Valais gives around 4,000 young people a free culture pass

The canton of Valais is giving an AG culturel, a culture pass, to every young person born in 2010 who lives in the canton. Around 4,000 young people in Lower and Upper Valais are eligible.¹

For under-26s, the AG culturel normally costs CHF 100 a year. It is valid at more than 380 cultural venues in six cantons: Valais, Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Jura, Bern and Ticino.¹ The vouchers are distributed mainly through upper secondary schools. Young people must activate them by 31 December 2026; the pass is then valid for one year from a start date of their choice.¹

The measure is based on a recommendation by the Valais Youth Parliament. It is being implemented by the AG culturel association, the canton's culture department and the Culture Valais association.¹ A similar scheme ran in 2021 as part of the Covid recovery measures; it is now set to become permanent.¹² The announcement does not say what the scheme costs.

Next step: vouchers for those born in 2010 must be activated by 31 December 2026.¹