Individual notes become harmony.

Join in

Shaping the celebration together

The 2027 Swiss Folk Music Festival thrives on everyone who gets involved. Musicians, associations, market traders, and many helping hands behind the scenes. You are warmly invited to be part of it.

Here you can find out how to become part of EVMF:

  • Registration Active
  • Registration for markets/street food
  • Registration for the parade
  • Sign up to help

Registration Active

As an active musician, you have various opportunities to participate in the festival:

  • Evaluated presentations in the official competition
  • Concerts on stages, in restaurants, and in festival tents
  • Free music-making (Stubeten, spontaneous performances) throughout the festival grounds

All active participants will receive a festival ticket with included services. These are based on the respective form of participation.

The call for active participation is expected to be announced at the end of June 2026 via the official channels of the festival and additionally via the Swiss Folk Music Association (VSV) and the cantonal sections.

Membership in the Swiss Folk Music Association (VSV) is welcome and supports folk music as a whole. However, it is not a prerequisite for participation. Every folk musician is allowed to participate in the Swiss Folk Music Festival. Suitable groups from abroad are also welcome.

Registration for markets
and street food

The festival tents will be run by the organizing committee together with regional associations. There will also be various markets and street food areas.

No tents, bars, or areas for bars will be rented out to third parties. The detailed concept for the town's catering facilities will be announced at a later date. It is based on the concept for the 2025 Yodeling Festival.

Please submit applications for the markets and street food areas by email to info@altstaetten27.ch. Include your offer, power requirements, stand size, and, if possible, impressions from previous appearances.

The following participation options are available to you:

Street food stalls
Friday, September 10: 2:00 p.m. – midnight / 3:00 a.m.
Saturday, September 11: 10:00 a.m. – midnight / 3:00 a.m.
Sunday, September 12: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.


culinary and craft market
Saturday, September 11: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 12: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.


Folk Music Market
Friday, September 10: 2:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 11: 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 12: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

A woman wearing a green vest and holding a cello.

Registration for the parade

These special features await you and your group:

  • Parade through the picturesque old town of Altstätten
  • Audience from near and far
  • Small snack after the move
  • Professional organization
  • Atmospheric backdrop

The grand parade on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. is one of the highlights of the festival. Present yourselves to the audience one last time—on foot or on lovingly decorated floats.

Interested groups should contact Alex Zenhäusern.

Contact:
Alex Zenhäusern
Relocation Department
Arrival and departure

Relaxed and safe at the festival

By public transport

We recommend traveling by public transport. Services will be increased during the festival, including at night. Altstätten is easily accessible by SBB, Appenzeller Bahn, and bus. From Altstätten SBB train station, you can reach the festival village in around 10 minutes on foot. There is also a shuttle service between Altstätten SBB train station, the festival village, and the Allmend on the outskirts of town.

An insider tip is to take the Appenzeller Bahn train through the Appenzellerland and Gais directly to the festival village.

By car

The central, monitored parking area for participants, visitors, and volunteers is located on the Allmend at Oberrieterstrasse 44 on the outskirts of Altstätten. Parking costs CHF 10.00 per car, including shuttle bus service. The Allmend is accessible throughout the weekend until late at night via shuttle bus and night buses. There are no parking spaces in the center of Altstätten. The large parking lot serves as a logistics area and is closed during the festival weekend.

By bicycle

Parking spaces for bicycles and e-bikes are available in school grounds and public facilities around the old town.

accommodations

Arrive and stay

To ensure you can relax and enjoy the festival, there are various accommodation options available. For guests and active participants alike, there are simple, practical, and comfortable options.

An extensive public transport network will ensure that even more distant accommodations are optimally connected to the festival. The nearby regions of Vorarlberg in Austria and Liechtenstein can be reached by regular public transport, but not by additional services provided by the organizing committee.

Details of all accommodation options with booking facilities will be published here in a few months.

camping area

A spacious, supervised campsite with showers and toilet facilities is being built on the common land on the outskirts of the village. The site is aimed at guests with cars and tents, cars with caravans, campervans, and motorhomes.

mass accommodation

Simple and inexpensive sleeping accommodations are available in civil defense facilities and gymnasiums in the immediate vicinity of Old Town. The festival grounds are within walking distance.

Hotels and inns

Capacity is limited in Altstätten itself. Most accommodation is required by the organizing committee for various guest groups. Further options are available in the following regions:

  • St. Gallen Rhine Valley around Altstätten
  • Appenzellerland
  • Lake Constance shore
  • Werdenberg - Sarganserland
  • Toggenburg
  • City of St. Gallen