SWISS MUSIC@ MaMA Music & Convention ⎪ 14–16 Oct 2026
With special discount to MaMA 2026
Swiss Music Export and FONDATION SUISA dispose of a quota of professional passes at preferential rates: Swiss professionals can use the Promo Link to get registered for MaMA Music & Convention 2026 and benefit from a 3-day PRO PASS of EUR 110.- instead of EUR 150.-.
The MaMA music & convention has been in existence since 2010. For three days in Paris’s Pigalle and Montmartre districts, booking, label and other music professionals will meet for live music, conferences and networking events. The focus is on dialogue between the French and international music industry. Music styles range from rock and pop to hip-hop and electronica.
FONDATION SUISA has selected Fabio Baechtold as its new Director. He will take up his position on 1 July 2026, succeeding Urs Schnell, who has led the foundation since 2008 and will retire at the end of September 2026.
Zeno Gabaglio, President of the Foundation Board: “Urs Schnell played a key role in shaping FONDATION SUISA over many years and navigated the far-reaching changes in the cultural world with great success and ingenuity. We are very grateful to him for his leadership. Fabio Baechtold combines broad and in-depth knowledge of the Swiss music scene with an outstanding ability to listen and accurately assess current developments. With him at the helm, FONDATION SUISA will be very well positioned to actively tackle the challenges of the present and the future.”
Fabio Baechtold has served as managing director of the Bernese jazz organiser BeJazz since 2007 and has coordinated the Suisse Diagonales Jazz festival since 2017. He was a member of the City of Bern’s Music Commission for eight years and later served as its chair. Fabio Baechtold: “The switch from being a jazz promoter to music promotion more broadly gives me the opportunity to work with all musical genres in the future. I am very much looking forward to tackling this task together with the team. My aim is to consistently focus on the needs of the music scene and music creators.”
In Fabio Baechtold, FONDATION SUISA has gained a prominent figure on the Swiss music scene with many years of experience in promotion, outreach and networking. The Foundation Board strongly believes that he will not only continue the Foundation’s successful work, but also provide new impetus and targeted growth.
FONDATION SUISA is very much looking forward to working with Fabio Baechtold and to the fresh ideas he will bring to the foundation’s work.The not-for-profit foundation FONDATION SUISA has been promoting contemporary musical creation in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein since 1989 and working to strengthen its diversity and visibility long-term
FONDATION SUISA and arttv present video features on selected musicians who report on their work and current projects. In addition, arttv portrays the recipients of last year’s «Get Going!» awards by FONDATION SUISA in multi-part series video portraits.
A partnership between:
arttv ｜ Latest arttv video feature: Marc Méan: Soundscapes between ritual and experimentation
PUBLISHED ON 16 JUNE 2026
Using organs, electronics and site-specific resonance, Marc Méan develops a musical language that transcends the sacred
In his current project, ‘L’orgue comme voyage de découverte’, jazz pianist and sound researcher Marc Méan explores organ instruments outside their liturgical context in an organic way: last autumn, he recorded three organs – including that of the Sihlfeld Crematorium – and developed them into new compositions. His playful approach follows clear, self-imposed structures and combines experimentation with precision. The ‘Get Going!’ grant from FONDATION SUISA enables him to further expand this research. Central to this is his studio at the Zentralwäscherei in Zurich, where he values the creative proximity to other artists and cultural practitioners.
The Great Escape once again brought the international music industry to Brighton from 13–16 May 2026. As one of Europe’s key showcase festivals, it remains an important meeting point for artists and music professionals from across the globe.
A new addition to this year’s Swiss activities was the Swiss Morning Brew at Olea Specialty Coffee & Matcha, which offered delegates an informal networking moment over coffee, pastries and Swiss chocolate before the festival day began.
The main Swiss networking event followed at Komedia Studio, where the Swiss Business Blender (formerly Swiss Business Mixer) brought together music professionals and delegates. The venue remained busy throughout the afternoon, with attendees gathering for networking and live performances by BombayMami, Argyle, LEILA and Eileen Alister, creating a lively and welcoming atmosphere throughout the event.
Presented by Swiss Music Export, FONDATION SUISA, Pro Helvetia and the Embassy of Switzerland in the United Kingdom.
Swiss live acts at the Swiss Business Blender:
12:15 ｜ BOMBAYMAMI
13:15 ｜ ARGYLE
14:15 ｜ LEILA
15:15 ｜ EILEEN ALISTER
OTHER LIVE ACTS @ TGE 2026
As in previous years, the showcase artists also performed additional official festival showcases across Brighton, helping to increase their visibility within the wider TGE programme. Swiss act Comastatic also appeared in the official festival line-up:
EILEEN ALISTER Thu 14 May ｜ 19:15 ｜ Revenge COMASTATIC Thu 14 May ｜ 21:15 ｜ Daltons BOMBAYMAMI Fri 15 May ｜ 20:15 ｜ Patterns Upstairs LEILA Sat 16 May ｜ 20:15 ｜ Komedia Studio ARGYLE Sat 16 May ｜ 21:30｜ One Church
The next Great Escape festival will take place in Brighton from 12 to 15 May 2027.
FONDATION SUISA and Pro Helvetia have decided to end their joint involvement in WOMEX with immediate effect. From 2026, there will no longer be a SWISS MUSIC stand.
This decision is based on an analysis of recent years: the objectives set – in particular the visibility and support of Swiss music creators and their presence in the showcase programme – could no longer be achieved. Both the figures, particularly regarding the participation of Swiss music creators and their representatives, and feedback from the industry show that the benefits of the joint stand no longer justify the effort involved.
At the same time, FONDATION SUISA and Pro Helvetia will remain in contact with WOMEX and will continue to monitor the showcase programme in particular. Alternative support measures will be explored where appropriate. In parallel, the international support strategy will be further developed and new formats tested.
From 23 to 25 April 2026, the international jazz scene gathered for the 20th edition of jazzahead! in Bremen. Switzerland was represented at this anniversary event by a delegation of over 60 people and a joint stand led by FONDATION SUISA. The highlight of this year’s presence was the showcase performance by KNOBIL.
KNOBIL, the trio led by Lausanne-based singer and double bassist Louise Knobil, presented a programme blending jazz and pop with a strong focus on live performance. The band impressed with their high level of musical precision, distinctive sound and strong stage presence. The fact that KNOBIL’s performance was very well attended, despite the German Jazz Prize awards ceremony taking place at the same time as their showcase, demonstrates that KNOBIL is able to appeal to a broad audience of industry professionals and festival-goers with their music. A further indication of KNOBIL’s popularity was the band’s completely sold-out merchandise stand. https://www.instagram.com/knobil
The SWISS MUSIC Stand: a highly popular and dynamic networking platform
Meanwhile, the SWISS MUSIC stand, co-organised by FONDATION SUISA, served as a meeting point for the Swiss delegation and their international contacts throughout the four days of the fair. The atmosphere at the stand was relaxed, and feedback on the organisation was consistently positive.
Meeting between Swiss delegates and international professionals from the sector
In conversations and smaller networking sessions, the focus was particularly on exchanges with existing partners as well as delegations from other European countries.
jazzahead! 2026 once again confirmed its role as a platform for a broad, open understanding of jazz. For Switzerland, it once again offered the opportunity to showcase the diversity and professionalism of the local scene – this year with KNOBIL as a prominent example on stage.
The 21st edition of jazzahead! will take place from 21 to 24 April 2027.
Cully Jazz Festival 2026｜10–18 April｜Cully Wine and panoramic views in French-speaking Switzerland
For over forty years, the Cully Jazz Festival has transformed the wine-growing village of Cully on Lake Geneva into a dense labyrinth of clubs, cellars and pubs every April. With SWISS MUSIC @ home, FONDATION SUISA is using this special atmosphere to bring international professionals to the region – where they can meet Swiss musicians in the midst of the festival’s daily life and forge new connections.
By mid-April, Cully already smells intensely of spring. The sun hangs low over the lake, the view stretching as far as the French Alps is fantastic, and visitors to the Cully Jazz Festival crowd the narrow streets with wine glasses in hand. Anyone drifting through the festival here oscillates between a holiday feeling and sensory overload – and that is precisely what makes this festival so appealing: within a few hundred metres, international stars meet the local scene, and the carefully curated concerts are complemented by free gigs in numerous caveaux.
It is within this atmosphere that SWISS MUSIC @ home takes place: a programme by FONDATION SUISA that invites international professionals to Swiss festivals to connect them with the local scene. At Cully Jazz 2026, this group comprised 17 international guests from France, the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and China.
The group walk through the terraced vineyards of Lavaux – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – was described by many as one of the highlights of the stay – yet the centrepiece of the networking activities was once again the ‘speed dating’ sessions between industry representatives from abroad and local musicians – with one significant new feature: for the first time, it was not the musicians but the professionals who moved from table to table.
Artists such as LOUISE KNOBIL, ELINA DUNI, JULIE CAMPICHE and Linus Meier, aka AS IN PLASTIC remained seated and described it as a relief to feel like hosts for once, rather than rushing from table to table in a constant state of self-promotion. The five-minute slots kept the conversations focused; those who needed more time could continue during the wine tasting that followed.
Although the abundance of wine raised a few smiles among some international guests, it is precisely this light-hearted blend of Western Swiss aperitif culture and professional exchange that gives this festival its special magic: the village nestled picturesquely in the hills, the sweeping view across the lake, which meets France in the distance; the shared spring stroll through the vineyards shimmering in the spring light, as well as the glitch in the matrix that briefly shook the balance of power between musicians and industry representatives, are all typical of Cully Jazz.
The next “SWISS MUSIC @ home” partnership is scheduled to take place at the “Stars in Town” festival in Schaffhausen in August 2027.
⚠️It is not possible to apply for SWISS MUSIC @ home: Participants are selected and invited on an individual basis depending on the context.
Promotion and support for Swiss film music composers
SWISS FILMS, FONDATION SUISA and SONART are joining forces and combining their expertise and resources in a structured partnership to sustainably strengthen the position of Swiss film music composers within the international film industry.
The aim is to improve the the general framework for the development, production, and international distribution of Swiss film music and to increase the visibility of composers’ artistic contributions in the audiovisual sector.
The partnership focuses on initiatives to foster the professionalization, international networking opportunities, and visibility of film music creators. These include a joint presence at international festivals and markets, as well as targeted activities to enhance the visibility of Swiss film music composers at home and abroad..
FIND OUT MORE
For further information regarding the selection of platforms and individuals, as well as the selection criteria, please contact: Fatuma Osman, Consultant Talents & Immersive Formats fosman@swissfilms.ch
SONIC MATTER Festival 2026｜26 Feb –1 Mar｜Zurich Swiss experimental music in an international network
SONIC MATTER is a festival that has been taking place in Zurich since 2021 and combines different artistic approaches in the field of sound research and music. It sees itself as a platform for new, experimental music and brings acts such as MAGDA DROZD, ENSEMBLE VORTEX, ANNE GILLOT or DIMITRI PERROT to the stage. Although the scene is still a niche one, it has been taking place in Zurich since the 1980s at venues such as the Kunstraum Walcheturm and is now represented at festivals such as SONIC MATTER and at the Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology (ICST) at the Zurich University of the Arts.
With the SWISS MUSIC @ home programme, FONDATION SUISA, in collaboration with Pro Helvetia, invites international experts to Switzerland to network directly with local musicians and event organisers at various partner festivals. At the end of February 2026, the Zurich festival SONIC MATTER provided the setting for this: thirteen invited guests – mainly festival organisers from Europe and the Middle East – got to know the experimental Swiss scene.
This is exactly where the SWISS MUSIC @ home programme came in: The thirteen invited international representatives were given a compact insight into this lively scene, visited the Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology (ICST) and other central cultural venues, and learned about current projects and working methods on site. In addition, on Friday they took part in speed meetings with Swiss festival organisers at the Zurich cultural venue ‘Institut’, followed by a joint lunch.
Speed meetings with Swiss festival organisers at the Zurich cultural venue ‘Institut’
Informal encounters – such as a networking aperitif at the Kunstraum Walcheturm with invited Swiss musicians – provided additional space for discussions beyond purely booking-related issues. Participants were also able to explore the festival programme according to their own interests and discover Swiss acts directly in a concert and performance context.
The feedback was positive, with participants highlighting the pleasant group size, the open atmosphere and the attentive support provided by the festival team. SWISS MUSIC @ home proved to be an effective format at SONIC MATTER 2026 for raising the international profile of the Swiss experimental music scene and promoting long-term contacts between local and international players.
The next planned ‘SWISS MUSIC @ home’ partnership in the jazz sector is Cully Jazz in April 2026.
⚠️It is not possible to apply for SWISS MUSIC @ home: Participants are selected and invited on an individual basis depending on the context.
SWISS MUSIC @ SONIC MATTER 2026 in pictures:
SWISS MUSIC @ home am SONIC MATTER Festival
SWISS MUSIC @ home am SONIC MATTER Festival
Speed Meetings mit Schweizer Festivalorganisator*innen im Zürcher Kulturort «Institut»
SWISS MUSIC @ home am SONIC MATTER Festival
SWISS MUSIC @ home am SONIC MATTER Festival
Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology (ICST)
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