Forum Wallis

Forum Wallis XIX.20 years of Forum Wallis! From June 4 to July 4, 2026, the Valais will become an international hotspot for contemporary music: the 2026 edition of the Forum Wallis festival is moving to Goms and will present interdisciplinary, chamber music and experimental formats and new electronic music from Valais, Switzerland and abroad — the latter in connection with the Ars Electronica Forum Wallis competition for acousmatic music, which will be held for the 11th time in 2026, featuring the works of 49 composers from all over the world.From the very beginning, the Forum Wallis program has been based on a single principle: musicians perform only the most interesting and inspiring pieces from their current repertoire—by far the most authentic and direct approach.Nevertheless, the 2026 edition highlights certain thematic connections: excessive durations or—from another perspective—slowdown. It is essential to allow time and to let time take its course. And so, among the many illustrious guests at the anniversary edition are not only the composers of the Ars Electronica Forum Wallis Selection 2026, but also the Minguet Quartet, which will perform Morton Feldman's legendary four-and-a-half-hour (!) 2nd String Quartet, UMS'nJIP with the 8-hour (!) integral version of In der Nahaufnahme verwildern wir by Swiss/Valaisan poet Rolf Hermann, as well as the crème de la crème of the Swiss & European free jazz scene with Voutchkova/Strahl/Mengis/Pfammatter and the Erb/Mayas/Läng Trio.For the first time in Switzerland, Seville's Proyecto Piano Joven is performing at Forum Wallis, where it will present works for piano and live electronics composed especially for children by internationally renowned Spanish composers. Once again this year, the Oberwalliser Volksliederchor, in collaboration with Bolivian folk musician Juan Arnez, will tour various villages in Upper Valais, where they will present several new folk music works from both cultures.The Forum Wallis is an international festival for new music and takes place annually in the heart of the Valais Alps in Switzerland. It is organized by IGNM-VS, the local chapter of the International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM), and has co-produced over 350 world premieres since 2006: Highlights of the festival's history include Stockhausen's Helicopter String Quartet with the Arditti Quartet, André Richard and Air Glaciers, Heinz Holliger's Alp-Cheer with sCHpillit, Mela Meierhans' music theater Tante Hänsi, Beat Gysin's Marienglas, Cod.Acts Pendulum Choir, and guest performances by recherche, Klangforum Wien, and Ensemble Modern.Please note that seating is limited. Early reservation is recommended. Admission to all concerts is free (analog and digital collection). We look forward to seeing you there!IGNM-VS Downloads:Flyer Forum Wallis 2006-2025 (PDF)Programme 2026 (PDF)