SuS 2026: From pool to pool – and quite a lot in between.

pictures by Thierry Kapp

It all started on Thursday in bright sunshine by the pool. From there, the dream slowly spread across the entire site – through the forest, across the floors and deep into the first night. Four days later, we found ourselves right back where it all began. Quite a lot happened in between.

Friday brought a spontaneous thunderstorm and hail, briefly reminding us that we are, after all, still somewhere in the mountains. Roofs were patched, equipment protected, plans rewritten, and due to the weather situation in Zurich and the UK, several international artists had to cancel at very short notice. While phones were running hot in our office, outside everyone simply kept dancing. Noria Lilt and DJ Equipment jumped in spontaneously – another big merci for that – and by the time Mala made the Schwing Floor shake, the mudd had become a minor detail. In four years of Schwing und Stampf, we had never experienced a moment quite like it.

Saturday brought back the sunshine – and with it a day full of little and big stories: Techno zum Frühstück by the pool, Roots Treatment deep in the forest, Dr. Rubinstein on the Stampf Floor, a treasure hunt leading to a secret floor at the campsite, trips up to Bannalpsee, and somewhere in between, countless new encounters, conversations, hugs and a whole lot of dancing. Meanwhile, the music on the Kon-Takt Floor kept flowing without interruption – a place to listen, lie down, cuddle, discover and disappear for a little while.

And then came Sunday. After a long night, the Fätzli Morning Show made the Schwing Floor shake one last time in broad daylight. From there, a little procession of people, dream fairies and our big white dream flag made its way down to the pool – straight into our now legendary Sunday Aquafit. A packed pool, the very last bits of energy being squeezed out of tired bodies, and laughing faces all around. What a scene!!

After one beautiful last closing with Jenny Cara on the Stampf Floor, we eventually found ourselves back where everything had started on Thursday: by the pool. Tim Swimmingpool – fittingly, at the swimming pool – played the final set of the festival. Until 9 pm, people danced, lay around, hugged and shed a few happy tears. A rather beautiful full-circle moment.

What remains is much more than four days of music. It is all the people, encounters and little stories in between that turn this place into what it is. Thank you to every artist, helper, crew, partner, friend and, most of all, to all of you who shared this dream with us and brought it to life. <3

We are still a little tired from the long teardown – and certainly wouldn’t mind a few more teardown-loving dreamers next time – but above all, we are incredibly happy.