A record year for the Association des Amis du Verbier Festival

This year, the number of music-loving donors has soared.

“The support of the Amis goes far beyond philanthropic engagement: it constitutes a genuine lever for development, fostering innovation, artistic ambition, and the long-term influence of the Festival.”
Marie-Jo Valente, Head of Development for the Association des Amis du Verbier Festival

Academy breakfast on July 14, 2026 © Alpimages

Tell us about the role and primary missions of the association.

It is an engaged community that, through its loyalty and generosity, contributes to the development, influence, and sustainability of the Festival, as well as the emergence of tomorrow’s artists. Its support, an essential pillar of the Festival’s operation, goes well beyond simple philanthropic commitment. As for its missions, they are based on three pillars: housing for Academy students, post-concert dinners that encourage exchanges with artists, and the funding of scholarships and other projects.

In terms of growth, 2026 is proving to be exceptional. A real source of satisfaction…

With 764 Amis, including 150 new members, we can even speak of record growth. This sharp increase is the result of fundamental work undertaken over several years. When I took office in 2022, Covid had left its mark; we had lost many members. Our priority was to rebuild this community, to expand it while ensuring its renewal. Today, this momentum is well underway.

What explains this growth?

It stems from four complementary factors. First, a rich programme featuring more and more Asian musicians who attract new audiences—a phenomenon noticeable with artists such as the Korean pianist Yunchan Lim, who has considerable influence. Second, the rejuvenation efforts led by NextGen, created 5 years ago. Added to this are our own promotional activities with the public. Finally, this year, the partnership with Shenzhen has breathed new life into this upward trend.

Interview by Jean-Philippe Jutzi

Festival staff on bikes in partnership with the association événem’en Selle!

The Festival works closely with the association événem’en Selle, a new player in the sustainable events sector in French-speaking Switzerland.

This partnership allows nearly 50 staff members to benefit from an electric bike for the entire duration of the festival. These provide optimal flexibility and responsible travel across the resort, between the various festival venues.

The association, created in 2025 with the support of the Sustainability Fund of the Fête Fédérale de Gym in Lausanne, supports and organizes actions and events to promote cycling in French-speaking Switzerland. Its large fleet of bicycles, particularly electric ones, offers a solution for every event organizer looking for an agile and economical way to manage logistics and/or the movement of staff, artists, or even part of the public (seniors, people with reduced mobility). The association is also at your disposal to organize a bike outing with friends or family, to discover a unique corner of the Romandie region!

This collaboration contributes to the Verbier Festival’s constant efforts, as part of its Sustainability programme, to reduce its environmental and social impact.

LEARN MORE

The Verbier Festival wishes to express its deepest gratitude to its patrons, sponsors, partners and public institutions for their support and generous contributions.