The XAVER Award 2026 calls for the "NIGHTCALL - for LiveCom Excellence"

Under the motto "NIGHTCALL - for LiveCom Excellence", the XAVER-AWARD 2026 is once again calling the most creative minds and innovative projects in the Swiss live communication industry to the big stage. Switzerland's most important industry award showcases what happens when strategy, creativity, technology and perfect implementation come together. 49 outstanding projects are now online - for the first time with the new XAVER LiveComvention as a warm-up to the big Award Night.

When the sky turns purple, the last rays of sunlight glow golden in the facades and the night slowly takes over, the moment begins for those who turn ideas into unforgettable experiences. One call is all it takes - and everything is set in motion - it's time for the XAVER Award 2026. Under this year's motto "NIGHTCALL - for LiveCom Excellence" , the most important award in the Swiss live communication industry is once again calling the most creative minds, boldest concepts and most impressive live experiences to the big stage.

49 projects online and a satisfied jury

As of now, 49 submitted projects can be viewed online - an extraordinarily high number and impressive proof of the innovative strength of the Swiss LiveCom industry. Public voting will also start on 4 August 2026, where the general public can vote for their favourite. The projects were intensively examined, discussed and evaluated by a top-class jury of experts at the official jury days in the Hallenstadion on 26 and 27 May 2026. "The quality of the submissions impressively demonstrates how innovative, relevant and forward-looking our industry is. The projects not only reflect creative excellence, but also the high strategic standards of modern live communication," says jury chairman Andy Kern.

The outgoing jury president Dany Waldner is also highly satisfied: "What we saw on the jury days makes us want more. The Swiss LiveCom scene is once again demonstrating its enormous creative power - with ideas that can survive far beyond our national borders."

New: The XAVER LiveComvention - the industry warm-up

With the XAVER LiveComvention, the XAVER Award is expanding its 2026 programme to include a new, participatory pre-event for the first time. As the first "unconference" in the Swiss live communication industry, the format creates inspiration, dialogue and new perspectives even before the award. The XAVER LiveComvention brings together specialists and managers, service providers and the next generation of the Swiss LiveCom scene and promotes open dialogue in the form of so-called "bar camps" on the key issues of the future for the industry. The focus is on topics that will have a lasting impact on live communication: How can credible sustainability be achieved beyond greenwashing? Why are certifications increasingly becoming a decisive competitive factor? And what expectations do clients have of responsible event concepts today?

One of the Bar Camps will also focus on the question of how artificial intelligence will change the industry: Where does AI create real added value? Which processes can be usefully automated? And where will human creativity remain irreplaceable in the future?

The industry will also be discussing the events of tomorrow: which formats will deliberately remain analogue, and which will continue to develop in an immersive or hybrid way? How important will community building and audience experience become? And how can innovative event concepts be realised successfully in the long term?

Last but not least, XAVER LiveComvention will be focussing on the international competitiveness of the Swiss market in one of the Bar Camps: Where is Switzerland already setting standards today? Where is there a need to catch up? And how can value creation and innovative strength be sustainably strengthened at home?

The sessions consistently follow the principle of the unconference: open, dialogue-based, practical and with maximum space for active exchange. Instead of traditional frontal formats, the focus is on discussion, collaboration and concrete impulses for the future of the Swiss live communication industry.

Tickets available now

The combination of XAVER LiveComvention and Award Night will create a completely new industry experience in 2026 - from an inspiring knowledge and networking format to a major award presentation in the evening. Tickets are available now. Further information, all submitted projects and ticket sales at: www.xaver-award.ch/xaver-award.