Organizer Information
The Aargauer Kuratorium is a prominent public funding institution dedicated to supporting contemporary art and culture in Switzerland. For the 2026 edition of the Swiss Performance Art Award, it collaborates with Kunstraum Baden, a respected non-commercial exhibition space with over 50 years of commitment to contemporary artistic practices. The award itself is an initiative backed by multiple Swiss cantons—Aargau, Basel-City, Basel-Landscape, Lucerne, St. Gallen, Zurich—and the City of Geneva, reflecting a strong national investment in the visibility and development of performance art.
Title & Description
Swiss Performance Art Award 2026
The Swiss Performance Art Award 2026 is a prestigious national competition designed to highlight the diversity, quality, and evolving practices within contemporary performance art in Switzerland. The award serves as a key platform for artists and collectives working in performance-based disciplines, whether through formal training, experimental methodologies, or interdisciplinary presentation formats.
The competition follows a two-stage selection process. Initially, applicants submit documentation of their artistic practice along with a proposal for a performance work. From these submissions, a jury selects seven finalists who are invited to present either an existing work or a newly conceived performance during a live event. These performances will take place on November 15, 2026, across multiple venues within the Merker-Areal in Baden.
Each performance can range from short-format presentations to long-duration works (typically between one and thirty minutes), allowing flexibility in artistic expression. The final award recipient is selected based on the live presentations, making the event not only a competition but also a curated showcase of contemporary Swiss performance art.
Categories
- Performance Art
- Live Art
- Interdisciplinary Art Practices
- Experimental and Time-Based Art
Eligibility
- Open to artists and collectives living and registered in Switzerland since at least January 1, 2025
- The majority of members in collectives must meet the residency requirement
- Applicants must be professional artists
- Artists currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree program are not eligible
- Only one application per artist or collective is permitted
Program Benefits & Awards
- CHF 30,000: Main Swiss Performance Art Award
- CHF 5,000: Audience Award
- CHF 4,000 fee for each of the seven nominated finalists
The participation fee for finalists is comprehensive and includes:
- Artistic fees
- Production and material costs
- Travel and transport expenses
Additionally, selected artists gain:
- National visibility within Switzerland’s contemporary art scene
- Opportunity to present work in established venues
- Direct engagement with curators, institutions, and audiences
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit a complete digital application (PDF format, max. 8 MB per file), including:
- Portfolio / Artistic Documentation (including video links if available)
- Performance Proposal (max. 1 A4 page)
- CV or Short Biography (max. 1 A4 page)
- Technical Rider (detailing staging, equipment, and spatial needs, max. 1 A4 page)
All documents must follow strict naming conventions and formatting requirements.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 12 April 2026
- Venue Visit for Selected Artists: 9 June 2026
- Setup & Rehearsals: 14 November 2026
- Performance Event & Award Decision: 15 November 2026
Location
Baden, Switzerland
Additional Details
- The selection process is based on:
- Artistic quality and originality
- Continuity of performative practice
- Feasibility within the event framework
- The jury consists of leading curators, artists, and institutional directors from across Switzerland.
- The event emphasizes accessibility, aiming to create an inclusive environment for diverse audiences and participants.
- Performances will take place in varied spatial contexts, from industrial gallery settings to fully equipped stages, allowing artists to experiment with format and scale.
- The jury’s decision is final and cannot be appealed.
- For inquiries: contact@performanceartaward.ch