Calendar of Geneva events and festivals in 2015

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The second largest city of Switzerland - the cosmopolitan Geneva offers an array of events to cater for needs and interest of a very wide public.

See below the calendar of the most important events and festivals in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2015.

See the highlights of Geneva sightseeing:

January

artgèneve 2015 – International Art Fair Geneva
29 January – 1 February
Geneva Palexpo

Held in the city’s premier venue for shows and exhibitions, the International Art Fair of Geneva, or artgèneve is dedicated entirely contemporary art, featuring not only artists and their work but also art galleries, art institutions, art book and magazines publishers, etc. Find more information on the official website of artgèneve Salon d’Art. 

See the updated Palexpo Geneva programme of fairs and events.

February

Fête e la Feuille
Late February/early March
Promenade de la Treille

The Feast of the First Leave celebrated across Switzerland in Geneva takes place at the La Treille Promenade, lined with chestnut trees. The first leaves appearing on the trees announce the arrival of spring to the city of Geneva.

March

85^th International Motor Show Geneva 2015
5 March – 15 March
Palexpo

One of the most popular motor industry events in Europe, featuring car premiers attracts an average of 700,000 visitors each year. See the highlights of Geneva Motor Show 2014:

April

43^rd International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva
15 April – 19 April
Palexpo

Geneva Exhibition of Inventions celebrates human creativity and inventiveness. It is a fun for a wide public. Apart from advanced “serious” projects which attract serious investors, you can admire here all sorts of more or less practical inventions and gadgets which could become the next worldwide sales hits.

See the Geneva Exhibition of Inventions website. 

May

EBACE 2015 – European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition Geneva
19 May – 21 May
Palexpo

This event is dedicated to aircraft business and aviation professionals. Find more information about last years edition EBACE 2014. 

June

Fête de la Musique Geneva
19 June – 21 June
Geneva, different locations

World's Music Day, celebrated globally around the first day of summer June 21, is a special occasion in Geneva. An astounding number of 500 concerts, musical happenings, exhibitions, film sessions and workshops to take place in different in and outdoor venues of the city are planned for the Geneva Music Festival 2015.

Rose Competition – Rose d’Or Festival Geneva
22 June
Parc La Grange, Geneva

Do not miss on the opportunity to admire many beautiful species of roses submitted by growers from all over the world to compete for the title of the most beautiful rose of the Rose d’Or festival in Geneva. The rose competition is held every year on the fourth Monday of June.

July

Geneva ETU Triathlon European Championship 2015
9 July – 12 July
Geneva

Triathlon athletes worldwide are surely familiar with the Geneva Triathlon. The city offers great settings for the race, including a swim across Geneva Lake, a very challenging bike course and a run along the lake’s shore.

Montreux Jazz Festival 2015
3 July – 18 July
Montreux

The picturesque town of Montreux on the bank of Lake Geneva, approx. 60 miles from Geneva city hsts the world’s second largest jazz festival. Embracing music genres from pure jazz to blues, rock and soul the Montreux Festival had welcomed in its over 40 years history musicians as Carlos Santana, Al di Meola, Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and many more. Find more information on Montreux Festival 2015. 

Fêtes de Genève – Geneva Festival 2015
Dates to be confirmed
Geneva, different venues

The annual celebrations of Fêtes de Genève, held in late July/early August are the largest event of the kind in Switzerland attracting hundreds of thousands visitors. The Geneva Festival offers free concerts held in several scenic locations in the city and a variety of accompanying events, funfairs, parades, firework displays and sports competitions. Do not miss out on the Lakefront Festival, a part of Fêtes de Genève providing many thrilling shows of water-sports, amongst them jet-ski and waterski performances.

Attending the events of the Geneva Festival is a great way of getting to know the city. It also provides opportunity to learn about other countries: every year one country is invited to promote its culture, traditions and cuisine as Fêtes de Genève guest of honour.

See the Grand Finale of Geneva Festival 2014 fireworks display

August

Geneva Swiss National Day 2015 – Fête National
1 August
Geneva, different venues

On first of August the whole of Switzerland celebrates its national day. Much like in other Swiss cities, in Geneva you can expect parades, fireworks ad life music.

September

La Bâtie Festival Geneva 2015
31 August – 15 September
Geneva, different venues

Held annually in late August, La Bâtie is an interdisciplinary festival of performing arts, focusing on dance in its different forms, from classical to contemporary. Shows, performances and visual installations can be seen in different venues across the city, including theatres, university auditoriums, museums, bars and industrial locations.

More information on La Bâtie Festival official website.

October

International Chocolatiers and Chocolate Fair Geneva 2015
10-11 October
Geneva, venue to be announced

Switzerland has a long tradition in chocolate productions. In October 2015, Geneva will host an event for chocolate manufacturers, chocolate connoisseurs and all chocolate enthusiasts. Step by to get a sample of some of the world’s finest chocolates and chocolate industry products.

November

Geneva Christmas Festival and Market
28 November – 4 January
Fusterie Square and other venues across the city

Christmas season (stretching from late November to early January) is a great time to visit Geneva. The whole city gets into the Christmas spirit through decorations, carol singing, ice-skating and other seasonal activities held in different locations of Geneva. The most picturesque part of the city is, perhaps, the Fusterie Square transformed into a cosy mountain village of wooden chalets selling hand made goods and crafts. It is a perfect place to have your Christmas shopping done, as well as try the local delicacies sold in numerous food stalls.

The Christmas Tree Festival is another, very picturesque, part of Christmas season celebrations in Geneva, as the city holds a display of Christmas trees designed by local and international artists.

December

Geneva l’Escalade 2015
11 December
Geneva city centre

Fête de l’Escalade is one of the most animated activities for both locals and tourist in Geneva. It celebrates a historic event – a failed attack of the Duke of Savoy on the prosperous city-state of Geneva in the 17^th century.

On the night of 11 of December 1602, the Savoy Duchy troops attempted to climb (escalade in French) the city walls, having faced, however, a strong resistance from the Genevois. The legend has it that a woman, known as Mere Royaume set an example for the defenders by pouring a cauldron of hot soup on the heads of the attackers. This scene is recreated every year in Geneva with great attention to all historical details.

Within the l’Escalade festivities takes place one of the biggest sporting events of Geneva: the street run known as Course de l’Escalade.