VF KiDS: Family Music at the Verbier Festival

Stephen McHolm presents VF KiDS and the Storytellers project: over 40 fun and artistic events to introduce children to music.

“With VF KiDS, we want every child to be able to explore, create, and wonder, as this is often how a lasting relationship with music is born.”
Stephen McHolm, Director of Academy & Cultural Outreach

Can you introduce VF KiDS and explain its mission within the Verbier Festival today?

Today, VF KiDS is the Verbier Festival programme dedicated to children and families. Born within UNLTD (Unlimited Music), the Festival’s cultural outreach initiative, it has become a fully-fledged programme over the years. The two remain closely linked: UNLTD invites audiences of all ages to discover music in new forms, while VF KiDS cultivates that same spirit of curiosity through experiences designed for the youngest listeners. Together, they embody the Festival’s commitment to music that is open to all, based on curiosity, creativity, participation, and discovery.

Can you explain the Storytellers concept and its educational objective?

Storytellers is the flagship VF KiDS project that allows this vision to be deployed far beyond the Festival. In 2025/26, it was offered in 25 schools across French-speaking Switzerland and saw over 3,000 participants. Alongside artists from the Verbier Festival Academy, children explore music through storytelling, theatre, and visual arts before seeing their creations come to life on stage.

This year, Storytellers begins a new four-year creative cycle with Terrokois, an original story inspired by the Earth element, as well as an audio book pilot project blending children’s voices with recordings made by the Verbier Festival Academy’s Audio Recording programme, featuring alumni and Trio Concept, winner of the Prix Yves Paternot.

How many VF KiDS events are being offered during the 2026 edition of the Verbier Festival?

During the Festival, this same philosophy comes to life through more than 40 events for children and families. Performances such as Peter and the Wolf, What on Earth! and Storytellers: Terrokois invite young and old alike to experience music differently. The Discovery activities—Petit Labo musical, Grand Labo musical, and Musique en famille—are proving extremely popular this year, with several sessions already sold out.

The Storytellers Camp extends the work carried out in schools by offering young participants a week of creative immersion that culminates in a performance during the Festival. Finally, outdoor offerings, such as the Buskers and the La Chaux concerts, allow families to discover music in a convivial setting in the heart of the mountains.

DISCOVER THE VF KiDS PROGRAMME

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