Grand Prix Music 2026 goes to Nadja Räss
This year's Swiss Grand Prix Music for Lifetime Achievement, awarded by the Federal Office of Culture and endowed with 100,000 francs, goes to yodeler Nadja Räss.
Nadja Räss is a singer, singing teacher and networker. Born in 1979 and raised in Einsiedeln, the musician is considered by the Federal Office to be one of the most influential voices in Swiss yodeling culture. From 2012 to 2018, she was the director of Klangwelt Toggenburg. Since 2018, she has been Professor of Yodelling and Head of Folk Music at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
According to the jury's statement, her ability to build bridges between regional traditions, current forms of artistic expression and international perspectives makes her an important figure in Swiss music. As the first Grand Prix Music winner from the field of Swiss folk music, her many years of commitment are particularly visible.
The Swiss Music Awards 2026, each endowed with CHF 40,000, go to Domi Chansorn (Huttwil, Zurich), Ensemble ö! (Chur), violinist Esther Hoppe (Zug, Zollikerberg), the experimental laboratory Flèche Love (Troinex , Geneva), Louis Schild (Lausanne), accordionist Patricia Draeger (Zug, Meierskappel ) and Ruedi Häusermann (Lenzburg).
The Café Bar Mokka (Thun), Intakt Records (Zurich) and La Via Lattea (Vacallo) each received special music prizes worth 25,000 francs.
The Federal Office of Culture (FOC) commissions ten independent experts each year. They nominate up to 100 individuals, collectives or institutions from the Swiss music scene. The seven-member Federal Music Jury then recommends the winners of the Grand Prix Music, the seven Swiss Music Prizes and the three Special Music Prizes. The Federal Office of Culture FOC presents the final awards on behalf of the Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA.
