Having a presence on both national and international stages is essential for nurturing a professional career in music. Pro Helvetia offers Swiss-based artists and cultural practitioners the opportunity to participate in recognised professional platforms, showcase festivals and support programmes, both in Switzerland and internationally, in order to broaden their focus and establish a solid network.
Professional platforms and showcase festivals
Internationally
Participation in professional platforms and showcase festivals, is organised in close collaboration with FONDATION SUISA under the joint label SWISS MUSIC and/or with Swiss Music Export.
ESNS – Eurosonic Noorderslag (Groningen, NL)
Music platform and showcase festival in Groningen, the Netherlands
Dates: 15 to 18 January 2025
More information: esns.nl/en/
In collaboration with Swiss Music Export
Jazzahead! (Bremen, DE)
Music platform and jazz showcase festival in Bremen, Germany
The 2025 edition, titled ‘RECONNECT’, brings three former host countries, France, Spain and Switzerland, back into the spotlight.
Dates: 23 to 26 April 2025
More information: jazzahead.de
In collaboration with FONDATION SUISA and SONART under the joint label SWISS MUSIC
Classical:NEXT (Berlin, DE)
Contemporary music platform in Berlin, Germany
Musicians from Switzerland selected for a performance or conference session must submit their application for support under International Presence.
Dates: 12 to 15 May 2025
More information: classicalnext.org
In collaboration with FONDATION SUISA under the joint label SWISS MUSIC
The Great Escape (Brighton, UK)
Showcase festival and gathering of the international indie scene in Brighton, UK
Dates: 14 to 17 May 2025
More information: greatescapefestival.com
In collaboration with Swiss Music Export and FONDATION SUISA under the joint label SWISS MUSIC
Reeperbahn Festival (Hamburg, DE)
Music platform and showcase festival in Hamburg, Germany
Dates: 17 to 20 September 2025
More information: reeperbahnfestival.com
In collaboration with Swiss Music Export
MaMa Music & Convention (Paris, FR)
Showcase festival and gathering of the international indie scene in Paris, France
Dates: 15 to 17 October 2025
More information: mama-musicandconvention.com
In collaboration with Swiss Music Export and FONDATION SUISA under the joint label SWISS MUSIC
WOMEX (Tampere, FI)
Professional platform and touring showcase festival for the global sounds music scene
2025’s edition will take place in Tampere, Finland.
Dates: 22 to 26 October 2025
More information: womex.com
In collaboration with FONDATION SUISA and Artlink under the joint label SWISS MUSIC
Linecheck Music Festival Milano (Milan, IT)
Music festival and gathering in Milan, Italy
Dates: 17 to 22 November 2025
More information: linecheck.it
In collaboration with Swiss Music Export and FONDATION SUISA under the joint label SWISS MUSIC
In Switzerland
As part of the SWISS MUSIC @ home programme, FONDATION SUISA, in collaboration with Pro Helvetia, invites international professionals from the music industry to Switzerland. The programme aims to create a network between artists from Switzerland and organisers from across Europe at various festivals.
It is not possible to apply for SWISS MUSIC @ home: participants are selected and invited individually according to the situation.
In 2025, networking events are scheduled at:
Festival Archipel (Geneva)
International festival of music-making promoting all forms of music research and sound art
Dates: 4 to 13 April 2025
More information: archipel.org/en
Jazz Festival Willisau (Lucerne)
International contemporary jazz festival
Dates: 27 to 31 August 2025
More information: jazzfestivalwillisau.ch
In collaboration with Swiss Music Export, three networking events are scheduled for 2025 at:
m4music (Zurich)
Festival and gathering for the Swiss music scene for the genres pop, rock, jazz, electronic, experimental, global sounds, and hip-hop, organised by Migros Culture Percentage
Dates: 28 and 29 March 2025
More information: m4music.ch
SoundTrack_Zurich (Zurich)
Three-day professional event for film music and music to image, organised as part of the Zurich Film Festival
Dates: early October (TBA)
More information: soundtrackzurich.com
Paléo Festival Nyon (Nyon)
Support programmes
In partnership with various organisations, we support artists from Switzerland with dissemination, promotion, networking, residency and coaching programmes.
Finta Music Exchange (UK)
Focused on personalised coaching sessions, this programme allows emerging artists to deepen their knowledge of the British music industry and expand their network in London and at The Great Escape festival in Brighton.
Dates: early May (TBA)
More information:
Impuls neue Musik (DE, FR, LUX, CH)
Support for international music projects contributing to the networking of German-speaking and French-speaking contemporary music scenes (DE, FR, LUX, CH).
More information: impulsneuemusik.com
Liveurope (EU + CH)
Platform for supporting emerging artists in Europe’s major venues
More information:
Opération Iceberg (FR, CH)
The ‘Eurockéennes de Belfort’ (FR) and the CMA Foundation (CH) offer a project aimed at emerging musicians (residencies, training, concerts, summer camp).
More information: operation-iceberg.eu
inm visiting programme in Berlin (DE)
inm (‘initiative neue musik berlin’) networking programme/field notes for musicians, composers, curators and contemporary music ensembles
Dates: late August to early September (TBA)
SHAPE+ (EU + CH)
Platform for supporting artists from the experimental and electronic music scenes
More information:
TranshelvetiQ (CH)
Residency and coaching programme encouraging links between the French-speaking and German-speaking music scenes
More information: fcma.ch/soutien#transhelvetiq
SWISS MUSIC
SWISS MUSIC is a promotional programme initiated by FONDATION SUISA and Pro Helvetia to support and promote the Swiss music sector at various international events.
Swiss Music Export (SME)
Swiss Music Export is a promotional agency supporting the Swiss music market across the genres pop, rock, jazz, electronic, experimental, global sounds, and hip-hop.
Pro Helvetia commissions and collaborates with SME on showcase festivals and other platforms in Switzerland and internationally.
Founded in 2003, the association’s activities are co-financed by Pro Helvetia, FONDATION SUISA, the ‘Stiftung Phonoproduzierende’ and the SIS (‘Schweizerischen Interpretenstiftung).
