Since 2022, Watches and Wonders has welcomed a broader audience each year. In 2025, 23,000 tickets were sold during these open days, attracting newcomers, seasoned enthusiasts, and collectors alike. For this new edition, visitors will once again have the opportunity to discover the latest releases and iconic collections from exhibiting maisons in the refined aisles of Palexpo.
The 2026 edition is already shaping up to be particularly rich, with 66 brands in attendance, compared to 60 last year. A notable highlight: Audemars Piguet will take part for the first time since the event’s creation, following its absence from Geneva-based fairs since 2019.
Activities for all audiences
To enhance the visitor experience, numerous events can be booked online via the official website. Thirty-minute presentations provide privileged access to brands of choice, such as Patek Philippe and TAG Heuer. Other formats, ranging from 10 to 45 minutes, invite participants to join masterclasses and workshops.
Guided tours lasting 90 minutes, organized in small groups of 10 to 15 people, offer a variety of routes. These allow visitors to immerse themselves in the world of major manufactures or to discover the creations of independent watchmakers showcased in the Carré des Horlogers.
Eight conferences spread over three days will address a wide range of topics related to current industry developments and the role of design in time display. Premium Experiences, meanwhile, will provide privileged access to private spaces as well as confidential encounters.
Younger visitors are also catered for, with dedicated creative workshops designed to spark curiosity and introduce them to the subtleties of watchmaking mechanics.
Three must-see spaces
With the LAB, Watches and Wonders highlights the future of watchmaking. Around ten projects developed by innovative companies, selected from 60 applications, will be showcased, illustrating the latest technological advances and ongoing transformations in the sector.
The Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres will also welcome visitors to present its new global certification. The various tests that have enabled the awarding of the “Chronometer Excellence” title since the beginning of the year will be detailed there.
Finally, the Wake Up! retrospective will offer a reflection on the notion of time through around fifty historical pieces drawn from the collections of the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire de Genève.
City of Geneva, the event's other beating heart
Alongside the fair, the city of Geneva will come alive to the rhythm of watchmaking. The watchmaking village located at Pont de la Machine will offer an immersion into craftsmanship through initiations and presentations of the sector’s métiers.
The city center will also be animated by late openings organized by brand boutiques.
Last but not least, every evening from 5 pm to 11 pm, a new space located on Quai Général-Guisan will host, in partnership with the Montreux Jazz Festival, an eclectic musical program, rounding off the experience in a decidedly festive atmosphere.
