Press Release: Gardens Become Galleries: 21 Swiss Hotels Launch Art Garden Hotels

Baden/Konolfingen/La Tour-de-Peilz, March 26, 2026

In spring 2026, hotel gardens will transform into walk-through galleries. Under the title "Art Garden Hotels," 21 establishments across all regions of Switzerland will showcase artworks by renowned Swiss artists in their park grounds. The project connects hotels, gardens, and contemporary art, inviting visitors to rediscover the Garden Hotels.

A magnificent garden is more than just a backdrop – it is the soul of a hotel. This credo is embraced by the 21 members of the Swiss Garden Hotels association. Starting in April 2026, these establishments will go a step further, opening their park grounds for an exhibition series. Each hotel garden will become an open-air gallery where sculptures and installations harmonize with the unique flora and architecture of the location.

100 artworks by 30 artists, tailored to 21 locations

The "Art Garden Hotels" project highlights the craft of garden art and the creativity of Swiss artists. In close collaboration with the Swiss Sculpture Triennial Foundation (Bad Ragartz), 30 artists were selected whose artworks perfectly complement each garden setting. Every garden – whether serving as a retreat, a meeting place, or a historic park – tells a new story through the curated art. And the garden environment, in turn, influences how the artworks affect visitors. "With the Art Garden Hotels, we are creating a connection that is unprecedented in Switzerland in this form," says Fabian Weidmann, co-initiator of the Art Garden Hotels. "We invite guests to experience art where hospitality feels at home."
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Launch of the multi-year project in April 2026

Following this year's edition, the Art Garden Hotels are also planned for 2027 and 2028, aiming to be self-sustaining from 2029 onwards. The official launch of the first edition will take place in April 2026; the artworks will be exhibited annually from April to November. The entire project will be presented at two exclusive opening events at the Boutique Hotel Schloss Hünigen in Konolfingen (BE) and the Hotel Bon Rivage in La Tour-de-Peilz (VD). In addition to the initiators, artists and tourism experts will speak to highlight the symbiosis of tourism, hospitality, and art.

Competition for Key Visual in cooperation with ZHdK

In collaboration with the Department of Fine Arts at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), a competition was launched among students for the creation of the key visual for the Art Garden Hotels 2026. The jury, consisting of Carla Hohmeister (Bad Ragartz), Linda Peter (vitamin2), and representatives of the Garden Hotels, reviewed and evaluated all submissions with advisory support from Pascal Siedler and Swetlana Heger-Davis from ZHdK. Alessia Belluscio's work "Dispersal I" convinced the jury and was selected as the 2026 key visual. The exchange with young artists opens new perspectives, and the collaboration with ZHdK is intended to be further deepened in the future.

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About Art Garden Hotels

Art Garden Hotels brings contemporary art by Swiss artists into the gardens of 21 Swiss hotels. For the first edition, from April to November 2026, over 100 works will be exhibited in the gardens of the Swiss Garden Hotels. This creates a unique open-air gallery in each garden, accessible free of charge. art.gartenhotels.ch

About Garten Hotels Switzerland

Garten Hotels Switzerland is an association of hand-picked Swiss hotels that place gardens and nature at the heart of their operational concept. The gardens and parks are an important part of the hotels and are evident in various aspects of their operations. The cooperation was founded in 2016 and now includes 21 hotels across all regions of the country. The association is managed by Stammgast GmbH in Baden. gartenhotels.ch

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