What stories do objects that are easily overlooked tell? Shamiran Istifan uses everyday objects to shed light on social structures.

The coming weeks will be – there’s no other way to put it – summery! Literary delights at the mill, on the lake and in the rose garden.

Let yourself be surprised this summer by dance that bridges history, new beginnings and a sense of community.

From 25 to 27 June, the ‘rrrRr – Perrrformat Performance Festival’ will bring performance art to public spaces.

Four perspectives on the body, perception and community.

The reading series ‘Between Humility and Megalomania’ explores the poetics of German-language rap, navigating between exaggerated imagery and real socio-political themes.

In March, the Migros Culture Percentage Dance Festival Steps transforms Switzerland into a lively stage for contemporary dance. Here you will find performances that you should not miss ...

Queer cinema, the best Swiss films of the year, creative children's workshop and conversation with indie icon Kelly Richardt.

Is architecture just exposed concrete, steel and floor-to-ceiling windows? Not only that – at Open House Zurich, you can also discover the stories behind the buildings. And even in ...

Zurich-based composer Noémi Büchi explains why music is her calling and why she doesn’t take life too seriously.

Tap dancing, holiday camps, desert landscapes and traces of the past – October’s events showcase the many facets of dance.

In this interview, the Geneva-based band The Young Gods talk about the power of sound, responsibility and why war is never the answer.

From glamour to goosebumps: from a festival with international stars to a jazz documentary and book adaptations by Max Frisch and Stephen King.

The most complete of all overviews of this summer's open-air cinema season.

In this series, authors visit places and seek out experiences they have never had before – and share their stories of these ‘firsts’.

From social norms, the joy of dance and unicorns: five events you should visit at the ZÜRICH TANZT festival

May belongs to great women. And an old electronica hand.

A good dose of politics with film events on classism, colonial looted art, dangerous escape routes and neocolonialism.

Lynch, Vinterberg, Scorsese, Campion - four iconic directors. Rediscover their works in February: from surreal to satirical, from debut to masterpiece.

This month, it was really difficult to make a selection. There's a lot of good stuff on Zurich's stages, and one or two new discoveries have also been made.

Four cultural tips for dates with yourself. Selected by a creative accomplice who recommends: Date yourself.

The "colonial" exhibition at the National Museum makes the complex links between Switzerland and the colonial era tangible in an exciting and moving way.

"Different together" - this promise was kept. The expected guided tour gave way to a performance that directly involved the audience in the experience.

They are the fuel in the city's cultural cake: off-spaces bring creative impetus to cultural life away from the conventions.

10 days, 25 concerts, 90 musicians - the Zurich jazz festival "unerhört!" will delight audiences from 22 November to 1 December with bold jazz between tradition and experimentation.

Real closeness instead of posed shots: the "Paare / Couples" exhibition at the Fotostiftung Schweiz shows intimate moments that make the depth and diversity of relationships tangible.

The Even Theatre brings an absurdly funny provincial thriller and talking ducks to the stage. What author Anaïs Meier loves about the stage version of "Mit einem Fuß draussen".

My grandmother used to say: the main thing is to be healthy. I waved it off. Today I think: there's something to it and I'm excitedly travelling to the new exhibition at the Stapferhaus ...

Resilience, sisterhood, escape and Alzheimer's: these topics will be artistically realised in November, brought to the stage and made tangible for you.

There is so much going on in November that it is difficult to make a selection. Nevertheless, here is an attempt.

We've already reported on the Winterthur International Short Film Festival, so there's no getting round it. For an overview and the recurring formats, we therefore recommend rereading ...

The new INK* exhibition at the Musée Visionnaire asks which tattoo is art, which can be removed and also who owns the right to a tattoo.

Vodka, a hotplate and lots of books: the sogar theatre introduces itself and shows the three items that must not be missing in day-to-day operations.

This time I'm going to the theatre in Baden for the first time. In addition to an exclusive tour of the theatre, I will also get to see an award-winning production from Berlin!

These 9 events to kick off the long winter nights show that spookiness can also be quite atmospheric apart from the Halloween dressing-up fun.

For the fifth time, Digital Arts Zurich will be showing works by high-calibre international artists and up-and-coming talents for ten days.

Rather young and yet it feels like it's always been there: the central laundry. A declaration of love.

October is characterised by unexpected new works, events as part of the "Zürich liest" festival and the nominees for the Swiss Book Prize.

In October, it's time to aim high: with summer nightmares, angry animals and Greek mythology.

From dance workshops for young and old to transformative forces and insights into the creative processes of a dance production - October will be full of variety.

From native animals and stones to a mummy in the belly of a ship: a Saturday afternoon at the Winterthur Nature Museum.

Machine Poetry is a clever title for an exhibition at Strauhof that presents artistic play with typewriters, computers and AI.

I'm annoyed with myself: I missed the Olaf Holzapfel exhibition at Haus Konstruktiv. As this happens to me more often - missing exhibitions, getting annoyed with myself - I took the ...

A documentary about David Hockney, a premiere from Ukraine and two festivals: the Iranian Film Festival Zurich and the Palestine Arts Film Festival.

The summer break was worth it: we can once again run full of energy to the concert venues of our choice, because they are filled to the brim with great music in September.

The start of the new dance season will be diverse, soulful, wild and utopian.

The majority of public spaces are designed by men, even if there are some great works by women to be discovered. A selection of them .

Neither a stale sound nor a hip pose and certainly not dead: punk is an attitude and damn vital. Any doubts? Off to the open-air "Obenuse Fest" at the Rote Fabrik.

It's festival and open-air concert season again. Like every summer, the Rote Fabrik and the Barfussbar guarantee a great musical summer setting, but this year it's also worth making a ...

Misleading tongues have labelled Wipkingen the new hipster hotspot. I find District 10, which includes Höngg, to be extremely informal and cosy.

The Kunsthaus Zürich is showing media art from its own collection. The exhibition promises more than there is to see and is still worth seeing if you allow yourself to get involved.

The most complete of all overviews of this summer's open-air cinema season.

June is the month: Clear the stage for festivals, open-air opera and circus.

We ignore the international football tournament and celebrate the international music scene, which is back in Zurich this month.

From kaleidoscopes to the social role of mushrooms - the dance tips in June will be fantastic.

The unique festival for audiovisual experiments celebrates its 26th edition.

For this square interview, I threw myself into the centre of the action: Bellevueplatz. Unlike me and my bike, Bellevue seems to feel right at home in the middle of the traffic chaos. ...

The Wildi Blaatere network invited me to take a look behind the scenes of the new production "I want a happy ending for me as a worm".

Collective singing is in vogue. Not entirely innocent of the boom: the Zurich Hardchor.

Arthur and Hedy Hahnloser have collected works of art. And what works! Now they can be admired again at the Villa Flora in Winterthur.

The theatre programme in May is young and fresh. With many plays by young people and lots of interesting things for young and old alike.

Kosovan and Iranian filmmaking as well as two works that deal with women in the film industry in different ways.

From poetic spoken word performances to dystopian novels - the literature tips for May have it all.

The brothers Georg and Christoph Kiss interpret jazz as Okvsho in a fresh, free and contemporary way that is otherwise only known from London or LA.

Collect enough street cred at the beginning of the month to sit in the seats of Theatre 11 at the end. That's musically possible in May.

In May it will be funny, profound and wild. Let yourself be surprised by these pieces.

On my tour of Zurich’s theatres, this time I found myself at the Rigiblick Theatre. On the programme is ‘Tribute to Prince’.

A road trip through Syria with a corpse in the boot, a look behind the scenes of museum society, a personal search for fathers of different generations and the power of fairy tales: ...

Let yourself be enchanted by these pieces in April: it will be fairytale-like, tough (sic!) and relaxed at the same time.

In April, there is a retrospective, two festivals, a new film series and a premiere to discover in the Zurich cinema landscape.

Here are our tips for free exhibitions, inexpensive theatre evenings and various other inexpensive amusements.

Cristina Branco, one of the defining voices of the new fado, is coming to Zurich as part of the "Female Voices of the Mediterranean" concert series.

In the heart of Zurich lies the Xenix, a gem of cinema culture - a meeting place for film enthusiasts and a haven for niche films.

In March, we can look forward to two vernissages, texts for the dead, a storytelling café and the awarding of the Zurich Crime Fiction Prize.

March begins with a work-in-progress sharing, shows the current work of the Junior Ballett Zürich and ends with a dance performance.

In March, we move between Orient and Occident, old-school and contemporary, across all genres and directions.

This month, Zurich's theatre scene offers (alpine) dreams, feminist, digital and much more.

The Gewerbemuseum is currently showing an exhibition about flaws, defects and faults. Fun, says our author duo, but not only that.

The "Days of International Literature" invite you to make exciting discoveries. Isabelle Vonlanthen has curated the "Vom Verschwinden" festival.

An invitation to a collective trance: Brazilian carnival is celebrated at Moods. Singer Dandara tells us what the custom means to her.

On Langstrasse, people not only consume, but also improvise. A first visit to the Zollhaus theatre.

A museum free from artistic conventions: An open, fresh look at art.

Genderrebell:innen at the Filmpodium, a double preview, a 35mm screening of "Priscilla" at Xenix and a current documentary at the Coalmine.

In February, there will be a visit from a hip-hop icon and Swiss industrial legends as well as new, multidisciplinary releases.

In theatre February, the climate protection movement, a special satire as well as seagulls, spa guests and "gravatologists" will be on Zurich's stages.

This month offers dance pieces on family issues, the permeability of social "bubbles" and a journey of two Black bodies.

At the 6th Zurich Philosophy Festival from 25-27 January, there will be live and low-threshold philosophising - on the topic of time.

This theatre is hidden away in a basement near the SBB train station - and offers culture for the very youngest.

Not easy to find, but then magical: Edition VFO is the Hogwarts track 9 ¾ for all lovers of printmaking.

In this series, authors visit places and seek out experiences that they have not yet experienced - and report on their "premiere". Over the past two years, they have ventured out of ...

This exhibition is shocking and makes us think about body images, racism and ignorance in advertising.

In the Bücher-Brocky, 100,000 books await customers six days a week. Anyone who loves books will get their money's worth here. That's a promise.

Five events with and about artists who have shaped their scene

The year starts with New Year's resolutions, offers insights into the work of young choreographers and addresses important questions on the subject of renunciation.

2024 will be heralded in cinematically with Fantoche highlights, a lecture on Chantal Akerman, a silent film marathon and a documentary about being a man.

For all festive grouches, film lovers and friends of cinematic delicacies: A small and fine film programme for the festive season.

Let's go, 2024. I've prepared a wild mix of genres for you, so that everything will only get better from now on.

Cheers and toasts to culture! You can toast to culture after the performance in these theatre bars.

Five events that take you on a cultural journey around the world

On the occasion of today's International Monkey Day, I'm going on a field trip to explore the importance of the monkey in culture.

Multilingualism, 300-year-old recipes, beautiful love letters and a firework display at the end of the year provide literary bliss in December.

At the end of the year, we take a look behind the scenes, gaining insights into the life and training of dance professionals and the creation of a dance piece.

But not about your mum ... In "All the Sex I've Ever Had" on Neumarkt, 65-plus-year-olds take a look at life to the full.

In December, naughty children, queer residents of San Francisco, young people in the Donbas and anarchists can be seen on Zurich screens.

December is a quieter month in terms of concerts. Nevertheless, there are still opportunities to escape the contemplation.

A cultural surprise every day: the most popular classics for children and adults. And an interlude here and there.

At the end of the year, we are blurring the boundaries between theatre, performance and installation and exploring the possibilities in between.

Six special places in and around Zurich that Christmas lovers absolutely must know.

The Museum of Transport in Lucerne is already cool, but fans of mobility and public transport romance will also get their money's worth in Zurich - and not just them.

As someone who grew up bilingual, I was excited to see "Sprachenland Schweiz" at the National Museum. My mixed conclusion.

The pre-sale for the 11th Porny Days has started. The organisers talk about social realities, neo-prudery and the focus: sex work.

Have you always wanted to perform on stage yourself? Then an "open stage" is your chance!

The Filmpodium invites you to the best film quiz in Switzerland. Nicole Reinhard explains the "film buff quiz" phenomenon - competitive advantage included.

What culture can contribute to and about nature can be experienced in these exciting events and exhibitions.

After the big Zurich Reads, November is a little more sparse in literary terms, but no less beautiful. Here are my tips:

The dance scene breaks with conventions, shows winners:inside of "Africa Simply the Best" and deals with the situation in Palestine.

In the rainy autumn, it's wonderful to go to the theatre. The choice is large and varied. My tips for November.

It's getting busy again in the diary. The best of November is concentrated in the second half of the month - with difficult decisions ahead.

Film Buff Quiz at the Filmpodium and three festivals: Orient Express Film Festival, Films for the Future and the Winterthur International Short Film Festival.

Four cultural tips for dating yourself. Selected by a creative accomplice who recommends: date yourself.

Here a lead is still missing --> still makes Gretta.

Halloween is coming to Zurich's cultural landscape. A look at the upcoming, spooky cultural days for and by monsters big and small.

A visit to the exhibition "The Red Zora and the Black Brothers" will make the inner child's heart beat faster.

On the occasion of Caspar David Friedrich's 250th birthday, the Kunst Museum Winterthur is showing many of his important works even before Berlin and New York.

Film screenings in the presence of the directors at the Paulus Akademie, Filmpodium and Riffraff, as well as a Halloween special at Xenix.

From a dance exploration of mental health to creating a landscape with one's own body.

The cash-strapped Central Laundry surprises in October with London jazz stars and for once suddenly plays in the Moods League.

The new theatre season is open and filled with drama, performance and spectacle. These are my highlights for October.

An exhibition that almost causes physical pain: Käthe Kollwitz's works are unadorned and real. Now at the Kunsthaus.

No black person had ever set foot in Leukerbad before James Baldwin. An impressive exhibition at the Aargauer Kunsthaus tells of his experiences.

The "Museum of Man" is in Hottingen - just a few minutes from my home. Now I want to explore it for the first time.

Comedian Dominic Deville shows us the funniest places in Zurich. And puzzles over what he should do next.

Panaché, learn about approaches to energy transition and understand why inclusion is important across the board.

Ich liebe Theater und Musik. Die Oper müsste also genau das Richtige für mich sein. Oder? 

Premiere at Xenix, psychoanalytical suggestions at Arthouse Piccadilly, lecture series at Filmpodium and a short film programme at the Rote Fabrik.

The title of the new exhibition at the Friedhof Forum sounds simple. However, the topic is treated in a very complex way and on different levels.

How to discuss serious topics with children and what is more beneficial than dolphin therapy, that's what our literary tips in September know.

Sometimes heat, sometimes rain ... The concert programme in September is as ambivalent as the current weather: light, shade, pop and a lot of fiddling around.

Dance workshops, a plastic performance, surprises and the spontaneity of improvised performances kick off the new dance season.

A line-up of small and big stars is currently attracting visitors to Rosenmattpark.

Of artistic encounters, menstruating ice dancers and Bela B. reading from comics by Liv Strömquist.

Tickets for the Theatre Spektakel are selling like hot cakes. The good news: the free programme is just as splendid. We have 5 tips.

Lauschig is the name of the literature festival in the countryside. I found an astonishing 375 synonyms for "cozy": cosy, stimulating, charming - all of which apply to the festival in ...

From lake and "Badi" stages, from indoor sweating that you can't get around in the musical summer, and from the musical highlights in July and August.

More exchange, more culture, more togetherness - the Schipfe on the left bank of the Limmat becomes an oasis in the party hubbub at Züri Fäscht.

The theatre summer has a programme ready that I recommend to you despite or perhaps because of the heat.

The most complete of all overviews of this summer's open-air cinema season.

Classical music is many things - and above all always a question of perspective. Four performances at the Museum Rietberg invite you to expand your own spectrum.

Tension in the Haus Konstruktiv: Chiharu Shiota's poetic and Salvatore Emblema's archaic works are currently juxtaposed.

Für Menschen, die unter Endometriose leiden, wird die Periode zur Tortur. In einer Ausstellung in der ZW thematisiert das Kollektiv F96 die Krankheit.

Wie die Einsamkeit zum humorvollen Duett wird, ein interaktiver Austausch von Bewegungen und die zeitgenössische Umsetzung eines Opferrituals.

Open-air cinema in the Schiffbau, art house documentary in the Arthouse Piccadilly and not one but two film festivals: the Black Film Festival and the Iranian Film Festival.

Summer, is that you? In the time of the long days, the concert venues slowly become quieter, but there is a lot going on outside - for example in the Barfussbar.

An exhibition about the collaboration between Salvador Dalí and Alberto Giacometti and an immersion in the creative world of surrealism.

With exhibitions, talks, performances and much more, Zurich will become the centre of the international art scene one week before the start of Art Basel..

In this series, authors visit places and look for experiences they have not yet experienced - and report on their "premiere".

A play like a fabulous poetic road movie: Theater Winkelwiese presents "Bilder deiner grossen Liebe" by Wolfgang Herrndorf.

The Stapferhaus offers a clever exhibition that not only reveals exciting stories and problems, but also enables everyone to examine their own points of view.

Young people are the future, also in theatre. They need a platform and a space where their voice is heard and they can express it.

The Tanzfest Winterthur is just around the corner. Get moving, dance your way free, dance your way into something new and let yourself be surprised by new discoveries.

An exhibition at Zurich's Strauhof Literature Museum takes a look at books that were - or are - banned, burned or otherwise opposed.

Von Julia und Romeo zu einem einem Spaziergang durch den Chreis Cheib bis hin zu einer besonderen Matinée zum Muttertag.

Walls of guitars and tender ballads, indie pop and Balkan fire: welcome to the musical month of May.

The Karl der Grosse is currently holding a debate on the topic of opportunities. As director Fabienne Schellenberg explains, the organisation is also taking a close look at itself.

Von Kairo bis Zürich, von einem etwas anderen Romeo und von der Auseinandersetzung mit der eigenen Biografie: Tipps in Sachen Tanz für den Mai.

Im Mai trifft Theater auf Feminismus, Nachtleben, Theatersport, Reality TV und mehr. Diese Inszenierungen lege ich euch besonders ans Herz. 

The queer film festival Pink Apple offers a variety of films, panels and concerts on the topic of LGBT again this year. Here are some film tips ..

In the heart of Zurich and the awakening of spring lies the old Botanical Garden – a stress-free, green oasis to lose yourself in.

A short train ride from Zurich is the Kurtheater Baden, which has a lot to offer even the most pampered audience. Promised.

Fortunately, Zurich is not only a financial city, but also a city of culture. The current topic of the financial market is dealt with in countless theatres, exhibitions and talks.

A dialogue between the Swiss artist Mai-Thu Perret and the iconic Dadaist Sophie Taeuber-Arp.

The exhibition "Repair Revolution!" at the Museum für Gestaltung Zurich provides instructive input on the subject of repair. The public is also allowed to actively participate.

The F + F School's film course discovers new things, the Uto-Kino goes Pink! and film meets music at the Rote Fabrik and the Filmpodium.

Why more women should produce more beats! The music industry is still a male domain in 2023. It's high time that changed.

Projection on the fight for women's rights, political rap and discussions on energy and film politics - events that illuminate the political.

The museum raises awareness of the processes and materials behind today's wide range of design.

Vlora Mulaku regularly runs the ‘Creative Writing’ course. It’s surprisingly easy to get started.

These monthly highlights from the Zurich dance scene are not to be missed.

March is full of good concerts. It's really hard to make a selection. But someone has to do it.

Five art experiences in which one loses oneself and the boundaries between art and the person looking at it become blurred.

February is short, but amazingly packed with good music. Among them are local greats and US greats as well as old and not-so-old heroes from Austria.

These monthly highlights from the Zurich dance scene are not to be missed.

Wer True Crime, «Schreckmümpfeli» und co. liebt, darf sich im Landesmuseum bei «Sagen aus den Alpen» nach Herzenslust gruseln.

What is it like when six people from six countries from three continents visit the Kunsthaus together? A short report about an interesting appointment.

These monthly highlights from the Zurich dance scene are not to be missed.

An exhibition and numerous accompanying events throughout the city are intended to make blind spots in Zurich's history visible.

Everything flows into the music: Basel pianist Hans Feigenwinter thinks little of self-promotion and stage outfits. He prefers to breathe new life into old standards with bassist Bänz ...

Er hat Einschaltquoten, von denen Fernsehsender träumen: Der Baselbieter Adrian Vogt alias Aditotoro bespasst auf TikTok Millionen von Menschen. Am Zürcher Philosophie Festival spricht ...

Shortly before his appearance at the Zurich Philosophy Festival, we look back on the past year with Zen Master Peter Widmer and venture a preview of the coming one. He advises doing ...

Anyone who has rushed through the year until the end deserves a rest. Artists and concert organisers do too. There's not much going on in January, but there are good things to discover ...

Special guided tours and events in the exhibitions and museums provide variety in December.

For twenty years, the Japanese ritual of drinking tea has been practised at the Museum Rietberg, a visit to the wintry park.

Two Rüping fans at the Schauspielhaus. And then? A magic piano, a lot of unfulfilled love and simply incredibly good writing.

These monthly highlights from the Zurich dance scene are not to be missed:

Whether on the small stage or in the big hall: In October there will be some great artists between Hip-Hop, R'n'B and Spoken Word.

The exhibition «Collectomania» at the Museum für Gestaltung explores why we collect. An interview with curator Karin Gimmi.

From the quiet of the recording studio to the limelight: podcasters are increasingly taking to the stage. Felizitas Ambauen shares her own experiences.

We catch up with members of Zurich dance-collective The Field to talk about Waterworks, their collaboration with American choreographer Meg Stuart which is promising to be one of the ...

After two years of forced break due to corona, festivals are finally taking place again. An overview of all those that should not be missed. 

There is something of everything this month: indoors, outdoors, dark, bright, electronic, acoustic. The summer can come.

What you can do on Mondays to forget it's Monday.

Culture during your lunch break: These eight events are sure to take your mind off things.

In this series, authors visit places and seek out experiences that they have not yet experienced - and report on their «premiere».

The Migros-Kulturprozent Dance Festival Steps takes place every two years. Here you will find selected event tips in the canton of Zurich.

Space-occupying photography: Aykan Safoğlu addresses socially topical issues such as migration, identity, class, and gender in his works.

Shattering bass, poignant melodies: Asma Maroof puts together the soundtrack for the pieces of Wu Tsang and Trajal Harrell.

The standup talks about the best comedy open mic nights in Zurich, and why expats make grateful audiences.

... curated by the standup Jane Mumford

With the social comedy «Cheese War» at Neumarkt, the author from Damascus settles accounts with the local working conditions in the fast food sector.

The Museum Rietberg takes a look at the issue of aniconism, or the absence of material representation due to prohibition. The exhibit presents the different strategies that Islam and ...

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of «Ulysses», Zurich will also be celebrating «its» novel of the century: Irish author Joyce wrote his most famous work in the city on the ...

An occasional series on the world of «digital art»: most important terms related to NFTs and where you can catch the latest in digital art.

These five shows  – including hip-hop, R&B, soul, & reggaeton – offer a ray of light through March.

The «Plant Fever» exhibit at the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich shows us that plants are living things that we can cooperate with.

Safe spaces and opportunities for exchange for queers.

«Claudia Andujar: The Yanomami Struggle» at the Fotomuseum Winterthur shows how artistic activity can lead to political activism.