.ch/en/discounts/

LAC edu
settore di mediazione del LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura
Piazza Luini 6
CH - 6901 Lugano
tel +41 58 866 42 30
[email protected]
https://www.luganolac.ch/lac/partecipa/lac-edu

The artistic direction of LAC is dedicated to engaging young audiences with theatre. Experiencing live performances allows them to connect with various themes that resonate with our everyday reality. Watching these performances fosters sensitivity and curiosity, both in theatrical contexts and personal lives. In addition to the shows, LAC offers a range of free activities, including meetings and in-depth discussions with directors, choreographers, actors, and playwrights. All plays and concerts in the LAC Musica season are priced at CHF 10 for students, who also receive discounts of 25% to 50% on other types of shows. Reservations can be made at [email protected]

Further information and recommended shows:
https://www.luganolac.ch/lac/partecipa/lac-edu/landing-pages-scuole/landing-uni.html

www.laltralingua.ch

Soggiorni lingustici
Via Pioda 4
6900 Lugano
tel +41 91 924 22 35
email [email protected]

ERASMUS (SEMP) programmes

Before you begin your ERASMUS (SEMP) program, why not invest some time to attend a language course? You may find it useful to brush up your language skills and be better prepared for your Erasmus.

Courses can be taken in the same location where your Erasmus will take place or in any other location of choice from the ones we currently offer.

Special rates apply to students enrolled at Università della Svizzera italiana.

We offer Italian language courses also in Milan and Florence.

LuganoMusica
Piazza Luini 2
CH - 6901 Lugano
tel +41 58 866 42 85
[email protected]
www.luganomusica.ch

Within the collaboration between USI and LuganoMusica, a special student price of 13 CHF is offered with the aim of bringing the USI community closer to the Lugano's cultural centre.

More information:
www.usi.ch/en/feeds/11190

L’ideatorio-USI
Piazza del Municipio 2
6965 Cadro
Opening hourss and prices: https://ideatorio.usi.ch/orari-e-tariffe

The Ideatorio, USI's service for the promotion of scientific culture and dialogue between science and society offers
50% discount on entrance tickets to the Cadro exhibition venue:

• Shows at the astronomical planetarium
• Visit to the interactive exhibition
• Workshops and shows

Valid for the entire USI community by presenting your membership card.

For information on the proposed activities: https://ideatorio.usi.ch/

MASI - Museo d’arte della Svizzera italiana
via Canova 10, 6900 Lugano
Tel: +41 58 866 42 40
[email protected]

MASI - Museo d’arte della Svizzera italiana offers a rich lineup of events, including exhibitions and talks.

For USI freshers, this is an excellent opportunity to take advantage of the free ticket received at the Welcome event.
For more information on the programme, please visit the following link.

Opening hours
Mon/Wed/Fri: 11:00 - 18:00
Thu: 11:00 - 20:00
Sat/Sun/Holidays: 10:00 - 18:00
Mon: closed

Museo delle Culture
Museum of Art and Anthropology
Villa Malpensata
Via Mazzini 5, Lugano
www.musec.ch

MUSEC - Museo delle Culture offers USI students a 5 CHF discount on the entrance ticket. To benefit from the discount, please email [email protected] specifying that you are entitled to the offer as a student enrolled at USI.

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Join the Club delle Culture
The Club delle Culture Young is a membership card for individuals under the age of 25 that provides free access to the collections and temporary exhibitions at MUSEC. Members can take advantage of guided tours, meet with artists and collectors, and visit as often as they like. The card is valid for one year and costs 50 CHF. It offers a range of exclusive benefits and is issued in the cardholder's name.

• Unlimited access to all MUSEC exhibitions
• Programme: www.musec.ch
• Priority on booking author visits, events and lectures
• Private events reserved for members
• 10% discount on boutique and bookshop*.
• Free Coffee during MUSEC MONDAYS (every Monday it will be possible to visit the museum with a promotional 7 CHF entrance ticket)

Museo Hermann Hesse Montagnola
Ra Cürta 2
6926 Montagnola
www.hessemontagnola.ch
Instagram: museo_hermann_hesse

my.lugano.ch
 

Discover the City and enjoy a unique shopping experience thanks to LVGA, Lugano's digital currency.

Act like a real local: use LVGA to pay in the City and receive up to 10% cashback on every purchase. With over 400 participating businesses, including shops, restaurants, museums, lidos and tourist attractions, earning LVGA and saving money is easy. Download the app and register for free.

MyLugano, awarded as the most innovative Smart City solution of 2023, offers you a state-of-the-art technological experience in the heart of Lugano.

Download the App MyLugano for iOS

Download the App MyLugano for Android 

Teatro dell'architettura
Università della Svizzera italiana
Via Turconi 25
6850 Mendrisio, Svizzera
tel +41 58 666 5867
https://www.tam.usi.ch/it

Teatro dell'architettura Mendrisio (TAM) at Università della Svizzera italiana is an exhibition space and a privileged forum for cultural debate on architecture, the city and the landscape. Admission is free for all students and the entire USI community upon presentation of their card.

TAM regularly hosts temporary exhibitions that are open to the public. For more information on current exhibitions, opening hours and activities, visit: www.tam.usi.ch

TAM also organises free guided tours open to everyone once a month. It is also possible to arrange special tours for USI groups and departments by contacting TAM at the following address: [email protected]

Teatro Sociale Bellinzona
Ente autonomo Bellinzona Teatro
Piazza Governo 11
CH-6500 Bellinzona
www.teatrosociale.ch
www.territorifestival.ch
Facebook

offer is reserved for all USI students. A valid student card is required:
- 50% discount in presale and at the evening box office for all events in the official programme of the Teatro Sociale Bellinzona, in every seating tier;

- Ottovolante season ticket at CHF. 80 for 8 performances of choice (valid for one year).

Strada Ponte di Valle 8
6964 Davesco/Soragno
+41 79 414 36 25
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​Via cantonale 59
6802 Rivera
+41 78 223 63 80

www.transfinity.ch

Transfinity VR Entertainment Center, is the first virtual reality park in Ticino featuring different experiences for all ages (6 and up), and groupp eperiences such as the VR LaserTag Arena, Escape Room, Driving simulators, more than 50 co-op and competitive VR videogames. This and much more at Transfinity Lugano or Rivera.

Transfinity offers 10% discount on all services to USI students. To get the discount show your bagde at the cashier.

NB: The discount cannot be combined with other promotions and is for personal use only (not collective).

10% discount on all language courses offered, for individual or group lessons

Oltre Lingua is a language school based in Rancate, near Mendrisio, that offers courses for all levels with experienced and qualified native speakers, preparing for the main international certification exams and collaborating with schools abroad to organize language study trips.

Details (in Italian) at: www.oltrelingua.com

The framework agreement between USI and OSI (Orchestra della Svizzera italiana) was established for the purpose of  promoting activities of mutual interest and to consolidate and encourage the relations between the two institutions. Within this framework, OSI offers discounted tickets for concerts at the LAC Lugano arte e cultura to USI students at the special price of CHF 10 (subject to the availability of seats) and to USI staff members at the reduced rate for the 'Amici dell'OSI' association..

OSI subscription to the LAC 10 / Under26
The 10 concerts of the OSI season at the LAC at the special price of CHF 50 for people under 26.
To obtain the Abbonamento giovani you must present your student badge or ID at the LAC box office. Limited seats available.

Further information https://www.osi.swiss/concerti/abbonamenti

More information: www.osi.swiss

GERMAN COURSES

https://scuolasvizzeraditedesco.ch/

Free registration fees = a 250 CHF discount on all teaching programs activated by the school*.

École Suisse d’Allemand offers:

• German courses at all levels
• Business German courses
• Preparation for the Goethe examination

* Registration fees cover teaching material, pswd and log-in to the school's multimedia platform, final certificate stating the level reached. The offer is not cumulative with any other current offers.

To take advantage of the discount you must contact the center directly by phone 091 921 10 82 o by e-mail at lugano@scuolasvizzeraditedesco.ch, specifying that you are entitled to the discount reserved to USI students, or by visiting directly the centre with your student ID card.

ENGLISH COURSES

www.wallstreetenglish.ch

Free registration fees = a 250 CHF discount on all teaching program activated by the school*.

Wall Street English Lugano offers:

• Flexible English course, all levels
• Business English course
• English certificates preparation: Cambridge University, TOEFL and IELTSIELTS

* Registration fees cover teaching material, pswd and log-in to the Wall Street's multimedia platform, final certificate stating the level reached. The offer is not cumulative with any other current offers.

To take advantage of the discount you must contact the center directly by phone 091 921 23 23 or by mail [email protected], specifying that you are entitled to the discount reserved to USI students, or by visiting directly the centre with your student ID card.