Aarau and Unterentfelden move closer to historic merger by 2028
The municipalities of Aarau and Unterentfelden have taken a major step towards merging under the Growing Together project. Both local councils formally approved the merger agreement on March 23, 2026, following a cantonal pre-review. The decision now moves to public and political discussions before final votes next year.
The process began with a cantonal review of the agreement, leading to minor changes. Adjustments focused on the tax commission's structure and how members of the citizens' assembly committees would be elected. Once revised, the executive bodies of both Aarau and Unterentfelden adopted the final version.
Aarau's City Council will next send the agreement to its Finance and Audit Commission. After this, the Citizens' Council will debate the proposal on June 22, 2026. Meanwhile, Unterentfelden will hold a public information session on May 18, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Bächlihalle to explain the merger details to residents. The final decision in Unterentfelden will go to a town meeting on June 8, 2026. If approved, the merger will take effect on January 1, 2028, creating an expanded Aarau municipality with a 59-member citizens' council. Aarau currently has around 22,923 residents, while Unterentfelden's latest population figures remain unavailable.
The merger's success depends on upcoming votes in both municipalities. If passed, the new Aarau will begin operations in 2028 with a larger council and combined resources. Residents will have opportunities to review the agreement before casting their ballots next summer.
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