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.

In the past year, Lucerne Festival achieved significant progress. It reduced its CO₂e footprint by 5%, promoted social participation through its inclusivity initiatives – especially for individuals with visual impairments—and, with the help of a new impact study, gained deeper insight into the Festival’s economic impact. Based on its 2023 Sustainability Report, Lucerne Festival was honored with the 2024 ESG Transparency Award by the German research institute EUPD. The award recognizes institutions that communicate their sustainability efforts transparently and implement innovative approaches to environmental, social, and economic responsibility.

Each year, Lucerne Festival publishes a detailed Sustainability Report documenting results and outlining next steps across the various sustainability dimensions.

You can find the latest Sustainability Report here:

• The Lucerne Festival Academy at 20: Milestone anniversary marked by new concert formats and an expanded Composer Seminar for orchestral composition
• Introduction of a support accompaniment service for individuals with visual impairments and launch of a tactile workshop in collaboration with Blickfeld Horw as a pilot project
• Launch of a new accessibility hub on the Lucerne Festival website consolidating all relevant information about accessible offerings

• Launch of tactile concert introductions for individuals with visual impairments
• Collaboration with Tabula Musica on the inclusive stage production “The Big Ensemble” at the KKL Lucerne

• 5% reduction in CO₂e emissions despite an additional tour by the Lucerne Festival Orchestra
• “Spiel für Vögel” (“Play for the Birds”): a musical awareness initiative for bird conservation in collaboration with BirdLife Luzern
• Ongoing hedge maintenance in Pfeffikon (Canton Lucerne) to strengthen local biodiversity

• Continuation of hedge maintenance project in collaboration with BirdLife Luzern
• Launch of the new regional sustainability project “Croak: Sounds by the Water” focused on amphibian conservation in collaboration with Pro Natura Luzern

• New impact study reveals regional value creation of CHF 45–50 million per year
• Lucerne Festival secures 230–270 jobs in the Lucerne region
• 83% of the Festival’s operating budget stays within Lucerne