Sustainability

Sustainability is a central pillar of Lucerne Festival’s long-term strategy. The Sustainability Strategy for 2023–2027 outlines clear measures across the three dimensions of social, ecological, and economic sustainability, with the goal of embedding sustainability not just in specific one-off projects, but structurally and over the long term throughout all aspects of the Festival’s operations.

Lucerne Festival has been actively committed to social sustainability for more than two decades, particularly in the area of supporting young talent. Through the Lucerne Festival Academy, various prizes for emerging artists, and the Debut concert series, the Festival offers a platform to outstanding young musicians from around the world. In recent years, Lucerne Festival has also significantly expanded its efforts in ecological and economic sustainability. In the fall of 2022, a dedicated Sustainability Officer position was established to coordinate these initiatives. Since 2021, Lucerne Festival has participated in “Swisstainable,” Switzerland Tourism’s sustainability program (Swisstainable – STnet) and in 2024 was ranked “Level II – engaged.” The Festival has also been a member of the “Sustainability Working Group” of Swiss Top Events (STE) since 2022.

Important developments were implemented over the past year. Lucerne Festival further strengthened social participation through inclusive offerings, including the collaboration with Tabula Musica and Lucerne-based cultural and educational institutions for the inclusive stage work “The Big Ensemble”, as well as tactile concert introductions for people with visual impairments. With the Lucerne Festival Ark Nova in Lucerne, an exceptional project was also realized that combined music, architecture and education, creating new points of access for a broad audience. In the area of ecological sustainability, the CO₂e footprint was calculated again, and the underlying data was further refined, especially with regard to visitor mobility. The overall footprint rose by 28.8% year on year to 2,176 t CO₂e. This development is due in particular to the higher number of visitors, additional major projects and the methodologically improved recording of visitor mobility. In 2025, Lucerne Festival’s Head of Sustainability was appointed as a member of the international “ESG Transparency Committee”.

A detailed Sustainability Report is published each year, documenting the results and next steps across the various sustainability dimensions. The 2025 Sustainability Report will be published here soon.

• Lucerne Festival Ark Nova appeared in Lucerne as a flagship project with Family Days, school concerts, open4all formats and 12,000 visitors.
• Collaboration with Tabula Musica and Lucerne-based cultural and educational institutions for the inclusive stage work “The Big Ensemble” at KKL Luzern.
• Introduction of tactile concert introductions for people with visual impairments as part of “Feel the Music”.

• Strengthening accessible concert formats for new audiences, including “Klassik für alle: Open Air”, “Mittendrin” and the newly conceived “In den Strassen: City Stage”.
• Expansion of the “Luege | Lose | Erläbe” offer to all concerts in the KKL Concert Hall: children and young people can be brought along for CHF 10.

• Increase in the reported CO₂e footprint by 28.8% to 2,176 t CO₂e, due in particular to higher visitor numbers, additional projects and more precise underlying data on visitor mobility.
• “Croak: Sounds by the Water” as an awareness-raising project for the protection of amphibians in collaboration with Pro Natura Luzern.
• Continuation of hedge maintenance in Pfeffikon/LU together with BirdLife Luzern to strengthen biodiversity over the long term.

• New “Dream Oasis” sustainability project during Lucerne Festival Summer in collaboration with Pro Natura Luzern.
• Increase of the RailAway discount for travel by public transportation to 50%.

Zurich Insurance supports Lucerne Festival in its environmental sustainability strategy as a climate partner and provides expert guidance in the areas of sustainability and climate protection.

• The Impact study conducted in 2024 remains the basis for assessing economic sustainabilty and identifies an annual regional value contribution of CHF 45–50 million.
• Lucerne Festival secures 230–270 jobs in the Lucerne region
• 83% of the Festival’s operating budget stays within Lucerne