Culture

Our culture coverage highlights fine arts and cinema, offering a Swiss perspective on internationally relevant themes and debates.

Geneva Book Fair draws 60,000 visitors over five days

The Salon du livre attracted 60,000 visitors over five days in Geneva

This content was published on Mar 24, 2025 The Geneva Book Fair, which closed its doors on Sunday, attracted 60,000 visitors over five days.

Our editor’s picks

Ten Swiss traditions on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list

This content was published on May 6, 2024 Yodelling might be the next Swiss tradition to make it onto the UNESCO Cultural Heritage list along side a ‘once in a generation’ festival and watchmaking.

Swiss are growing consumers of culture, survey finds

This content was published on Dec 13, 2022 The Swiss are consuming more and more culture, a study covering the period 1976-2019 revealed on Tuesday.

The fight for gender equality in Swiss art institutions

Art museums are still mostly occupied by works made by men. Awareness has only recently been raised in Switzerland, stirring the cultural scene.

External Content

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Swiss Film Selection

We offer a selection of Swiss films chosen from the Swiss streaming platform Play Suisse to our international audience. These films are subtitled in English and are productions or co-productions of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), to which SWI swissinfo.ch also belongs.

A screenshot from the documentary on the Lauberhorn downhill race.

The Lauberhorn downhill – the mountain of fate

This content was published on Jan 13, 2025 The classic Lauberhorn downhill ski race has been a World Cup fixture since the race circuit started.

2nd Life – Off to Tokyo

This content was published on Jan 13, 2025 The story of a Geneva family with four kids who gave up everything to open a patisserie in Tokyo without knowing the industry or the language.

Rebels in the snow: a history of Swiss snowboarding

This content was published on Oct 18, 2024 A journey through 40 years of Swiss snowboarding culture, with the pioneers, punks and pop stars who triggered a revolution in winter sports.

Rita Christen – Switzerland’s pioneering mountain guide

This content was published on Oct 11, 2024 Rita Christen is exceptional. The first female president of the Swiss Mountain Guide Association is one of only 40 or so female guides in Switzerland.

Climbing the iconic Eiger mountain in Switzerland

This content was published on Oct 4, 2024 The Eiger, situated in the Bernese Oberland, is one of the most famous mountains in the Swiss Alps. This spectacular video takes you on a climb to the top.

Swiss emigrants – tearful farewells

This content was published on May 18, 2024 Swiss Abroad in Rwanda.

More content on Culture

"Reinas" is the best Swiss feature film of the year

‘Reinas’ lands top Swiss film prize for 2025

This content was published on Mar 22, 2025 Klaudia Reynicke’s film, set in 1990s Peru, was named the best Swiss feature of the year at a ceremony in Geneva on Friday.

Federal Office of Culture selects the 20 most beautiful Swiss books of 2024

Swiss culture office selects the 20 most beautiful Swiss books of 2024

This content was published on Mar 20, 2025 The Federal Office of Culture (FOC) has chosen the 20 most beautiful books of 2024.

Exhibit from Gaza on display at the MAH in Geneva.

How Switzerland helps protect the world’s endangered cultural heritage

This content was published on Mar 19, 2025 Geneva safeguards cultural treasures, from Spanish art to Ukrainian and Gaza heritage, reflecting Switzerland’s global heritage commitment.

Swiss film 'September 5': 10 nominations for German Film Award

Swiss-directed movie ‘September 5’ nominated for 10 German Film Awards

This content was published on Mar 17, 2025 The film September 5, by Swiss director Tim Fehlbaum, has been nominated in ten categories at the German Film Awards.

According to his close circle of family and firends, Peter Bichsel “passed away peacefully” on Saturday. He would have celebrated his 90th birthday on March 24.

Obituary: Peter Bichsel, the master of short prose

This content was published on Mar 17, 2025 Peter Bichsel, a sharp observer of Swiss life, was one of the most important voices in Swiss literature.

Peter Bichsel enjoyed wide international appeal.

Celebrated Swiss author Peter Bichsel dies aged 89

This content was published on Mar 17, 2025 Peter Bichsel, one of the most important voices in Swiss literature with international appeal, has died just short of his 90th birthday.

The Swiss pavilion under construction, shortly before completion.

Swiss pavilion could be big hit at lacklustre World Expo

This content was published on Mar 12, 2025 Expo 2025 is due to open in Osaka, Japan, on April 13. Switzerland has a chance to shine with an innovative pavilion.

Artist/Film maker Andrew Norman Wilson with a pig in front of a house.

The American who quit art to discover the odd side of Switzerland

This content was published on Mar 9, 2025 Andrew Norman Wilson talks about his shift from art to filmmaking and his enchantment with Swiss oddities.

World cinema on the theme of freedom at the film festival in Freiburg

Fribourg film festival highlights theme of freedom

This content was published on Mar 5, 2025 From March 21, the Fribourg International Film Festival in Switzerland will offer a programme dedicated to freedom.

Cars drive over the Astra Bridge on the A1 motorway.

Swiss Abroad

Ups and downs: Swiss drivers benefit from world’s only mobile bridge

Swiss Abroad

Heimatort, sweet Heimatort: the unique Swiss concept of home

These products, designed to replicate the taste and texture of traditional chocolate, address two major challenges: soaring cocoa prices and the environmental concerns associated with cocoa farming.

Swiss Abroad

Cocoa-free chocolate arrives in Switzerland

Swiss Abroad

‘We’ve lost half the group!’ Swiss Abroad visit the carnival in Basel

Over-tourism in Switzerland is an increasing challenge, particularly at popular destinations during peak seasons. Now, the Kandersteg-Oeschinensee cable car is taking action.

Swiss Abroad

Switzerland Today

How will Swiss democracy promotion fare after the USAID funding freeze?

Switzerland has followed America's lead so far. The freezing of USAID funds demands a rethink.

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Mar 4, 2025

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Are direct democracies more vulnerable to disinformation?

The wave of disinformation is expected to particularly affect direct democracies such as Switzerland or many US states.

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Dec 5, 2024

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139 Comments

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Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?

Every Swiss citizen has a Heimatort, a place of origin, but many have never visited theirs. What’s your relationship with your Heimatort? What does it mean to you?

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Mar 22, 2025

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Culture

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Geneva Book Fair draws 60,000 visitors over five days

Our editor’s picks

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Ten Swiss traditions on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list

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Swiss are growing consumers of culture, survey finds

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The fight for gender equality in Swiss art institutions

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Swiss Film Selection

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The Lauberhorn downhill – the mountain of fate

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2nd Life – Off to Tokyo

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Rebels in the snow: a history of Swiss snowboarding

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Rita Christen – Switzerland’s pioneering mountain guide

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Climbing the iconic Eiger mountain in Switzerland

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Swiss emigrants – tearful farewells

More content on Culture

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‘Reinas’ lands top Swiss film prize for 2025

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Swiss culture office selects the 20 most beautiful Swiss books of 2024

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How Switzerland helps protect the world’s endangered cultural heritage

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Swiss-directed movie ‘September 5’ nominated for 10 German Film Awards

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Obituary: Peter Bichsel, the master of short prose

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Celebrated Swiss author Peter Bichsel dies aged 89

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Swiss pavilion could be big hit at lacklustre World Expo

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The American who quit art to discover the odd side of Switzerland

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Fribourg film festival highlights theme of freedom

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Ups and downs: Swiss drivers benefit from world’s only mobile bridge

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Heimatort, sweet Heimatort: the unique Swiss concept of home

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Cocoa-free chocolate arrives in Switzerland

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‘We’ve lost half the group!’ Swiss Abroad visit the carnival in Basel

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Switzerland Today

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How will Swiss democracy promotion fare after the USAID funding freeze?

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Are direct democracies more vulnerable to disinformation?

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Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?