Don’t just like it, live it!

Tuesday 17 February, 12:30

Carole Fives, a novelist celebrated for Tenir jusqu’à l’aube and Quelque chose à te dire, presents a fourth novel in the Arbalète imprint. Editor Charlotte von Essen, who directs L’Arbalète and has led editorial collections at major French publishers, joins the conversation. Moderated by bookseller and creative-writing facilitator Typhaine Marc, the exchange examines the collection’s particular spirit: singular voices, playfulness, experimental forms and reflections on feminism across ages.

In French.

15 & 22 February, 15:00

Conceived by conservator-restorer Éléonore Bernard, this carte blanche presents a selection of video and media works drawn from VideoDatabase.
The programme foregrounds early and historical video practices, archival footage and restorations to examine technological obsolescence, materiality and the politics of preservation. Through screenings and site-specific media presentations, it reflects on authorship, temporalities and the institutional frameworks that shape how moving-image works are conserved and made accessible.

In French.

16 – 19 February

This four-evening concert cycle stages a collision between nostalgic anachronism and urgent futurity, producing jolting aesthetic shocks. Musicians move between written material and wild improvisation, blending kitsch textures, dazzling contrasts and incandescent timbres. Florence Melnotte (kaoscilator, piano, synthesizer, vocals), Sylvain Fournier (drums, vocals) and Louis Billette (saxophones, flugelhorn, vocals) shape a sound-world where intimacy and chaos entwine, inviting listeners into a luminous, unpredictable musical theatre.

17 – 22 February

Catherine Gaillard offers “unexpected journeys” that spark our imagination and challenge our assumptions. By weaving together stories, times, and places, she honors an art form that unites us. Her tales delve into both the profane and the sacred, childhood innocence, and mythical creatures, all while examining the diverse facets of human nature. With palpable passion, Gaillard invites us on introspective and enlightening journeys where everyone can discover a piece of their own story.

In French.

10 – 22 February

In early January 2022, two construction vehicles belonging to a Swiss multinational were set on fire at a gravel pit in the Geneva countryside. Over a year later, a young man — referred to as Jérémy — was arrested and suspected of involvement in the arson. Held in pre-trial detention, he was released after more than three months, following strong public support and mobilization.

In French.
Tuesday 17 February, 19:00

Join the OSR for a delightful family concert that introduces Mozart with humor and storytelling. Led by Zofia Kiniorska, featuring Annia Losey on oboe and narrator Marion Fontana, the orchestra performs excerpts from “The Magic Flute,” “Don Giovanni,” and the “Rondo alla turca,” among others. Designed to captivate children aged 7 and up while enchanting adults, this hour-long event promises lively music filled with joy and discovery.

Tuesday 17 February, 12:30

Carole Fives, a novelist celebrated for Tenir jusqu’à l’aube and Quelque chose à te dire, presents a fourth novel in the Arbalète imprint. Editor Charlotte von Essen, who directs L’Arbalète and has led editorial collections at major French publishers, joins the conversation. Moderated by bookseller and creative-writing facilitator Typhaine Marc, the exchange examines the collection’s particular spirit: singular voices, playfulness, experimental forms and reflections on feminism across ages.

In French.

15 & 22 February, 15:00

Conceived by conservator-restorer Éléonore Bernard, this carte blanche presents a selection of video and media works drawn from VideoDatabase.
The programme foregrounds early and historical video practices, archival footage and restorations to examine technological obsolescence, materiality and the politics of preservation. Through screenings and site-specific media presentations, it reflects on authorship, temporalities and the institutional frameworks that shape how moving-image works are conserved and made accessible.

In French.

16 – 19 February

This four-evening concert cycle stages a collision between nostalgic anachronism and urgent futurity, producing jolting aesthetic shocks. Musicians move between written material and wild improvisation, blending kitsch textures, dazzling contrasts and incandescent timbres. Florence Melnotte (kaoscilator, piano, synthesizer, vocals), Sylvain Fournier (drums, vocals) and Louis Billette (saxophones, flugelhorn, vocals) shape a sound-world where intimacy and chaos entwine, inviting listeners into a luminous, unpredictable musical theatre.

17 – 22 February

Catherine Gaillard offers “unexpected journeys” that spark our imagination and challenge our assumptions. By weaving together stories, times, and places, she honors an art form that unites us. Her tales delve into both the profane and the sacred, childhood innocence, and mythical creatures, all while examining the diverse facets of human nature. With palpable passion, Gaillard invites us on introspective and enlightening journeys where everyone can discover a piece of their own story.

In French.

10 – 22 February

In early January 2022, two construction vehicles belonging to a Swiss multinational were set on fire at a gravel pit in the Geneva countryside. Over a year later, a young man — referred to as Jérémy — was arrested and suspected of involvement in the arson. Held in pre-trial detention, he was released after more than three months, following strong public support and mobilization.

In French.
Tuesday 17 February, 19:00

Join the OSR for a delightful family concert that introduces Mozart with humor and storytelling. Led by Zofia Kiniorska, featuring Annia Losey on oboe and narrator Marion Fontana, the orchestra performs excerpts from “The Magic Flute,” “Don Giovanni,” and the “Rondo alla turca,” among others. Designed to captivate children aged 7 and up while enchanting adults, this hour-long event promises lively music filled with joy and discovery.

Tuesday 17 February, 12:30

Carole Fives, a novelist celebrated for Tenir jusqu’à l’aube and Quelque chose à te dire, presents a fourth novel in the Arbalète imprint. Editor Charlotte von Essen, who directs L’Arbalète and has led editorial collections at major French publishers, joins the conversation. Moderated by bookseller and creative-writing facilitator Typhaine Marc, the exchange examines the collection’s particular spirit: singular voices, playfulness, experimental forms and reflections on feminism across ages.

In French.

15 & 22 February, 15:00

Conceived by conservator-restorer Éléonore Bernard, this carte blanche presents a selection of video and media works drawn from VideoDatabase.
The programme foregrounds early and historical video practices, archival footage and restorations to examine technological obsolescence, materiality and the politics of preservation. Through screenings and site-specific media presentations, it reflects on authorship, temporalities and the institutional frameworks that shape how moving-image works are conserved and made accessible.

In French.

16 – 19 February

This four-evening concert cycle stages a collision between nostalgic anachronism and urgent futurity, producing jolting aesthetic shocks. Musicians move between written material and wild improvisation, blending kitsch textures, dazzling contrasts and incandescent timbres. Florence Melnotte (kaoscilator, piano, synthesizer, vocals), Sylvain Fournier (drums, vocals) and Louis Billette (saxophones, flugelhorn, vocals) shape a sound-world where intimacy and chaos entwine, inviting listeners into a luminous, unpredictable musical theatre.

17 – 22 February

Catherine Gaillard offers “unexpected journeys” that spark our imagination and challenge our assumptions. By weaving together stories, times, and places, she honors an art form that unites us. Her tales delve into both the profane and the sacred, childhood innocence, and mythical creatures, all while examining the diverse facets of human nature. With palpable passion, Gaillard invites us on introspective and enlightening journeys where everyone can discover a piece of their own story.

In French.

10 – 22 February

In early January 2022, two construction vehicles belonging to a Swiss multinational were set on fire at a gravel pit in the Geneva countryside. Over a year later, a young man — referred to as Jérémy — was arrested and suspected of involvement in the arson. Held in pre-trial detention, he was released after more than three months, following strong public support and mobilization.

In French.
Tuesday 17 February, 19:00

Join the OSR for a delightful family concert that introduces Mozart with humor and storytelling. Led by Zofia Kiniorska, featuring Annia Losey on oboe and narrator Marion Fontana, the orchestra performs excerpts from “The Magic Flute,” “Don Giovanni,” and the “Rondo alla turca,” among others. Designed to captivate children aged 7 and up while enchanting adults, this hour-long event promises lively music filled with joy and discovery.

12 – 22 February

“Les Trois Soeurs à Trois” by Collectif BPM at Maison Saint-Gervais presents an inventive reinterpretation of Chekhov’s play. Artists Catherine Büchi, Léa Pohlhammer, and Pierre Mifsud transform this classic by portraying journalists recording a radio show. They narrate the real or imagined stories of different productions of the play, while sharing personal and family anecdotes, providing a humorous and sharp reflection on their own dreams and illusions.

In French.

11 – 22 February

Choreographer Ugo Dehaes replaces his human troupe with extravagant robot-dancers endowed with an artificial intelligence that invents their own choreography. Intimate and unsettling, the performance invites the audience to sit around a table as the mechanised performers execute an uncanny, rhythmic ballet. Marie Peeters’ dramaturgy frames questions about labour, profit and the place of culture, while Wannes Deneer’s scenography and musical composition shape a tactile, immersive atmosphere. The piece blends humour, critique and physical precision.

19 – 22 February

FURTHER AFIELD

Set in the prestigious ski resort of Gstaad, this boutique winter salon brings together a curated selection of leading international galleries and creators across modern and contemporary art, historical masterpieces, collectible design, and high jewelry.

For its third edition, the salon will return to the Festival-Zelt, right in the center of the village. Its scale allows for a focused presentation and meaningful encounters between exhibitors, collectors, and visitors.

Friday 20 February, 23:59

Héctor Oaks leads a night of fierce techno and acid, blending post-industrial thrust, ghetto‑tech grooves and searing acid for an explosive, focused set. Phase Fatale b2b Audrey Danza weave complex basslines and cinematic, relentless soundscapes into a hypnotic, immersive journey. In a second room, Hirma and Magz deliver high‑voltage sets mixing Afro‑influenced rhythms, Jersey, drum’n’bass, house and hip‑hop; other artists add warm, colourful DJ sets and garage/breaks/bass flavours.

20 – 21 February

Since its founding, La Fanfare du Loup has served as a musical laboratory where diverse traditions and practices meet. For this project the ensemble invites Finnish saxophonist and composer Esa Pietilä, whose exploratory voice reframes genre boundaries. The large ensemble, including Christophe Berthet (sax), Théo Duboule (guitar), Aïda Diop (percussion), Marie Mercier (clarinets) and others, trades tight horn figures, shimmering textures and improvisatory flights, creating dense, evolving soundscapes that blend composition and collective spontaneity.

Saturday 21 February, 19:30

Laurent Gay’s anniversary concert, marking his fifteen years at HEM, promises a romantically charged evening featuring the HEM Orchestra, conducted by Gay himself, along with soprano Clémence Tilquin. The program showcases Richard Strauss’s “Six Lieder” and Anton Bruckner’s “Symphony No. 4.” This event highlights a passionate fusion of voice and orchestra while celebrating nearly thirty of Laurent Gay’s original works.

Tuesday 17 February, 12:30

Carole Fives, a novelist celebrated for Tenir jusqu’à l’aube and Quelque chose à te dire, presents a fourth novel in the Arbalète imprint. Editor Charlotte von Essen, who directs L’Arbalète and has led editorial collections at major French publishers, joins the conversation. Moderated by bookseller and creative-writing facilitator Typhaine Marc, the exchange examines the collection’s particular spirit: singular voices, playfulness, experimental forms and reflections on feminism across ages.

In French.

15 & 22 February, 15:00

Conceived by conservator-restorer Éléonore Bernard, this carte blanche presents a selection of video and media works drawn from VideoDatabase.
The programme foregrounds early and historical video practices, archival footage and restorations to examine technological obsolescence, materiality and the politics of preservation. Through screenings and site-specific media presentations, it reflects on authorship, temporalities and the institutional frameworks that shape how moving-image works are conserved and made accessible.

In French.

16 – 19 February

This four-evening concert cycle stages a collision between nostalgic anachronism and urgent futurity, producing jolting aesthetic shocks. Musicians move between written material and wild improvisation, blending kitsch textures, dazzling contrasts and incandescent timbres. Florence Melnotte (kaoscilator, piano, synthesizer, vocals), Sylvain Fournier (drums, vocals) and Louis Billette (saxophones, flugelhorn, vocals) shape a sound-world where intimacy and chaos entwine, inviting listeners into a luminous, unpredictable musical theatre.

17 – 22 February

Catherine Gaillard offers “unexpected journeys” that spark our imagination and challenge our assumptions. By weaving together stories, times, and places, she honors an art form that unites us. Her tales delve into both the profane and the sacred, childhood innocence, and mythical creatures, all while examining the diverse facets of human nature. With palpable passion, Gaillard invites us on introspective and enlightening journeys where everyone can discover a piece of their own story.

In French.

10 – 22 February

In early January 2022, two construction vehicles belonging to a Swiss multinational were set on fire at a gravel pit in the Geneva countryside. Over a year later, a young man — referred to as Jérémy — was arrested and suspected of involvement in the arson. Held in pre-trial detention, he was released after more than three months, following strong public support and mobilization.

In French.
Tuesday 17 February, 19:00

Join the OSR for a delightful family concert that introduces Mozart with humor and storytelling. Led by Zofia Kiniorska, featuring Annia Losey on oboe and narrator Marion Fontana, the orchestra performs excerpts from “The Magic Flute,” “Don Giovanni,” and the “Rondo alla turca,” among others. Designed to captivate children aged 7 and up while enchanting adults, this hour-long event promises lively music filled with joy and discovery.

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CoolBytes

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

Cultural director of the Société de Lecture, Emmanuel Tagnard shares his Geneva essentials — from must-see landmarks and favorite chocolatiers to the book currently on his bedside table.
Founder of cult eco-soap company The Soap and the Sea, Lucia Rochat, shares her Geneva favorites, from her go-to chocolate to hidden local spots, and the cultural event she wouldn’t miss for anything.

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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