Festivals and Annual Events

This festival is celebrated to bid farewell to the winter season, according to an old tradition. It attracts a large amount of children as well as childish adults. Activities range from an array of masquerade sessions to food festivals, drinking, singing, and dances. The main event, marking the final departure of winter and the arrival of spring, is a merry procession through the city streets, starting at the Bridge of Bergues at midday, and, continuing throughout the city, ending at midnight, when the citizens give a massive roar of goodbye to the winter season.

Being one of the largest international shows to be organized in all of Europe, and undoubtedly the most prominent of the motor shows held around the globe, the Geneva Motor Show offers glitz and glamour when it comes to the world of automobiles. Whether they are classic, contemporary, or post-modern, cars from a wide variety of designers and manufacturers are up for display in a spacious showroom.

This is the largest such exhibition to be held anywhere in the world. Geneva's International Exhibition of Inventions has on display over a thousand new inventions and innovative products from around the globe. It offers a platform for thinkers, visualizers, and dreamers to bring their fantasies to life, in every aspect of modern science and technology, ranging from computing to toys to accessories and items of daily use. It also offers an insight to the public and private sector consumers as well as investors into the future of technology, and the importance and involvement of hi-tech products in our lives.

This is the largest chain of music festivals held in Geneva, featuring over a hundred performances at more than thirty outdoor locations in the city. Ranging from classical to jazz to hip-hop and trance, the music festival caters to the tastes of every music lover. And outdoor locations mean there is no restriction on food and drinks, so the audience may very well benefit from the large number of food stalls scattered throughout the performing area. The concerts and performances are usually free of charge for everyone, but, obviously, the food is not!

Hosted every year by the Societe Nautique de Geneve, the Rolex Bol d'Or is the most prominent sailing regatta in all of Europe, where more than 500 boats participate annually. A sure treat for lovers of adventure and stylish boats.

This is a National Day celebration organized by the American International Club of Geneva, and features the largest display of 4th of July fireworks outside of the US. There are numerous patriotic functions arranged throughout the day, including live concerts and a food festival, and special shows for children, at the Centre Sportif du Bout du Monde.

The Montreaux Jazz Festival has been a characteristic festival in Geneva ever since it was founded in 1967. It attracts a large number of music artists from around the world to perform in the series of concerts which lasts more than a fortnight along the shores of the lake. As is customary, most of the concerts and jam sessions are free of charge for the common public to attend and enjoy. Some of the elite clubs where paid artists perform also offer an unforgettable experience to the audience of getting up close and personal with some of the world's greatest musicians.

The main festival organized during the summer season, attracting more than 2 million visitors every year. Food stalls, live music, parades, performances, and rides for children as well as adults, provide a uniquely captivating experience for the crowd each day along the Lake Geneva. As evening nears, a splendid display of fireworks lights up the horizon. Each night a different firework company sponsors the firework display, and each display is more magnificent than the previous. The festival ends with a dramatic and breathtaking Techno Parade consisting of highly decorated floats on wheels, with costumed dancers and music bands.

Organized particularly for artists, painters, graphic designers, and multimedia enthusiasts, this outdoor festival is aimed at bringing together like-minded, artistically creative and talented people from all of France and Switzerland. The main highlights of the event include musical performances, art exhibitions, theatrical shows, and presentations on the various aspects of art. There are also workshops and seminars which target the general audience to raise awareness about the important role of art in society.

If you find all the other festivals in the city too monotonous in nature, in terms of music, dance, food, and artistic performances, this festival is sure to bring a smile to your face. This is the time when the people of Geneva truly display their Christmas spirit. Apart from the traditional Christmas celebrations, unique events and attractions like the Christmas Swimming Cup and the Open Air Skating Rink offer a pleasant escape from the monotony of the year-round festivals.

This historic festival commemorates the anniversary of the successful defense of the city against an invasion by the Duke of Savoy in 1602, when the citizens of Geneva went up in arms in order to repel the Duke and his band of ravaging mercenaries. The celebrations start on a Sunday, and last for a week, which is marked by history-related presentations, exhibitions, musical performances, and shows that celebrate the various aspects of Geneva's most glorious triumph.