Swiss National Exhibition

National exhibitions in Switzerland contribute to social cohesion and foster debates on the future providing cultural, economic and sustainable benefits. Plans for the next edition are being pursued by several initiatives and coordinated at federal level by the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).

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National exhibitions have a long tradition in Switzerland and have the potential to contribute to the country’s social cohesion. They are intended to foster discussion about future prospects and generate cultural, macroeconomic and sustainable benefits for the whole of Switzerland. Several independent project initiatives are currently working towards the aim of organising a national exhibition.

Responsibility for the National Exhibition at federal level lies with the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) until a decision is taken at federal level regarding support for a specific project. SECO's Promotion Activities Directorate coordinates the work within the Federal Administration in preparation for the next National Exhibition and acts as the point of contact on this matter.

• 26.08.2026: Federal Council adopts dispatch on the new Federal Act on the Promotion of National Exhibitions

  On 26 August 2026, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on the new Federal Act on the Promotion of National Exhibitions (LaFG) for submission to Parliament. The Act establishes the legal basis for the assessment, selection and possible financial support of future national exhibitions by the Confederation. With this bill, the Federal Council is fulfilling the mandate set out in Motion 23.3966 of the Council of States’ Committee on Science, Education and Culture (SECC-S), ‘National Exhibition’, which was adopted by Parliament in March 2024, to establish the framework conditions for the next national exhibition. At the same time, the Federal Council confirms its decision not to co-fund a National Exhibition in the 2030s.

  The draft bill addresses the concern repeatedly raised during the consultation process, namely that the Federal Assembly should be involved at an early stage in decisions regarding potential co-funding. A resolution on policy and planning will determine whether, to what extent and within what timeframe co-funding of a national exhibition by the Confederation is, in principle, a possibility. A prerequisite for this is that independent organising bodies have previously launched sufficiently concrete and feasible projects for a national exhibition. Under a new transitional provision, the Federal Council may submit a draft policy and planning resolution from 2035 at the earliest. This would make a nationally co-funded exhibition possible from the 2040s onwards. The Federal Council also maintains the funding model set out in the consultation draft: the federal contribution is to amount to a maximum of 30 per cent, supplemented by joint co-funding from cantons and municipalities in equal measure (on a parity basis) to the federal contribution. The federal government does not provide a deficit guarantee (see press release available in German, French and Italian).

• 25.06.2025: Federal Council Decision on the Federal Government’s Financing Plan

  The Federal Council has decided not to provide any federal financial support for the next National Exhibition until the end of the 2030s. The main reason is that federal finances are under severe pressure. As a countermeasure, from 2027 onwards, the federal budget is to be relieved of around 3 billion Swiss francs annually and brought into balance through the ‘Relief Package 27’ – primarily through spending cuts. Overall, reductions in the federal government’s ability to fulfil its duties are to be expected in the coming years; the funding of special tasks, such as the organisation of a National Exhibition, would conflict with the need for expenditure-side consolidation. With this decision, the Federal Council is complying with the requirement set out in the ‘National Exhibition’ motion (23.3966), adopted in March 2024, to state its funding intentions by the end of 2026.

• 25.06.2025: Consultation on the new Federal Act

  The Federal Council has launched the consultation process on the preliminary draft of the new Federal Act on the Promotion of National Exhibitions (LaFG). This special act sets out the legal framework for the Confederation’s support of future national exhibitions. It lays down the principles governing any federal funding and outlines the necessary procedure for the assessment and selection of project applications. However, the relevant details are to be set out later in an ordinance for each future national exhibition individually. The cantons, umbrella organisations and other interested bodies can submit their comments on the new LaFG as part of the consultation process until 16 October 2025 (see press release in German, French and Italian).

• 14.06.2024: The Federal Council intends to establish a legal framework

  The Federal Council has decided to establish a legal framework for a potential national exhibition. This framework forms the basis for an assessment and selection process, as well as for the decision on whether the Confederation will co-fund a national exhibition. The ‘National Exhibition’ motion (23.3966), adopted in March 2024, instructs the Federal Council to proceed more swiftly than previously planned. It is to award the contract for a project initiative by summer 2026 and present its funding proposal by the end of 2026. In accordance with the parliamentary mandate, the Federal Council will begin establishing the legal framework in 2024. To meet the requirement set out in the motion, the Confederation will announce its funding proposal by the end of 2026 (see press release in German, French and Italian).

• 22.11.2023: Report on the framework conditions for a national exhibition

  On 22 November 2023, the Federal Council adopted the ‘Report on the Framework Conditions for a National Exhibition’.Among other things, the report sets out the roles of the various stakeholders, outlines the federal government’s approach and presents considerations regarding an assessment procedure for a national exhibition as well as a potential project selection process. The report serves as a basis for the organisers of projects for a national exhibition, as well as for interested parties from the worlds of politics, business, culture and the general public, for further work with a view to a national exhibition from 2030 onwards.

  According to the report, the Federal Council envisages that the Confederation will not act as the commissioning body or co-organiser of a national exhibition, but will instead assume the role of a conceptual and, where appropriate, financial sponsor. The main responsibility lies with a sponsoring body. Should the Federal Council take a positive decision in principle regarding the intention to provide funding, preparations for financial support from the Confederation can then be initiated: These include establishing the necessary legal framework, reviewing the project and, if necessary, selecting an initiative, as well as Parliament’s decision on any financial contribution. With regard to the project review and any selection process, the report outlines considerations for a possible multi-phase approach (see press release in German, French and Italian).

• 29.03.2023: The Federal Council will comment on possible financial support for a national exhibition in 2028 at the earliest

  On 29 March 2023, against the backdrop of the challenging financial situation, the Federal Council held a discussion on the way forward regarding a national exhibition in the foreseeable future (2030+). It decided to continue preparations and process support at the federal level. At the same time, the Federal Council announced that it is unable to comment on any potential financial commitment. Given the austerity measures being implemented by the federal government and the cantons, it is not realistic to hold a national exhibition with federal participation before 2030 (see press release in German, French and Italian).

• 29.06.2022: Position of the federal government and the cantons regarding the next National Exhibition

  On 29 June 2022, the Federal Council, together with the Conference of Cantonal Governments (KdK), set out its position regarding the next National Exhibition. Both sides welcome the staging of a future national exhibition. A National Exhibition should generate long-term benefits and is generally organised on a ‘bottom-up’ basis. Key prerequisites are regional roots and both conceptual and financial support from the host region(s). A National Exhibition project should be professionally planned and designed, and coordinated with other major projects. Lessons learnt and experience gained from previous major events must be taken into account.

  In their position statement, the Confederation and the cantons declare their willingness to provide conceptual support for the initiatives and to assist with the planning process. Any financial support from the Confederation and the host cantons is to be determined by the respective parliaments, depending on the project’s structure and the division of roles, whilst taking into account the financial situation and other budgetary priorities. In the position statement, the Federal Council and the Conference of Cantonal Governments (KdK) point out that dialogue between the organising bodies, with the aim of seeking cooperation or the merging of projects, is welcomed (see press release in German, French and Italian).

Publications

• Report on the framework conditions for a national exhibition

  Available in German, French and Italian

  PDF722.67 kB22 November 2023

• National Exhibition: Positioning of the Federal Government and the cantons

  Available in German, French and Italian

  PDF704.51 kB28 June 2022