Rendez-vous Bundesplatz 2026: the light show at the Federal Palace

In short

• When: every day from 17 October to 21 November 2026.
• Times: 7 pm, 8 pm and 9 pm; each show lasts about 30 minutes.
• Where: Bundesplatz, 3011 Bern. The images are projected onto the façade of the Federal Palace.
• Admission: free.

What 2026 is about

2026 is the 16th edition. The show is called “Natur pur” and presents the Federal Palace as a living ecosystem. With images and music it moves through the seasons, from the awakening in spring to the cold of winter: frogs, butterflies, a caterpillar, an ibex. One part takes place underground, among roots and ants. The nature conservation organisation Pro Natura takes part as content partner; the theme is the diversity of nature. The first edition of Rendez-vous Bundesplatz took place in 2011.

Getting there

The organiser recommends public transport. From Bern station you can walk to the Bundesplatz in a few minutes.

• Every evening from 6 pm to 10 pm the streets around the Bundesplatz are closed.
• During this time bus lines 10 and 19 run via Bärenplatz. The Bundesplatz stop is not served; the buses stop at the Bärenplatz tram stop.
• By car: the car parks in the city centre are the closest. Parkieren in Bern shows which ones have free spaces right now.

Good to know

• Wheelchairs and children: on the Bundesplatz there is a separate area for people with walking disabilities in wheelchairs and for children, so that nobody stands in front of them.
• Toilets: there are no toilets on the Bundesplatz itself. The organiser points to the toilets in the city-centre car parks and in the station. Barrierefrei Bern shows wheelchair-accessible toilets nearby.
• Audio description: for blind and visually impaired people there is a description of the show in the free app “Greta”. Bring your own headphones.
• Dress warmly: the show takes place outdoors, on evenings in October and November.

Before or after

Right next to the Bundesplatz, in the courtyard of the Bundeshaus West, stands the Bernabrunnen with the figure of Berna. More about the building itself is on the page Bundeshaus. If you come into town more often in November: the first Christmas markets open on 19 November, and the Zibelemärit (onion market) is on 23 November.

Sources: Rendez-vous Bundesplatz, “Natur pur” and “Good to know”; Bernmobil, diversions (German); Pro Natura (German); Plattform J, 18 October 2026 (German). Read on 26 October 2026. The organiser's information always applies.