Key updates include an expanded 'In the City' program and a partnership with the Montreux Jazz Festival.
From April 14 to 20, Geneva will host the Watches and Wonders 2026 watch salon. This time, the event organizers expect more than 6000 retailers, 1600 international journalists, and about 15,000 invited guests, significantly exceeding last year's figure of nearly 55,000 visitors from 125 countries.
This week in Geneva will feature a series of events aimed at introducing the general public to the culture of watchmaking. Each participating brand is expected to hold a series of presentations and entertainment events in company boutiques, and the traditional Thursday celebration will include a musical performance organized around the lake.
Every day from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM, live concerts and DJ sets by rising global stars will take place at the Quai Général-Guisan venue. This will be organized in a jazz club format in partnership with the renowned Montreux Jazz Festival.
The Pont de la Machine building will house the 'Watchmakers' Village', where introductory watchmaking workshops and informational sessions about careers and professional growth opportunities will be organized by the Swiss Association of Watch Industry Employers.
For the third consecutive year, as part of a partnership with the Lausanne University of Art and Design, university students (Master’s program in advanced design studies) will present immersive installations exploring new ways of perceiving time.
The redesigned space The LAB will showcase about 15 startup projects, selected from more than 60 applications based on criteria such as innovation, sustainability, social impact, and relevance to watchmaking.
This year's program also includes the Wake Up! exhibition, which traces the history and use of the alarm clock from the Middle Ages to the present day. The full version of the program will be announced on March 10.
Ticket sales for the exhibition open on February 10. Different attendance formats are available: from a one-day ticket costing CHF 70 to comprehensive 2-3 day subscriptions and premium-class tickets. The latter will cost CHF 550 and provide the buyer with priority access, cloakroom use, parking, access to a VIP lounge with a buffet, and a guided tour of the exhibition.