Don’t just like it, live it!

17 – 26 April

Archipel Festival presents a selection of independent cinema that foregrounds experimental narratives, emerging voices and boundary-pushing forms. Over a curated programme, filmmakers explore intimacy, migration, memory and the politics of image through bold cinematography and attentive sound design. The festival prioritises debut works and daring auteurs, offering concentrated encounters with contemporary film practices. Programming balances short and feature-length films, panel conversations and artist-led sessions that frame the films within wider cultural and aesthetic debates.

Monday 20 April, 19:30

Led by conductor Laurent Zufferey, this gala illuminates the virtuosic voices of the laureates of the Geneva Junior Music Competition. Solo performances with the Sinfonia Valais‑Wallis move between intimate chamber colours and soaring, poetic climaxes. The programme balances technical brilliance with reflective lyricism, guided by the discerning presence of patron Stéphane Lambiel and a jury of Emmanuelle Bertrand, Svetlana Makarova, Raphaël Merlin and Christian Chamorel. The evening unfolds with concentrated intensity and radiant musical dialogue.

Monday 20 April, 18:30

Tal Barda’s documentary follows Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, the Palestinian physician whose 2009 personal tragedy—loss of three daughters and a niece when his home was bombed—propelled him into a life of advocacy. Through testimony and witnessing, the film traces his exile to Canada and unwavering call for reconciliation, underscored by his multiple nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize. Poised and resolute, the film is a quiet, powerful portrait of grief, resilience and the search for hope amid political rupture.

The screening will be followed by a discussion in English in the presence of the film’s protagonist, the Palestinian physician Izzeldin Abuelaish.

English and Arab speaking | French subtitles

Monday 20 April, 18:30

The 10th edition of the francophone executive programme in health diplomacy examines contemporary challenges in global health governance. It explores the implications of new health risks, geopolitical shifts and growing inequalities in access to prevention and care. Panelists will analyse short-term challenges for health diplomacy in Geneva, the prospects for international solidarity facing pandemics and climate change, and required transformations in global health governance. The session includes a debate with diplomatic and sectoral experts.

In French.

17 – 26 April

FURTHER AFIELD

Visions du Réel, founded in 1969, showcases bold and singular works rooted in past, present, and future realities. For ten days, the festival transforms Nyon into a hub where generations of filmmakers and artists from around the world connect with an engaged audience. Recognized as one of the leading international festivals dedicated to documentary and “cinéma du réel,” it premieres many films globally and serves as a key platform for professional exchange and creative collaboration.

14 – 20 April

Watchmaking maisons including Audemars Piguet and other new entrants present contemporary horological practice through mechanical timepieces, prototypes and design studies. The programme foregrounds artisanal craftsmanship, complications and material innovation, juxtaposing heritage movements with experimental technologies showcased in a LAB incubator. Through a mix of object-focused displays and technical demonstrations, the exhibition interrogates timekeeping’s aesthetic and industrial languages, revealing how tradition and cutting‑edge engineering redefine notions of luxury, function and cultural identity.

17 – 26 April

Archipel Festival presents a selection of independent cinema that foregrounds experimental narratives, emerging voices and boundary-pushing forms. Over a curated programme, filmmakers explore intimacy, migration, memory and the politics of image through bold cinematography and attentive sound design. The festival prioritises debut works and daring auteurs, offering concentrated encounters with contemporary film practices. Programming balances short and feature-length films, panel conversations and artist-led sessions that frame the films within wider cultural and aesthetic debates.

Monday 20 April, 19:30

Led by conductor Laurent Zufferey, this gala illuminates the virtuosic voices of the laureates of the Geneva Junior Music Competition. Solo performances with the Sinfonia Valais‑Wallis move between intimate chamber colours and soaring, poetic climaxes. The programme balances technical brilliance with reflective lyricism, guided by the discerning presence of patron Stéphane Lambiel and a jury of Emmanuelle Bertrand, Svetlana Makarova, Raphaël Merlin and Christian Chamorel. The evening unfolds with concentrated intensity and radiant musical dialogue.

Monday 20 April, 18:30

Tal Barda’s documentary follows Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, the Palestinian physician whose 2009 personal tragedy—loss of three daughters and a niece when his home was bombed—propelled him into a life of advocacy. Through testimony and witnessing, the film traces his exile to Canada and unwavering call for reconciliation, underscored by his multiple nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize. Poised and resolute, the film is a quiet, powerful portrait of grief, resilience and the search for hope amid political rupture.

The screening will be followed by a discussion in English in the presence of the film’s protagonist, the Palestinian physician Izzeldin Abuelaish.

English and Arab speaking | French subtitles

Monday 20 April, 18:30

The 10th edition of the francophone executive programme in health diplomacy examines contemporary challenges in global health governance. It explores the implications of new health risks, geopolitical shifts and growing inequalities in access to prevention and care. Panelists will analyse short-term challenges for health diplomacy in Geneva, the prospects for international solidarity facing pandemics and climate change, and required transformations in global health governance. The session includes a debate with diplomatic and sectoral experts.

In French.

17 – 26 April

FURTHER AFIELD

Visions du Réel, founded in 1969, showcases bold and singular works rooted in past, present, and future realities. For ten days, the festival transforms Nyon into a hub where generations of filmmakers and artists from around the world connect with an engaged audience. Recognized as one of the leading international festivals dedicated to documentary and “cinéma du réel,” it premieres many films globally and serves as a key platform for professional exchange and creative collaboration.

14 – 20 April

Watchmaking maisons including Audemars Piguet and other new entrants present contemporary horological practice through mechanical timepieces, prototypes and design studies. The programme foregrounds artisanal craftsmanship, complications and material innovation, juxtaposing heritage movements with experimental technologies showcased in a LAB incubator. Through a mix of object-focused displays and technical demonstrations, the exhibition interrogates timekeeping’s aesthetic and industrial languages, revealing how tradition and cutting‑edge engineering redefine notions of luxury, function and cultural identity.

17 – 26 April

Archipel Festival presents a selection of independent cinema that foregrounds experimental narratives, emerging voices and boundary-pushing forms. Over a curated programme, filmmakers explore intimacy, migration, memory and the politics of image through bold cinematography and attentive sound design. The festival prioritises debut works and daring auteurs, offering concentrated encounters with contemporary film practices. Programming balances short and feature-length films, panel conversations and artist-led sessions that frame the films within wider cultural and aesthetic debates.

Monday 20 April, 19:30

Led by conductor Laurent Zufferey, this gala illuminates the virtuosic voices of the laureates of the Geneva Junior Music Competition. Solo performances with the Sinfonia Valais‑Wallis move between intimate chamber colours and soaring, poetic climaxes. The programme balances technical brilliance with reflective lyricism, guided by the discerning presence of patron Stéphane Lambiel and a jury of Emmanuelle Bertrand, Svetlana Makarova, Raphaël Merlin and Christian Chamorel. The evening unfolds with concentrated intensity and radiant musical dialogue.

Monday 20 April, 18:30

Tal Barda’s documentary follows Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, the Palestinian physician whose 2009 personal tragedy—loss of three daughters and a niece when his home was bombed—propelled him into a life of advocacy. Through testimony and witnessing, the film traces his exile to Canada and unwavering call for reconciliation, underscored by his multiple nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize. Poised and resolute, the film is a quiet, powerful portrait of grief, resilience and the search for hope amid political rupture.

The screening will be followed by a discussion in English in the presence of the film’s protagonist, the Palestinian physician Izzeldin Abuelaish.

English and Arab speaking | French subtitles

Monday 20 April, 18:30

The 10th edition of the francophone executive programme in health diplomacy examines contemporary challenges in global health governance. It explores the implications of new health risks, geopolitical shifts and growing inequalities in access to prevention and care. Panelists will analyse short-term challenges for health diplomacy in Geneva, the prospects for international solidarity facing pandemics and climate change, and required transformations in global health governance. The session includes a debate with diplomatic and sectoral experts.

In French.

17 – 26 April

FURTHER AFIELD

Visions du Réel, founded in 1969, showcases bold and singular works rooted in past, present, and future realities. For ten days, the festival transforms Nyon into a hub where generations of filmmakers and artists from around the world connect with an engaged audience. Recognized as one of the leading international festivals dedicated to documentary and “cinéma du réel,” it premieres many films globally and serves as a key platform for professional exchange and creative collaboration.

14 – 20 April

Watchmaking maisons including Audemars Piguet and other new entrants present contemporary horological practice through mechanical timepieces, prototypes and design studies. The programme foregrounds artisanal craftsmanship, complications and material innovation, juxtaposing heritage movements with experimental technologies showcased in a LAB incubator. Through a mix of object-focused displays and technical demonstrations, the exhibition interrogates timekeeping’s aesthetic and industrial languages, revealing how tradition and cutting‑edge engineering redefine notions of luxury, function and cultural identity.

22 – 25 April

Led by two experts in visible and invisible heritage, this guided performance turns Saint‑Jean into an urban theatre where archives mingle with legends and personal testimony illuminates shadowed corners. The piece, born of research and encounters, moves between quiet listening and sudden revelations, blurring fact and memory. Audiences are invited into an immersive, collective journey that teases open the fissures of everyday life and reveals the dormant stories sleeping in ordinary streets.

In French.

Saturday 25 April, 21:00

Led by Swiss guitarist and composer Tom Brunt, this acoustic sextet blends classical chamber music, jazz freedom and live improvisation. With three guitars alongside violin, viola and double bass, the ensemble weaves subtle dialogues and shimmering textures that shift between intimate counterpoint and open-ended improvisatory stretches. The programme balances composed material and collective exploration, creating a warm, evolving sound world carried by performers Tom Brunt (guitar, compositions), Charles Fréchette (guitar), Zoltan Kisak (guitar), Tristan‑Raphael Jouaville (violin), Mark Crofts (viola) and Pierre Balda (double bass).

Saturday 25 April, 20:00

Led by a choir of a hundred singers, dancers and musicians, this large-scale gospel spectacle blends powerful vocal harmonies, choreographed movement and dynamic arrangements. Acclaimed for TV appearances that reached millions and celebrated for its live energy, the production delivers soaring solos, tight ensemble work and uplifting call-and-response moments. Staged with bold visuals and cinematic pacing, the show explores themes of faith, joy and communal catharsis while showcasing exemplary gospel technique and showmanship.

Saturday 25 April, 15:30

Jérémie Gindre, artist and author of Pyramides de la Pampa, appears in conversation with Mirjana Farkas, research officer at a Geneva library.

They discuss the atlas-like book that reworks historical documents into a fragmented narrative, exploring geographical imaginations, exoticism, and the potency of fiction. The talk examines maps, diagrams and vignettes as tools for constructing imagined worlds and offers close readings alongside archival maps and documents drawn from library collections.

In French.

Saturday 25 April, 14:00

Nat Cardozo, visual artist and illustrator, works with illustration and participatory practice rooted in her album Origine, exploring indigenous cultural expression and modes of storytelling.

This session examines how indigenous communities organise responses to environmental degradation—from the Amazon to Borneo and the United States—investigating resistance strategies, alternative relations to the natural world, and creative practices that transmit knowledge and sustain survival.

In French.

22 April – 3 May

Feu au lac ! stages a trio of political puppet pieces that resurrect little-known episodes of Romandy’s social history. Combining rod puppets, archival fragments and live music, the performance balances sharp satire and warm humanity. Conceived from a short piece shown during Cabaret en chantier 2024, the triptych revitalizes political marionette theatre while offering a rhythmic, musical staging that sparks reflection and collective energy. The creative approach foregrounds material histories and the power of popular resistance.

In French.

17 – 26 April

Archipel Festival presents a selection of independent cinema that foregrounds experimental narratives, emerging voices and boundary-pushing forms. Over a curated programme, filmmakers explore intimacy, migration, memory and the politics of image through bold cinematography and attentive sound design. The festival prioritises debut works and daring auteurs, offering concentrated encounters with contemporary film practices. Programming balances short and feature-length films, panel conversations and artist-led sessions that frame the films within wider cultural and aesthetic debates.

Monday 20 April, 19:30

Led by conductor Laurent Zufferey, this gala illuminates the virtuosic voices of the laureates of the Geneva Junior Music Competition. Solo performances with the Sinfonia Valais‑Wallis move between intimate chamber colours and soaring, poetic climaxes. The programme balances technical brilliance with reflective lyricism, guided by the discerning presence of patron Stéphane Lambiel and a jury of Emmanuelle Bertrand, Svetlana Makarova, Raphaël Merlin and Christian Chamorel. The evening unfolds with concentrated intensity and radiant musical dialogue.

Monday 20 April, 18:30

Tal Barda’s documentary follows Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, the Palestinian physician whose 2009 personal tragedy—loss of three daughters and a niece when his home was bombed—propelled him into a life of advocacy. Through testimony and witnessing, the film traces his exile to Canada and unwavering call for reconciliation, underscored by his multiple nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize. Poised and resolute, the film is a quiet, powerful portrait of grief, resilience and the search for hope amid political rupture.

The screening will be followed by a discussion in English in the presence of the film’s protagonist, the Palestinian physician Izzeldin Abuelaish.

English and Arab speaking | French subtitles

Monday 20 April, 18:30

The 10th edition of the francophone executive programme in health diplomacy examines contemporary challenges in global health governance. It explores the implications of new health risks, geopolitical shifts and growing inequalities in access to prevention and care. Panelists will analyse short-term challenges for health diplomacy in Geneva, the prospects for international solidarity facing pandemics and climate change, and required transformations in global health governance. The session includes a debate with diplomatic and sectoral experts.

In French.

17 – 26 April

FURTHER AFIELD

Visions du Réel, founded in 1969, showcases bold and singular works rooted in past, present, and future realities. For ten days, the festival transforms Nyon into a hub where generations of filmmakers and artists from around the world connect with an engaged audience. Recognized as one of the leading international festivals dedicated to documentary and “cinéma du réel,” it premieres many films globally and serves as a key platform for professional exchange and creative collaboration.

14 – 20 April

Watchmaking maisons including Audemars Piguet and other new entrants present contemporary horological practice through mechanical timepieces, prototypes and design studies. The programme foregrounds artisanal craftsmanship, complications and material innovation, juxtaposing heritage movements with experimental technologies showcased in a LAB incubator. Through a mix of object-focused displays and technical demonstrations, the exhibition interrogates timekeeping’s aesthetic and industrial languages, revealing how tradition and cutting‑edge engineering redefine notions of luxury, function and cultural identity.

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CoolBytes

Celebrating Geneva’s vibrant heartbeat and the stories shaping culture today

Chef Florian Le Bouhec shares his favorite Geneva spots — from his go-to café for inspiration to the cultural discoveries that spark his creativity.
Geneva gave the world the Red Cross, the United Nations, and — as it turns out — the modern comic strip. It's a part of the city's identity that often gets overlooked, but from a 19th-century teacher sketching picture stories by the lake to a new comics museum opening in the works, Geneva's relationship with the ninth art is deeper and more alive than most people realize.

Geneva Classics

Visiting for the first time? A quick guide to the city’s top attractions.

The MEG is a renowned museum dedicated to the exploration and presentation of cultural diversity from around the world. Located in the heart of Geneva, it houses an extensive collection of over 80,000 objects, including artifacts, textiles, and artworks that highlight the rich traditions and histories of various communities. The museum emphasizes interactive and immersive exhibitions, engaging visitors with contemporary issues related to culture and identity.

Cool fact: The e-MEG app serves as a digital twin of the permanent exhibition, providing an audio guide and detailed descriptions along with photographs of all displayed objects.

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– CLOSED FOR RENOVATION –

Since its opening in 1994, the MAMCO Geneva (Musée d’art moderne et contemporain)  has staged 450 exhibitions with works dating from the 1960s to the present day. Mamco’s holdings include works by Christo, Martin Kippenberger, Jenny Holzer, Dan Flavin, Sarkis, Franz Erhard Walther and Sylvie Fleury, among many others.

Cool fact: The MAMCO is the epicenter of the “Nuit des Bains”, held three times a year.  During this event, the district around the museum is transformed into a large gallery and attracts thousands of art lovers and sightseers each night.

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With a collection of 27,000 items from Switzerland, Europe and the Middle and Far East, and a witness to twelve centuries of ceramic art from the Middle Ages to modern times, the Ariana is one of Europe’s great museums specializing in glass and ceramics.

Cool fact: On the first Sunday of each month, the Ariana Museum opens its temporary exhibitions to the public.

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