Swiss Economic Forum 2027 – Business Conference Switzerland

What to expect in 2027

Swiss Economic Forum 2027 will bring together leading personalities from Swiss business, politics, science and entrepreneurship for two days of high-level discussion and networking. The event is scheduled for 3–4 June 2027 in Interlaken and is expected to continue the forum’s long-running focus on entrepreneurship, leadership, economic development, innovation and Switzerland’s position in a changing international environment. The Swiss Economic Forum has previously attracted around 1,000–1,350 participants and dozens of speakers.

The 2027 programme has not yet been fully published. The confirmed date also coincides with the presentation of the Swiss Economic Award, whose nine finalists will pitch before the main jury and compete for one of Switzerland’s leading prizes for young companies.

Event dates

Swiss Economic Forum 2027 is scheduled for 3–4 June 2027 in Interlaken, Switzerland.

The detailed 2027 daily timetable has not yet been published. Based on the established format, the programme is expected to include keynote speeches, interviews, discussions, breakout sessions, networking activities and the Swiss Economic Award presentation.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Venue & exhibition site

The Swiss Economic Forum is held in Interlaken, with the main conference centred around the Congress Centre Kursaal Interlaken and associated event locations.

The Congress Centre Kursaal Interlaken provides conference rooms and spaces for keynote sessions, partner events, networking and breakout activities. Previous SEF programmes have also used nearby locations such as the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa and Club Casino.

Main location: Congress Centre Kursaal Interlaken, Strandbadstrasse 44, 3800 Interlaken, Switzerland.

Full event programme

The complete Swiss Economic Forum 2027 programme has not yet been announced. The established SEF format combines high-level economic and political discussions with entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation and practical business topics.

Expected programme areas include:

• Swiss economy: Competitiveness, economic policy and the future of Switzerland.
• Entrepreneurship: Growth, innovation, leadership and business resilience.
• Technology: Artificial intelligence, digital transformation and emerging technologies.
• International affairs: Geopolitical developments and their effects on businesses.
• Leadership: Decision-making, resilience, organisational performance and transformation.
• Innovation: New business models, startups, investment and technology-driven growth.
• Sustainability: Corporate responsibility, energy transition and sustainable business models.
• SMEs: Challenges and opportunities for Swiss small and medium-sized companies.

The 2026 programme illustrates the breadth of the forum, covering AI, pharmaceuticals, military security, family businesses, hospitality, banking, geopolitics and Switzerland’s future.

Key speakers & keynote speakers

The 2027 speaker line-up has not yet been announced. Swiss Economic Forum traditionally attracts prominent figures from business, politics, science, technology and international organisations.

Recent SEF speakers and personalities associated with the programme include:

• Amy Edmondson – Novartis Professor, Harvard Business School
• Guy Parmelin – President of the Swiss Confederation
• Sergio P. Ermotti – Group CEO, UBS
• Severin Schwan – Chairman, Roche
• Azeem Azhar – Founder, Exponential View
• Karin Lenzlinger – President, Zurich Chamber of Commerce
• Philipp Navratil – CEO, Nestlé
• Thomas Zurbuchen – Director, ETH Zürich
• Janna Ensthaler – Investor
• Sigmar Gabriel – Former German Federal Foreign Minister

The 2024 edition also featured Viola Amherd, Sanna Marin and Michael R. Pompeo, demonstrating the forum’s international profile.

Conference sessions & tracks

SEF is structured more like a high-level business forum than a conventional multi-track trade exhibition. Sessions include keynote speeches, interviews, panel discussions, fireside-style conversations and partner breakout sessions.

Recent themes have included:

• Leadership and resilience
• Artificial intelligence and technological change
• Economic and geopolitical uncertainty
• Swiss competitiveness
• Banking and financial services
• Industrial transformation
• Family businesses
• Entrepreneurship and innovation
• Sustainability and mobility
• Healthcare and pharmaceuticals

Partner-led breakout sessions complement the main programme with more specialised discussions.

Session times & schedule

The exact 2027 timetable has not yet been released. The 2026 programme provides an indication of the conference structure.

The 2026 main programme began with a welcome lunch and check-in at 11:30, followed by the official opening at 13:30. Keynotes and interviews continued through the afternoon, followed by a networking evening from 17:50 until 23:00.

The 2027 programme is expected to follow a comparable two-day conference format, with the Swiss Economic Award ceremony forming an important part of the second day.

Ticket types & registration

The 2027 ticket prices have not yet been published by the organiser. Swiss Economic Forum is a professional business conference rather than a general public exhibition, and participation is generally aimed at executives, entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders and decision-makers.

The organiser’s official registration information should be used once 2027 registration opens. No unconfirmed 2027 admission price is presented as an official ticket price.

Registration deadlines

The general 2027 SEF attendee registration deadline has not yet been announced.

Separate deadlines apply to the Swiss Economic Award. For the 2027 award cycle, applications are scheduled from 9 November 2026 to 29 January 2027, followed by evaluation, full applications, expert assessment and finalist selection. The nine finalists will pitch before the main jury on 8–9 April 2027, with the final pitches and award ceremony taking place on 4 June 2027 at the Swiss Economic Forum.

Exhibitor list & major companies

Swiss Economic Forum is primarily a conference and networking forum rather than a traditional public trade fair, so it does not have a conventional exhibitor list or large exhibition-hall structure.

Instead, major companies participate as partners, sponsors, speakers, knowledge partners and contributors. Recent programmes have included senior representatives from organisations such as UBS, Roche, Nestlé, ABB, IBM Switzerland, Pilatus Aircraft, Rega, AMAG and other major Swiss businesses.

Exhibition halls & floor plan

Swiss Economic Forum does not operate as a conventional exhibition with numbered trade-fair halls and a standard exhibitor floor plan.

The event uses the Congress Centre Kursaal Interlaken and additional nearby conference locations for its main programme, partner sessions and networking. The 2026 programme, for example, lists breakout sessions at the Club Casino and Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa.

A detailed 2027 room allocation and venue plan has not yet been released.

Networking & business meetings

Networking is one of the defining features of Swiss Economic Forum. The forum brings together entrepreneurs, executives, investors, politicians, academics and senior representatives from major Swiss companies.

The programme includes dedicated networking periods, partner events and informal opportunities to meet speakers and other participants. In 2026, the main programme concluded with a networking evening running from 17:50 until 23:00.

Industry sectors & highlights

Swiss Economic Forum covers a wide range of industries because its focus is on the Swiss economy as a whole.

Important sectors and themes include:

• Finance and banking
• Pharmaceuticals and healthcare
• Manufacturing and industry
• Technology and AI
• Mobility and transportation
• Tourism and hospitality
• Retail and consumer businesses
• Energy and sustainability
• Family businesses and SMEs
• Startups and innovation
• Politics and economic policy

The 2026 programme included dedicated discussions on Swiss pharmaceuticals, banking, family businesses, hospitality, AI and international security.

Event rules & visitor information

Swiss Economic Forum is a professional conference intended primarily for business leaders, entrepreneurs, executives, investors, policymakers and other invited or registered participants.

The organiser’s general terms and conditions apply to participation, registration and use of the event’s services. Visitors should follow the registration instructions and any access requirements communicated by NZZ Connect before the event.

The programme can be subject to changes, particularly where speakers, sessions or partner activities are concerned.

How to get there

Interlaken is located in the Bernese Oberland and is well connected to major Swiss cities by rail and road.

Visitors travelling by train can reach Interlaken Ost or Interlaken West from destinations including Bern, Zurich, Basel and Geneva, with onward local connections to the conference area.

For international visitors, Zurich Airport and Geneva Airport are the principal major-airport options, followed by rail connections to Interlaken.

Public transport & parking

Public transport is recommended for reaching the Swiss Economic Forum because Interlaken has convenient railway connections and the principal event locations are within the town.

The organiser also provides an SEF Shuttle service around the event, with timetables published for participants.

Visitors arriving by car should check the official event information for the designated parking arrangements and any temporary access restrictions applicable during the 2027 conference.

Accommodation areas

Interlaken is the most convenient accommodation base because the main conference venues and networking locations are concentrated in the town.

Recommended areas include:

• Interlaken Centre: Convenient for the conference and restaurants.
• Höheweg: Close to major hotels and central event locations.
• Interlaken Ost: Useful for visitors arriving by train and planning excursions.
• Interlaken West: Convenient for rail connections and the town centre.
• Matten bei Interlaken: A quieter alternative within easy reach of central Interlaken.

Because SEF attracts a large professional audience, booking accommodation well in advance is advisable.

Previous year’s highlights

The 2026 Swiss Economic Forum brought together senior figures from business, politics and science in Interlaken. The programme featured Swiss Confederation President Guy Parmelin, Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson, Roche Chairman Severin Schwan, UBS Group CEO Sergio Ermotti and Exponential View founder Azeem Azhar.

The 2024 edition attracted 1,350 participants and around 70 speakers. Its programme featured Swiss Federal Councillor Viola Amherd, former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, former US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, Volkswagen executive Thomas Schäfer and professional footballer Lia Wälti.

The 2025 edition brought together more than 1,000 leaders from business, science and politics, including Swiss Federal President Karin Keller-Sutter, Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz and ABB CEO Morten Wierod.

Official registration & tickets

Swiss Economic Forum 2027 is scheduled for 3–4 June 2027 in Interlaken. The official 2027 visitor ticket prices and general registration opening date have not yet been published.

The official website should be used for registration, programme announcements, participant information and ticket availability.

Official website: Swiss Economic Forum