The Building-Festival of Geneva

What The Building-Festival of Geneva does

La Bâtie-Festival de Genève is a non-profit foundation operating one of Switzerland's most important multidisciplinary arts festivals, founded in 1977 in Geneva and currently celebrating its 50th edition in 2026. The organization transitioned from an association to a foundation structure in 2010 and operates under a 2002 subsidy convention with the Ville de Genève and Canton de Genève. Each year over an 18-day window from late August to mid-September, the festival programs 50+ events and 130+ performances spanning dance, theater, circus, music, and cinema across 30+ partner venues in Geneva, neighboring France, and the canton of Vaud. The 2025 edition attracted over 18,500 festival-goers, and the 2026 edition introduces Le Béaba à l'Ariana, a new outdoor venue at the Musée Ariana park featuring free programming.

The core commercial product is a tiered festival pass system — Full (CHF 100), Reduced (CHF 80), and a special 50th-anniversary Youth tier (CHF 50) — supplemented by individual ticket sales across performances, with each purchase carrying an optional CHF 2 solidary donation. Distribution runs through the festival's own digital ticketing platform (batie.ch) with QR-code delivery via email and PDF download, alongside physical venue box offices for last-minute sales and a dedicated espace pro for industry programmers at discounted rates. Revenue streams combine ticket and pass sales, foundation and corporate sponsorship (Loterie Romande, Fondation Leenaards, Fondation Ernst Göhner, Fondation Stanley Thomas Johnson, Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels), public subsidies from Ville de Genève, Canton de Genève, and Pro Helvetia, individual donations, and venue partnership cross-promotion.

The organization is led by Director Stéphane Malfettes, who assumed the role for the 2026 edition following Claude Ratzé's tenure. Marketing operates through a multi-channel mix centered on the batie.ch digital platform, email newsletter, press relations, Instagram, a volunteer program, and venue partner cross-promotion. There is no disclosed AI/ML capability, no technology platform beyond standard digital ticketing, and no app product. The operating model is event-driven and direct-to-consumer, with the festival's competitive position anchored in its 50-year legacy, curated programming, and embedded institutional partner network rather than technology differentiation.

Name

The Building-Festival of Geneva

Legal name

La Bâtie-Festival de Genève

Website

https://batie.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Festival

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts & Culture Community Festivals (Multidisciplinary Arts Weeks) (MPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural & Community Festivals (Ticketed) (THAJAFAI), Music Festival Organizers & Promoters (MPAGAAAB), Arts, Culture, Entertainment & Fan Conventions Organizers (THAHABAN)

Keywords

• Performing arts festival
• Multidisciplinary arts
• Theatre and dance
• Live performance events
• Cultural programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Individual tickets for performances sold at varying price points through the festival's central ticketing system. Solidary ticket donations of CHF 2 added to each purchase.
2. Festival Passes: Three tiers of festival passes (Full 100 CHF, Reduced 80 CHF, Young 50 CHF) providing access to performances throughout the 18-day festival period.
3. Free Events and Donations: Many events at Le Béaba are free (access libre), supported by donations and institutional funding from foundations such as Loterie romande and Fondation Leenaards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

La Bâtie-Festival de Genève produces an annual 18-day multidisciplinary performing arts festival featuring dance, theatre, music, circus, and cinema across approximately 30 venues in Geneva and the surrounding region. The festival sells tiered digital festival passes and individual tickets via its online platform, with programming that mixes international and local artists and includes a significant free programming component at the new Le Béaba à l'Ariana venue.

Product overview

La Bâtie-Festival de Genève is a multidisciplinary arts festival (not a technology product company) offering its 50th edition in 2026. The festival operates as an event platform featuring ticketing services (digital festival passes and individual tickets), venue programming across dance, theatre, circus, music, and cinema disciplines, and a dedicated outdoor destination called Le Béaba à l'Ariana. The festival spans over 30 venues across the Geneva region with 50+ events and 130+ performances over 18 days.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Le Béaba à l'Ariana: A new ephemeral artistic destination created for the 2026 edition, located in the famous Ariana park. It hosts performances, concerts, performances, parties and other events suitable for summer gatherings, with many free events.

Products and services

• Festival Pass (Pass Festivalier·ère / Pass Jeune) Digital pass providing access to festival performances across the 18-day edition; QR code loaded with reserved tickets, presented at venue entry. Available at full price (100 CHF), reduced price (80 CHF), and a special 50th anniversary youth rate (50 CHF).
• Le Béaba à l'Ariana A new ephemeral outdoor festival destination within the Musée Ariana park featuring free and paid performances, concerts, circus, and festive events suitable for the 2026 festival.
• La Bâtie-Festival de Genève (Annual Festival Program) Annual 18-day multidisciplinary performing arts festival spanning late August to mid-September across approximately 30 venues in Geneva, neighboring France, and the canton of Vaud, featuring 50+ events and 130+ performances.
• Central Ticketing Platform Online ticket sales system used to purchase individual performance tickets, festival passes, and donations, with payment options including credit card, Postcard, and Twint.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18,500+ attendees per edition
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pavillon ADC (Geneva)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-production and co-presentation partner for 'Such a Devoted Bunch' by Ruth Childs & Cécile Bouffard.
• Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & ArpelscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Support for Ruth Childs & Cécile Bouffard 'Such a Devoted Bunch' and other dance performances.
• Le GalponminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Venue partner hosting Bast Hippocrate 'Joyaux lourdement sous-estimés'.
• TO - Théâtre de l'OrangeriecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-production and co-presentation partner for Bastien Semenzato 'Les Mondes qui nous manquent'.
• Château Rouge (Annemasse)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Co-presentation partner with support from Département de la Haute-Savoie and Annemasse Agglo for Robert Wilson tribute.
• Comédie de GenèvecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Co-presentation partner for Christos Papadopoulos 'My Fierce Ignorant Step'.
• Grand Théâtre de GenèvecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Collaboration partner hosting Roomful of Teeth & Gabriel Kahane at BFM venue.
• Alhambra (Geneva)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Concert venue hosting Kangding Ray & Óliver Laxe 'Sirāt live A/V experience'.
• Les Cinémas du GrütlicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Cinema venue presenting Óliver Laxe film 'Sirāt' and 'Vacío Luminoso'.
• La ParfumerieminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Club venue for 'La Toute Puissante party' celebrating Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp's 20th anniversary.
• PTR - Post Tenebras RockminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Club venue hosting 'Rave party revival' after-show event.
• Musée ArianacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Host venue for Le Béaba - new outdoor festival destination with free and paid events.
• Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & ArpelscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Supporting Léo Lérus 'Gounouj in situ' performance.
• Hospice GénéralminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Social institution collaborating on volunteer program and community outreach.
• École & CultureminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Educational partnership for cultural mediation and outreach programs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Salzburg Festival: Premier Austrian summer festival presenting opera, drama, and orchestral music across multiple venues in Salzburg. Comparable multidisciplinary, multi-venue, public-supported festival model but substantially larger and more international in scale.
• Edinburgh Festival Fringe: World's largest annual arts festival, presenting theater, dance, music, and circus in Edinburgh each August. Comparable as a multisite, multi-genre performing arts festival with professional programmer engagement, though substantially larger in scale and international reach.
• Festival d'Automne à Paris: Major Paris-based autumn performing arts festival featuring contemporary dance, theater, music, and visual arts across multiple venues. Comparable multidisciplinary and multi-venue format with strong international artist programming and public funding support.

Direct peers

• Holland Festival: Long-running annual multidisciplinary arts festival in Amsterdam presenting theater, dance, music, opera, and visual arts across Amsterdam venues. Comparable as a public-funded, curated, multidisciplinary festival with international artist programming and venue partner network.
• Festival de la Cité (Lausanne): Annual multidisciplinary urban arts festival in Lausanne, Switzerland, featuring theater, dance, music, and installations across multiple venues. Closest French-Swiss peer to La Bâtie in scale, multidisciplinary programming, and public-funding-supported operating model.
• Festival d'Avignon: One of the world's leading annual performing arts festivals held annually in Avignon, France. Directly comparable to La Bâtie as a large-scale, multidisciplinary performing arts festival combining theater, dance, and music with cross-border programming and strong public-sector backing.
• Zürcher Theater Spektakel: Annual outdoor and indoor performing arts festival in Zurich featuring contemporary dance, theater, and music across multiple venues. Closest German-Swiss peer to La Bâtie in format, cross-venue programming, and contemporary performing arts focus.
• Tanz im August (Berlin): Annual international dance and performance festival in Berlin featuring contemporary choreography and live performance across multiple venues. Directly comparable to La Bâtie's contemporary dance, circus, and performance programming for international touring artists.
• Belluard Bollwerk International (Fribourg): Annual experimental and contemporary performing arts festival in Fribourg, Switzerland, presenting dance, music, and cross-disciplinary performance. Comparable Swiss multidisciplinary festival operating across multiple venues with public and private funding support.

Regional players

• Lokremise St. Gallen: Performing arts venue and festival organizer in eastern Switzerland hosting contemporary theater, dance, and music programming. Comparable Swiss venue-based arts programming model though smaller and focused on a single site rather than multi-venue festival.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/La_Batie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Building-Festival of Geneva