Geneva opened the doors of Watches and Wonders 2026 this morning at Palexpo, with an official ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Nearly 300 guests – from city and canton authorities to international journalists and the executives of 65 exhibiting brands – marked the start of the Salon. The mood was formal, the message clear: Geneva still wears the crown.
Cyrille VIGNERON, President of the Watches and Wonders Geneva Foundation, set the tone by framing the Salon as a cultural actor – “a culture that needs to be nurtured, transmitted and transformed in order to keep it alive.” He described the fair as “a platform that balances with competition and cooperation.” Sensible words, and welcome ones.
Nathalie FONTANET, State Councillor in charge of Finance, Human Resources and External Affairs, pointed to Geneva’s international reach and resilient ecosystem, where heritage, innovation and skill meet. “This unique concentration of skills, expertise and innovation constitutes an unrivalled advantage, recognised far beyond our borders,” she said. More than a showcase, she called it a hub for exchange where tomorrow’s trends take shape.
The ribbon fell to scissors, uniting public authorities with brand leaders on stage. It was a brief ceremony, as it should be – the real work now happens at the booths, across tables, and under loupes.
The Watches and Wonders Geneva Foundation, created in September 2022 on the initiative of Rolex, Richemont and Patek Philippe, organizes the Salon as a non-profit. Chanel, Hermès and LVMH sit on the Board. The mission is straightforward: promote watchmaking worldwide by staging Watches and Wonders Geneva.
For the industry, an inauguration is a promise. Not noise, but signal – a reminder that meaningful watchmaking thrives where culture, commerce and craft hold each other to account.
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