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How to fill in your ballot without second-guessing yourself By now, your voting envelope may already be sitting on the kitchen table. Inside: multiple ballots, party lists, blank lines, and instructions that can feel... a little overwhelming at first glance. If you’ve ever opened a Swiss voting envelope and thought, “Right. Let me have a coffee before I tackle this.” (Definitely me.) You’re not alone. In Part I , we covered who can vote and the key dates for this spring’s municipal elections. In Part II, Bob Jenefsky walks us through the practical side: how to actually complete your ballot for the Nyon City Council and Municipalité without accidentally invalidating your vote. It’s not as complicated as it looks once you understand the logic behind it. Here’s how it works. Living in Nyon holds no affiliation with any political party. We offer space for candidates to share their perspectives for our readers. What’s in your voting envelope? If you are entitled to vote in the next round of municipal elections on Sunday, March 8, you will already have received your voting envelope. Inside, you’ll find slightly different materials depending on your status. If you are Swiss , your envelope includes: A booklet of ballots for the election to the Nyon City Council A ballot for the first round of the election to the Nyon government ( Municipalité ) A ballot for the cantonal by-election of a member of the cantonal government ( Conseiller·ère d’Etat ) A ballot for the federal referendum Official explanatory brochures If you are a non-Swiss resident eligible to vote , you will receive: The ballots for the Nyon City Council The ballot for the Nyon Municipalité In the sections below, we’ll focus on how to complete the two Nyon municipal ballots. Nyon City Council Election On March 8, voters will elect all 100 members of the Nyon City Council in a single go. This election is based on proportional representation . In simple terms, each party receives the number of seats that reflects its share of the total votes cast. Each voter has 100 votes (called “suffrages”)  to distribute, corresponding to the 100 seats to be filled. In your envelope, you’ll find: 7 numbered ballots (one for each party, see table below) 1 unnumbered ballot with 100 blank lines Photograph @ Michel Perret. Ville de Nyon Here’s how it works. Option 1: Vote for one party list as it stands You can give all 100 of your suffrages to a single party by simply placing one of the printed party ballots in the envelope without making any changes. In that case: The party receives 100 suffrages. Each candidate on that list receives one suffrage. Option 2: Support specific candidates on a party list If you are using a printed party ballot, you can personalise it slightly. You may: Write a candidate’s name a second time (but not a third). That candidate will receive two suffrages. Cross off the names of candidates you do not wish to support. In both cases, the party still receives 100 suffrages in total. How seats are allocated After voting closes on March 8, all suffrages are counted. Each party’s total suffrages are compared to the overall number of suffrages cast. Seats are then distributed proportionally. For example, if a party receives 22% of the total suffrages, it will receive 22 of the 100 seats. Once this has been established, the number of votes per candidate is tallied to determine which of the candidates actually get the seats, beginning with the candidate with the most suffrages . What if you want to vote across party lines? If you like candidates from more than one party, you have two options. Option 1: Use the blank ballot You can take the blank ballot and write in up to 100 candidate names by hand (including candidates whose names you’ve entered twice). A few important rules apply: You may only vote for official candidates (those listed on the 7 printed party ballots). Each party receives one suffrage for each of its candidates you include. If you list fewer than 100 names, you may also write the name and number of a single party in the upper right-hand corner of the ballot. That party will then receive the remaining suffrages needed to bring your total to 100. For example, if you write in 60 candidate names and indicate a party in the corner, that party will receive the remaining 40 suffrages. Option 2: Start with a printed party ballot and modify it You may also begin with one of the printed party ballots and then add candidates from other parties. In this case: For every candidate you add from another party, one suffrage is deducted from the 100 originally allocated to the party whose printed ballot you are using. The added candidate receives one suffrage for their own party. Important reminder Place only one City Council ballot in the envelope. Including more than one will disqualify your vote. Photograph @ Michel Perret. Ville de Nyon Election to the Nyon Municipalité (First Round) The election to the Municipalité works differently from the City Council vote. This is a majority election , not a proportional one. You will receive a single ballot listing the candidates. You may select up to seven candidates , as there are seven seats to be filled. Important rules: You may not choose more than seven candidates. You may not write a candidate’s name twice. If you select more than seven names, your ballot will be disqualified. In this first round, candidates obtaining the absolute majority of votes cast are elected. If not all seven seats are filled in the first round (which is often the case), a runoff election will take place on Sunday, March 29 , and the remaining seats will then be decided by relative majority. Be an informed voter! If you’d like to learn more about the parties and candidates standing in Nyon, you can find profiles and official information on the City of Nyon website at www.nyon.ch . Party representatives are also present on Saturday mornings at Place St-Martin . It’s an opportunity to ask questions, exchange views, and, yes, occasionally pick up a bit of cool swag along the way. Municipal elections shape everyday life in Nyon, from local schools and public spaces to transport and community services. Taking a few minutes to understand how your ballot works helps ensure your vote reflects your intentions. Happy voting on March 8. Robert (Bob) Jenefsky is an elected member of the Nyon City Council and president of the Parti Indépendant Nyonnais (www.independant.ch) . He is also co-founder of Nyon Business Forum, a business networking group established in 2017 ( www.nyonbusinessforum.ch ). Bob holds a PhD in Physics from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne (EPFL).

On Sunday 8 March, Nyon residents voted to shape the city’s political landscape for the 2026–2031 legislature. Now that the results have been confirmed, including a late adjustment that shifted the balance in the council, we have a clearer picture of how the next five years will begin. But with no candidate elected to the Municipalité in the first round, the final outcome is still to come. Here’s what’s been decided, what’s still open, and what happens next. Photo: Michel Perret / City of Nyon / January 18, 2021 Two Votes, Two Roles In Nyon, voters were electing two separate bodies on the same day: The Municipalité (executive committee)  - the 7 people who run the city day to day The Conseil communal - a 100-member council that debates and approves decisions They work together, but they’re elected in two different ways. What’s Been Decided and What Hasn’t Voter turnout was just under 40%, which is fairly typical for local elections, but also a reminder that a relatively small portion of the population ultimately shapes the outcome. The Conseil communal (council)  which debates, questions, and votes on decisions, is now fully elected. The Municipalité , which takes action and executes those decisions, is still undecided. The Municipalité Is Still Open Unlike the council, the Municipalité is elected using a majority vote system . Candidates don’t just need to come first, they need to secure more than 50% of the votes  to be elected in the first round. In this election, several candidates came close: Alexandre Démétriadès (PS) 48.41% Pierre Wahlen (Les Vert·e·s) 46.69% Olivier Riesen (PLR) 44.92% But no one crossed that 50% threshold. What happens when no one reaches 50%? A second round is triggered. This is called a ballotage général , where: All seats remain open Candidates run again The final 7 members of the Municipalité are decided A second round of voting will take place on 29 March  to determine who fills these 7 seats. The results of the municipal election were announced at 4:30 p.m. by Ms. Muriel Cardinaux, President of the Municipal Council. Photo: Glenn Michel / City of Nyon / March 8, 2026 The Conseil Communal Final Results This is where we do have a clear outcome. Based on the final count, the council is now slightly more centre-right leaning . A Small Error… That Changed the Result One important detail emerged after election day. Around 200 ballots were initially miscounted, which led to a correction in the final results. The impact: The PLR gained additional seats The PS, Greens, and PIN each lost one seat The PLR became the largest party in the council A small administrative error, but one that shifted the political balance. What Happens Next All eyes now turn to the second round. Sunday 29 March → Final vote for the Municipalité This is the moment that will determine: Who leads the city How decisions are implemented The overall political direction of Nyon Because while the council sets the tone, the municipality drives the action. And with no clear winner in the first round, your vote still has a big role to play. These decisions will shape the everyday reality of living here from schools and infrastructure to culture, housing, and community life. For those who want to go deeper into the numbers and detailed results, you can find everything on the Ville de Nyon website.

GAOS is back on stage this spring with a show that’s bold, joyful, and impossible to ignore. Kinky Boots , the Tony Award-winning musical with music and lyrics by pop legend Cyndi Lauper and the hilarious, uplifting book written by four-time Tony winner, Harvey Fierstein , is coming to Nyon and it’s bringing glitter, powerhouse vocals, and a message that hits far beyond the stage. Running from 28 to 31 May at the Théâtre de Marens in Nyon, this is one of those productions that feels as much about community as it does about performance. GAOS has built a reputation for exactly that high-quality theatre, powered by local talent and a lot of heart. At the centre of it all is Lola . Doryan who plays Lols in the fabulous boots! Stepping Into Lola’s Heels We caught up with Doryan , who takes on the iconic role of Lola, a character known for commanding the stage with confidence, charisma, and just the right amount of attitude. So what was his first reaction when he found out he’d landed the role? “Oh my God, I was absolutely delighted. The actor playing Charlie, Nikolaï, is the one who told me about the auditions for the show. The minute I knew this was happening; I was dead set on landing this iconic role. So I had this whole buildup for months of listening to the Broadway recording and projecting myself in the character. So when I got the news I got the role, I was relieved and super excited to get started!” A Show That Stays With You Kinky Boots  has built its reputation as a feel-good musical, but beneath the big numbers and high heels is something more meaningful. The story follows Charlie Price, who inherits a struggling shoe factory and finds an unexpected partner in Lola, a performer in need of something very specific… sturdy stilettos. Together, they form an unlikely partnership that challenges expectations, identity, and what it means to belong. For Doryan, that message is what really matters. “This show is such a beacon of light and positivity. There are emotional moments but ultimately it’s an incredibly fun show with so much heart. The main message is to be yourself, unapologetically and I just hope the audience leaves the show feeling good about themselves.” The Heart of GAOS Is Community If you’ve ever been to a GAOS production, you’ll know,it’s not just about what happens on stage. These shows are built by a huge group of people working behind the scenes, from costumes and choreography to lighting and logistics. And that sense of shared effort is something the cast really feels. “One of the main reasons I was excited about this project was that I had been missing the sense of community that the performance arts bring and it has been such a joy to be surrounded by like-minded people. We are all working hard to put on the best possible show and having a blast while doing it. It doesn’t get much better than this.” What to Expect Big vocals. Big costumes. And moments that make you laugh, think, and look at things differentlyabout how you see things. With a soundtrack that blends pop, disco, and power ballads, Kinky Boots  is the kind of show that celebrates individuality and reminds you that sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is simply be yourself (awwwww). WIN Two Tickets to the Show! Thanks to our friends at GAOS, we’re giving away two tickets to the matinee performance on 30 May at 14:00 . To enter, simply answer this question: Who wrote the music and lyrics for Kinky Boots? Clue: she also wrote “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”… Deadline: Monday 18th May at midday when we’ll draw one winner at random. Good Luck! It’s bold, it’s fun, and it’s happening right here in Nyon. For tickets and show details, visit GAOS HERE .

Prangins Baroque - September 4th - 11th 2022.  A whole week of events for you all centred around Italian Baroque Music. 13 young artists of musicians and singers have been selected to train with an elite artistic team. The week will end with the young artists and their mentors performing together and presenting their work at two concerts in the beautiful courtyard of the Château de Prangins. The audience will be able to enjoy the masterpieces of Italian baroque composers such as Alessandro and Domenico Scarlatti, Archangelo Corelli, Agostino Steffani and Antonio Vivaldi in a historical environment of the baroque period! . They are also opening their doors to the public to watch these artists at work. You can go and see the young musicians as they research and experiment at various workshops, including a Harpsichord, Vocal and Baroque Dance Workshop. For the full programme and list of all the artists participating click here . The concerts will be held Saturday 10th September and Sunday 11th September 2022. Admission is free to the concerts but you must reserve your spot. You can do that here . Admission to the workshops is free and does not require a reservation. For more general information about the Château de Prangins, read our previous article here  @Château de Prangins

This Sunday 30th October, celebrate Halloween at the Château de Prangins . It's time to put on your scariest Halloween costume and join them for some tales, true and not so true, and of course - candy! Between 14:00 and 17:00. Adults CHF 10 and free admission for children up to the age of 16.  What's On 14:00, 15:00, 16:00 - Mais c’est monstrueux! A tale by Sylvie Nickbarte (age 4 years up) Every 30 mins (adults) - Guided tours of the history of witches in Switzerland Pumpkin Workshops every 30 mins (age 4 years up) Visits to poisonous plants in the vegetable garden (every 30 mins) During the history of witches tour, children can do activities throughout the day in the Salle du Potager. Balloon Sculpture Activity (all ages) Special Halloween stand at the Café du Château. Just a note that the program is in French but plenty of the tour guides do speak English.   @ Château de Prangins History of Witches in Switzerland It is estimated that around 10,000 people fell victim to the witch hunts in Switzerland.Between the 15th and 17th centuries, the phenomenon of the witch hunt mainly affected all of present-day Europe particularly Switzerland. In its history of witch hunts, Switzerland holds a special position since the duration of repression is the longest and  holds the record for indictments for this crime in proportion to its population. Swiss repression stretches from around 1420 to 1782, when the last so-called European witch was executed.With a population estimated at less than a million inhabitants around 1600, Switzerland killed up to twice as many witches and wizards as Germany, depending on its regions, ten times more than France and a hundred times more than Italy. The repression was particularly severe in the Pays de Vaud estimated where nearly 3,000 trials were heard and more than 2,000 people were executed. Anna Göldi, Glarus At the last witch trial in Western Europe, Anna, a single woman in her forties was executed in Glarus on 13th June 1782. Rehabilitated in 2008 and officially recognized as a victim, a museum in her name has been established. She is generally accepted as the last victim of the witch hunts in Switzerland and Western Europe. You can read more here from an article from the blog of the National Museum in Zurich. Michée Chauderon in Geneva Born in the village of Boège in Savoie ((Escalade Genevoise) around 1602, she lived in an idyllic natural environment and learnt the secrets of plants. At 20, she left for Geneva and was hired as a servant.  Accused of witchcraft she is thrown into prison, followed by her trial and execution. The last woman to be executed in Geneva, on April 6, 1652. Since 1997, there is a street with her name in Geneva - Chemin Michée-Chauderon. Discover much more on the Guided tours of the history of witches in Switzerland at the Château. Read more about the Château de Prangins here and we wish you a very spooky day out! Read more about the Château de Prangins and their birthday party offers here .

Nyon's neighbouring village of Prangins houses a national treasure - the Château de Prangins. It is the largest 18th century castle open to the public in Switzerland and is filled with Swiss History up to the present day. A Swiss National Museum since 1998 and one of only three in Switzerland, as well as the National Museum Zurich and the Forum of Swiss History Schwyz. Dedicated to showing us the diversity of Swiss identity through its range of exhibitions, it tells us the story of life in Switzerland in the 18th and 19th centuries, addressing artistic, cultural and social issues. Not only does the Château de Prangins offer permanent and temporary exhibitions, they also offer a host of other services. Read on to find out more. Grounds The Château de Prangins has extensive grounds including a park, meadow orchard and the largest historical kitchen garden in Switzerland. The Kitchen Garden is a permanent open-air exhibition.  It was created in the 1700s to feed the workers who built the Château and is now devoted to preserving traditional regional plants and showcasing domestic biodiversity. @Château de Prangins Tours Many of us wanting to learn more about the history and culture of Switzerland can be put off from visiting the museum because of a possible language barrier. Perhaps preferring instead to just walk the beautifully kept grounds. It may surprise some to know that the Château de Prangins is committed to widening their reach to visitors to create an inclusive experience. How? Well, by offering their services in multiple languages with English being a focal one. The Château de Prangins offer seven guided tours for the following exhibitions listed below. They have 14 tour guides available who speak a multitude of languages including French, German, Italian and English. Not only are their guided tours in English, there are also workshops in English. These include Dyeing with wild flowers and The magic of blue with various indigo plants for adults and Let the journey begin! A Fun Exhibition for Families, a permanent exhibition specially designed for children. Click here for more information. What is Switzerland? (from18.06.2022) Accrochage - Impressions végétales Ovid in the Jura The Kitchen Garden  Chintz. How a Fabric Conquered the World Let the journey begin! A Fun Exhibition for Families Noblesse Oblige! Life at a Château in the 18th Century Discovering the Enlightenment There is also an event for Swiss National Day (1st August) and admission will be free! @Château de Prangins Rooms for hire The Château has three very different rooms that can be hired for a conference meeting or a cocktail reception. All three spaces for hire offer something unique, you can check them out here . You can also combine your meeting or event with a guided tour, a creative workshop and a meal or apéro at the Café du Château. Salle des belles pierres Salle du Potager Salle de la tour @Château de Prangins Birthdays Why not celebrate a birthday at the Château? They offer bespoke, specially designed activities including fairytales and animations for ages 4-16 years old. You can tailor pick the workshop best suited to your child's age group. For more detailed information co ntact the Château de Prangins team directly at info.prangins@museenational.ch . Café du château Located in the former servants' wing the restaurant offers a seasonal menu. The historic Kitchen Garden provides the restaurant with vegetables, aromatic herbs and fruits for their menu of the day and desserts. The best part of the Café is the panoramic terrace with a stunning unlimited view over the extensive estate and Lac Léman. Perfect for a sunset apéro or Sunday Brunch.  @ Café du Château The Café du Château is also available for private bookings and is able to host 60 people inside and 150 people on the terrace. It makes the perfect venue for a cocktail reception or special dinner party. This should give you plenty of reasons to head over to the Château du Prangins and check out their exhibitions and everything else they have to offer. Visit their website for more information.

"China's Van Goghs", "The True Cost of Fashion" and "The Darjeeling Limited"  to be screened next week. The Château of Prangins (in collaboration with Nyon's Visions de Réel documentary film festiva l), will hold three open-air screenings on Thursday 30th August, Friday 31st August and Saturday 1st September at 20:45. These films will be screened in version originale (English) and will be sub-titled. Entry to each screening CHF10 including guided museum visit (see below). Tickets and more info here On Thursday 30th the film will be "China's Van Goghs" In 1989 in the village of Dafen in China there were 20 painters/workers copying oil paintings and making reproductions of famous artworks. Today there are over 10,000. This film was reviewed by Living in Nyon in 2017  and said it was "a fascinating look at the extraordinary life of these painters and of contemporary life in China". On Friday 31st the film will be "The True Cost of Fashion" by Andrew Morgan. See trailer below. on Saturday the film will be "The Darjeeling Limited". Before each screening, for those interested, at 19:00 there will be a guided tour of the current exhibition at the château entitled "Indiennes. Un tissu révolutionne le monde !" "Chintz, a material that changed the world".  There will also be a brief presentation of each film by a representative of the Visions du Réel.

Get ready to spruce up your winter garden routine this Sunday at the Château de Prangins, as the  garden curator Stéphane Repas Mendes, dishes out invaluable gardening advice in two engaging guided tours. From soil cover to stubborn weed remedies, the tours are filled with practical insights and expert guidance. @ Château de Prangins Winter Practices in the Vegetable Garden Offering tips and the steps for preparing your vegetable garden before the winter break. Topics covered: Gardening Soil cover Composting Protection Pruning Sunday 12th November 2023 11:00 - 12:00 Ticket Price is 10CHF or is included in the Entry Price Good Advice from the Vegetable Gardener Get some tips, tricks and answers to your burning vegetable-related questions like: How deep should you sow your beet seeds? How to get rid of a stubborn weed? As well as practical advice related to the season. @Château de Prangins Sunday 12th November 2023 12:15 - 12:45 Ticket Price is 10CHF or is included in the Entry Price Coming Up Next Week Swiss Press Photo 23 Step into the captivating world of the Swiss Press Photo 23 at Château de Prangins, showcasing where the lens captured the essence of the year 2022. This compelling exhibition features 130 poignant images, spotlighting the most significant moments captured by both international and national press photographers including the war on Ukraine, Climate Change and societal subjects such as undeclared agricultural workers. Running from 17th November 2023 until 25th February 2024 Read more about the Swiss National Museum, Château de Prangins and all they have to offer in our previous article .

With all the rainy weather recently, here is an idea of a great activity to do this coming Sunday 2nd October. It's all about EATING at the Château de Prangins for Swiss Castle Day. Taking place between 10:00 and 17:00, the best part, admission is free! Read on for more information on what's happening on the day. Vegetable Market All Day Enjoy a glass of freshly pressed apple juice and learn about lacto-fermentation. There will also be harvest from The Kitchen Garden on sale all day. The Kitchen Garden is a permanent open-air exhibition created in the 1700s to feed the workers who built the Château. It is now devoted to preserving traditional regional plants and showcasing domestic biodiversity. La Salon du Chocolat 14:00-17:00 Learn all things chocolate and Swiss from the exposition What is Switzerland? . There will also be a quiz, as well as a tasting from Club des Passionnés de Chocolat de Genève. The Kitchen Garden - 13:45 onwards (45 minute slots) A chance for your kids to explore! Children from the age of six are welcome at the Salle du Potager and will be shown around the gardens and the museum. It is a great opportunity for parents to take a guided tour while the kids are occupied. @ Château de Prangins Guided Tours Schedule (available in French and English) 11:00    Au  Potager (F) 11:00    In The Kitchen Garden (E) 14:00    Le chocolat. C'est suisse? (F) dans l'exposition La Suisse. C'est quoi? 14:30    Chocolate: Is it Swiss? (E) in the exhibition What is Switzerland? 15:00    C'est à ce prix que vous mangez du... chocolat (F) dans l'exposition Indiennes. Un tissu à la conquête du monde 15:30    That's the price of chocolate! (E) in the exhibition Chintz. How a Fabric Conquered the World 16:00    Le chocolat. C'est suisse? (F) dans l'exposition La Suisse. C'est quoi? Don't forget to pass by the Café du Château for a tasty treat or drink for a break between all the exploring. The Café also offer a Buffet Brunch on Sundays. Read our previous article on all the Château de Prangins has to offer.

This Easter, Nyon is offering a mix of creative workshops, playful discoveries and a town-wide egg hunt, giving families plenty of ways to get out and explore during the school holidays. Museums Turn into Playgrounds for the Holidays Across Nyon, the Musée romain, Musée du Léman and Château de Nyon are opening their doors to younger visitors with a series of hands-on workshops. Around a dozen activities are planned, designed to help children discover exhibitions in a more interactive way. At the lake museum , they can go behind the scenes of the aquariums, learn about ecosystems like plankton and even take part in creative workshops such as shadow play or Japanese ink art. At the Roman Museum , it’s a step back in time; from creating mosaics and pottery to exploring the amphitheatre and even crafting a gladiator’s shield. Over at the Château , the focus shifts to imagination where they can decode graffiti in the old prison walls, design fantastical animals inspired by artworks, or experiment with light and shadow in the attic spaces. Part of a Bigger Cantonal Programme These activities are part of PâKOMUZé, a wider initiative bringing together more than 40 museums and heritage sites across the canton. Running from 3 to 19 April 2026 , it’s designed to make museums more accessible and engaging for families during the Easter holidays. Some workshops require advance booking, so it’s worth checking ahead if there’s something specific your child wants to try. Click here for more details. An Easter Egg Hunt Across the Town At the same time, Nyon is turning the town itself into a playground. From 31 March to 14 April 2026 , families can take part in an Easter egg hunt organised by the Ville de Nyon . The concept is simple: Pick up a clue sheet (download HERE ) Visit participating shops around town Spot the hidden wooden egg in each one Receive a small chocolate reward Each stop also includes a QR code, giving participants the chance to enter a prize draw to win “Only Nyon” vouchers. It’s an easy way to explore the town centre while supporting local businesses AND keeping younger participants entertained along the way. A bit of culture. A bit of movement. And, of course, a fair amount of Swiss chocolate.

When people think of Paléo, they usually picture the big moments. The headline acts. The crowds. The lights and music. The long queues for food that somehow still feel worth it. What’s easier to miss is everything happening behind the scenes. Because Paléo does not run on music alone. It runs on people. Paléo @Anne Colliard Each year, the festival is powered by nearly 5,500 volunteers , with 47 bars, 136 food stands, more than 250 concerts and shows , and around 250,000 festivalgoers  across six days and nights. And for many of those volunteers, it is not just a shift. It is an annual ritual. More Than a Beer Stand I spoke to one volunteer, Tom Buck from the FC Gingins Bar du Midi  tent last year, who has been helping at Paléo for around five or six years. For him, it started with something simple, it was already part of his local life. He grew up knowing his football club had a stand at the festival. Then one year, he and some teammates decided to sign up together. They’ve been doing it ever since. That sense of local continuity is common among volunteers. At Paléo, many of the bars are run by associations, and the festival pays a percentage of the profits back to those local groups. That means the hours spent serving drinks help support sports clubs, youth activities and other community organisations long after the festival ends. What Volunteering at a Bar Actually Looks Like From the outside, it can look like volunteers are simply pouring beers and having a good time. In reality, there is a lot more going on. There are the people at the taps, of course. But there are also runners keeping fridges stocked, volunteers collecting and sorting glasses, teams handling logistics, people guiding visitors, helping backstage, managing information points, supporting waste sorting, and making sure the whole site keeps moving. Paléo says roles and time commitments vary by sector, with some volunteer positions lasting from 8 days to 7 weeks , while festival-week shifts are typically at least 5 to 6 hours a day . At the FC Gingins stand alone, the team served 1,900 litres of beer on the Tuesday night last year . That number says a lot about the rhythm of the week. There is preparation before the rush after a major set on the Grand Scène. Refilling fridges. Stacking cups. Watching the clock. Then suddenly, the crowd arrives all at once. It is part choreography, part chaos. Themes, Costumes and Controlled Madness One of the nicest details that came out of our chat was how much effort goes into the mood behind the bar. Each night has a theme, set by the team leaders. Costumes come out. Music plays when concerts aren’t on. Different bars compete with each other. Volunteers get into character and festivalgoers notice and enjoy this part too. It is still work, especially later in the night, but there is something very Paléo about making even the hard work feel playful. A Different Kind of Festival Experience Volunteering at Paléo seems to create its own time zone. You work late. Sometimes very late. There’s a staff and volunteer after-party once the concerts are over. You head home around six or seven in the morning while others are getting up for work. Breakfast shifts to mid-afternoon. For one week, normal life is suspended. And in that strange little bubble, people reconnect. Tom described it as a chance to press pause on the year and step away from everyday life and work. To catch up with people from the area. Some are close friends. Others are people you only see at Paléo. You spend an hour together behind the bar and somehow, that’s enough to pick things back up. That fits with how Paléo describes its volunteer culture too. Built on friendship, trust and a strong sense of belonging. Volunteer Loyalty That may be one reason so many volunteers come back. Paléo’s own press material says volunteer loyalty is a big part of the festival’s identity, and that a large share return year after year. The average volunteer age is 33.34 , and 34%  come from the Nyon district, with another 23%  from France, 13%  from Geneva, 11%  from Lausanne and 18%  from elsewhere in Switzerland. So yes, it is local. But it reaches well beyond Nyon. Being a volunteer does come with a few practical perks too; access to the festival, meals, drinks, and a handful of extras along the way. But that’s not really why people do it. It’s the experience of being part of something at scale. Seeing what happens behind the scenes. Finding your place within a system that only works because thousands of people show up and do their part. There are dozens of roles across the site. From bar service and logistics to welcoming the public or artists, managing access, supporting sustainability efforts, or even helping build and dismantle the festival itself. Some roles run just during the week of Paléo, others start weeks before and continue after. Which means there’s usually something that fits everyone - if you're there for the full experience or just a part of it. Not Always Easy to Recruit Of course, none of this happens automatically. Behind the scenes, teams are constantly recruiting and bringing in new volunteers. Paléo may be one of the most sought-after tickets of the summer, but volunteering still requires time, energy and a real commitment. The festival says many sectors still recruit mainly through word of mouth, though some also publish openings on the volunteer page from around the end of April. Volunteers need to be at least 18, speak and understand French, be fully available for the period required by their sector, and have valid Swiss health insurance. That partly explains why so many teams begin by looking close to home first. Sports teams. Friends. Friends of friends. People who already understand that this is not just about getting a festival wristband. It is about showing up for a group. The Community Spirit is Part of the Sustainability Story Paléo’s volunteer culture also sits inside a bigger story about how the festival sees itself. The festival has been certified as a Greener Festival  and received the Community Action Award  in 2025 for the social impact of its sustainability policy and its strong ties to local associations and community life. It also states that it has used 100% green energy since 2006 , that 64% of festival waste is recycled thanks to 341 volunteers , and that all bars are run by local associations who receive a share of the profits. It also prepares around 50,000 meals  each year for its roughly 5,500 volunteers , with an increased focus on seasonal and regional products. So the volunteer story is not a side note. It is part of the structure of the festival itself. You might not always notice them, but they’re part of every step of the experience. From arrival to the journey home, volunteers are what keep Paléo moving. Managing the crowds, helping people navigate transport and parking, answering questions, and keeping everything flowing in between. Here’s to the people behind it all!

From 17 to 26 April 2026 , Nyon once again hosts Switzerland’s leading documentary film festival and one of the most recognised internationally. @Visions du Réel Not just for Film People If you’ve never been, it’s easy to assume this is “for cinephiles.” It is. But it’s also much more than that. Visions du Réel is built around real stories with films that explore lives, ideas and perspectives from around the world. The kind you don’t usually come across on mainstream platforms. And the atmosphere is surprisingly open. You can dip in for a single screening or stay for a discussion and then soak up the vibes around town. A festival that Puts Nyon on the Map Created in 1969, the festival has grown into Switzerland’s leading documentary event and a key date on the international film calendar. Each year, it brings filmmakers and audiences from across the world to Nyon, with many films shown as world or international premieres. Nyon becomes a hub of ideas, creativity and conversation, all centred around stories that reflect the world as it is, or as it’s changing. What to Expect this Year The 2026 edition marks the 57th festival , with a programme that typically includes: More than 150 films across different formats and themes Screenings throughout the day and evening Q&As and discussions with filmmakers Industry events running alongside the public programme Activities for younger audiences There are also the smaller moments that regulars know well, conversations outside venues and spontaneous recommendations. Easy to Access and Planning Your Visit Everything takes place right in town, with main venues just a short walk from the train station. You don’t need to commit to the full programme. Even one film is enough to get a feel for it. And if you’ve lived in Nyon for a while and never quite got around to going, this is your reminder. The programme is already live, so now’s a good time to pick a few screenings and plan ahead. You can explore the programme and book tickets via the official site: https://www.visionsdureel.ch/ Ticket Pre-sale at Place du Marché 2 in Nyon 31 March to 13 April Monday and Tuesday 14:00-18:00 Main ticket offices at Place du Réel 16 April – 14h00-21h00 17 - 25 April – 9h00-21h00 26 April – 9h00-17h00 This the official trailer from Visions du Réel to give you a feeling of what the festival is all about.