Magazine / News
News
What’s happening in Swiss music. Every day, with the source.
Sat, 10 October
Brief · Releases & charts · Romansh-speaking Switzerland
Marcus Aurelius and Sirius release their second joint rap album
'Flims Laax Staderas 2' came out on 9 October 2026, with Sirius rapping in Romansh and Marcus Aurelius in Swiss German.
Selin Aydın Sources: 2
Brief · Work & money · French-speaking Switzerland
Action Intermittence explains artists' right to unemployment benefit in Neuchâtel
The training session on 14 October 2026 at Case à Chocs is explicitly aimed at musicians too.
Ana Kovač Sources: 1
Fri, 9 October
Brief · Policy & funding · Italian-speaking Switzerland
Ticino awards three creation grants of CHF 20,000 each to musicians
The canton of Ticino is offering up to three creation grants, or “borse di creazione”, for new musical repertoire, open to all genres. The deadline is 9 November 2026.
Mara Zwahlen Sources: 3
Wed, 7 October
Brief · Classical & opera · German-speaking Switzerland
The men's voices of the Boys Choir Lucerne win six prizes in Belgium
At the International Choir Festival Flanders in Genk, the Lucerne singers win the “Light Music” category and come second in classical music, and their conductor Andreas Wiedmer is named best conductor.
Felix Oberholzer Sources: 1
People · Education & young talent · Italian-speaking Switzerland
Tjasha Gafner will teach harp at the CSI's University of Music
New teacher for the harp class in Lugano, chosen through a competition.
Luca Bernasconi Sources: 1
Tue, 6 October
Report · Work & money · Italian-speaking Switzerland
Two independent cultural venues in Ticino close on the same day
Spazio L'Ove in Viganello and Casa Azul in Gordola announced their closure on 30 September. The canton funds new spaces, but only through the municipalities.
Ana Kovač Sources: 3
Mon, 5 October
People · Folk, brass & choirs · German-speaking Switzerland
Armin Bachmann receives the Stephan Jaeggi Prize
Trombonist and former music school director Armin Bachmann has received the 'Stephan Jaeggi' Prize at the anniversary concert of the Oberaargauer Blasmusikcamp.
Theres Zgraggen Sources: 2
Brief · Classical & opera · German-speaking Switzerland
Franziskus Theurillat will leave the Basel Symphony Orchestra in summer 2028
The orchestra director of the Basel Symphony Orchestra will step down at the end of July 2028. His successor has not yet been named.
Felix Oberholzer Sources: 2
Sat, 3 October
Brief · Releases & charts · German-speaking Switzerland · French-speaking Switzerland
Blanche Biau, Gina Été and BEURRE play Waves Vienna
Three Swiss acts were announced for Waves Vienna from 1 to 3 October 2026, and Swiss Music Export invited industry professionals to network.
Selin Aydın Sources: 2
Brief · Work & money · German-speaking Switzerland
Musik Hug moves its Zurich shop to Talacker
Since 3 October 2026, the music shop has been at Talacker 21. For musicians, the workshops, test rooms and rental storage are what count.
Ana Kovač Sources: 1
Brief · Live & festivals · Italian-speaking Switzerland
Rod Stewart says goodbye to Switzerland in Locarno in July 2027
On 22 July 2027, Moon+Stars hosts the Swiss concert of his final tour on the Piazza Grande. Tickets from CHF 126.50.
Noémie Favre Sources: 3
Fri, 2 October
Brief · Work & money
A National Council interpellation proposes sales promotion for Swiss music modelled on agriculture
Ueli Schmezer asks the Federal Council whether the Confederation could help fund joint promotion of Swiss music. The model is the roughly CHF 66 million spent on agricultural products.
Ana Kovač Sources: 1
Brief · Work & money
From 2027, self-employed people pay at least CHF 541 into AHV, IV and EO
The Federal Council is raising AHV pensions and the occupational pension thresholds from 1 January 2027. The minimum contribution for the self-employed is going up.
Ana Kovač Sources: 1
Brief · Industry & law
The motion against Suisa fees for car radios in company vehicles has been written off
The motion ‘Schikanen im Urheberrecht für KMU beseitigen’ (removing copyright harassment of SMEs) has been closed. The council had not dealt with it conclusively within two years.
Ruedi Baumberger Sources: 3
Thu, 1 October
Report · Education & young talent · German-speaking Switzerland · Italian-speaking Switzerland
Lucerne wants the youth rate up to 25, Ticino has already introduced it
In Lucerne, a music lesson rises from 730 to 2,340 francs a year at 20. The city council wants to move the limit to 25; Bern wants to analyse first.
Luca Bernasconi Sources: 4
Wed, 30 September
People · Industry & law
Christian Leuenberger becomes the new CEO of Suisa
The head of Finance and Administration takes over from Andreas Wegelin on 1 July 2027.
Ruedi Baumberger Sources: 1
Tue, 29 September
Brief · Education & young talent · Italian-speaking Switzerland
Lugano spends less on music than the five other cities studied
At 99 francs per head, Lugano comes last among the six cities compared by the Musikvielfalt-Initiative. 92 per cent of the money goes to classical music.
Luca Bernasconi Sources: 2
Brief · Policy & funding
Six Swiss cities spend 76 to 95 per cent of their music funding on classical music
A comparison by the Musikvielfalt-Initiative shows that Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Lugano and Zurich mainly fund classical music. Per head, the amounts range from CHF 99 to CHF 375.
Mara Zwahlen Sources: 2
Mon, 28 September
Brief · Releases & charts · German-speaking Switzerland
Schwiizergoofe top the Swiss album chart with '15'
Schwiizergoofe's double CD '15' topped the Swiss album chart in the week of 27 September 2026.
Selin Aydın Sources: 2
Sun, 27 September
Brief · Folk, brass & choirs · Romansh-speaking Switzerland
Chor viril Surses seeks singers for a requiem honouring Pader Alexander Lozza
The Chor viril Surses is looking for male voices for its concert project 'Consolaziun e speranza' in March 2028. Two open rehearsals take place in Savognin in October.
Theres Zgraggen Sources: 1
Sat, 26 September
Brief · Classical & opera · French-speaking Switzerland
The Orchestre de la Suisse Romande brings its virtual reality offering to Geneva's Bibliothèque de la Cité
Since 26 September, two VR headsets with the OSR's “Virtual Hall” have been available free of charge at the Bibliothèque de la Cité. In October the orchestra will also open an annual residency in Évian.
Felix Oberholzer Sources: 2
Fri, 25 September
People · Education & young talent · German-speaking Switzerland
Germán Echeverri teaches baroque violin pedagogy at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis
New pedagogy post for baroque violin in Basel.
Luca Bernasconi Sources: 1
Brief · Live & festivals · German-speaking Switzerland
Zurich's Clubnacht opened 25 clubs for 20 francs
Second edition on 25 September: one ticket, 25 clubs and part of the proceeds for Zurich's nightlife culture. The next one is set for 24 September 2027.
Noémie Favre Sources: 2
Thu, 24 September
Brief · Classical & opera · German-speaking Switzerland
Bühnen Bern and Theater Basel make the shortlist for the International Opera Awards
Salvatore Sciarrino's opera “L'Agamennone”, premiered in Bern, is nominated in the “World Premiere” category, and Theater Basel in musical theatre. The awards will be presented in Vienna on 21 November 2026.
Felix Oberholzer Sources: 2
Wed, 23 September
Report · Releases & charts · French-speaking Switzerland · Italian-speaking Switzerland
Label Suisse showcases new albums from Ele A to Louis Matute
Many recent albums made it onto the stage at the Label Suisse festival in Lausanne. According to RSI, Louis Matute releases his new album on 16 October.
Selin Aydın Sources: 2
Tue, 22 September
Brief · Live & festivals · French-speaking Switzerland
La Chaux-de-Fonds launches the Ultra Froid Mega Loin festival for June 2027
Three days at the Anciens Abattoirs, 3 to 5 June 2027, as part of the Capital of Culture year. The standard pass costs 123 francs.
Noémie Favre Sources: 3
Mon, 21 September
Brief · Folk, brass & choirs · German-speaking Switzerland
Blaskapelle Lublaska wins in Schüpfheim for the fourth time in a row
At the 25th Blaskapellen gathering in Schüpfheim, Lucerne's Blaskapelle Lublaska won the top division by fourteen points. The middle division went to Blaskapelle Thurgados.
Theres Zgraggen Sources: 1
Brief · Folk, brass & choirs · French-speaking Switzerland · German-speaking Switzerland
Brass Band 13 Étoiles wins the Besson Swiss Open in Lucerne
Valais-based Brass Band 13 Étoiles has won the 36th Besson Swiss Open Contest at the KKL Luzern, two points ahead of Brass Band Berner Oberland.
Theres Zgraggen Sources: 2
Sun, 20 September
Brief · Live & festivals · French-speaking Switzerland
Label Suisse draws 67,000 people to Lausanne
The biennial festival attracted 67,000 visitors from 18 to 20 September, with 66 free concerts.
Noémie Favre Sources: 2
Sat, 19 September
Report · Classical & opera · French-speaking Switzerland · Italian-speaking Switzerland · German-speaking Switzerland
The Confederation presents the Swiss Music Prizes 2026 in Lausanne
On 19 September in Lausanne, the Federal Office of Culture awarded the Swiss Grand Award for Music to Nadja Räss and ten further prizes, including to violinist Esther Hoppe and the Graubünden ensemble ö!.
Felix Oberholzer Sources: 3