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You can find the general terms and conditions of Gurtenfestival AG here.
Cashless
You don’t have to do anything. Your remaining balance will be automatically refunded to the last payment account you used by the end of July. If you have loaded your Cashless Card with a credit card or with your Postfinance card, it is possible that the remaining amount will only be displayed or credited with your monthly statement. By the end of July at the latest, you will see the chargeback for all payment methods.
If something didn’t work out, feel free to contact us at cashless@gurtenfestival.ch.
The cards cannot be reused, but you can easily dispose of them in plastic collection points.
If you have any questions or problems, you can always send an email to cashless@gurtenfestival.ch. At the festival you can report to the Help Desk Cashless at the main entrance.
Sustainability
Our Goal:
The ecological footprint of our visitors should be the same or even smaller during the festival than in their everyday life. Our ambition is to host a music and cultural event without consuming more resources than on a regular day – so that, from a sustainability perspective, it makes no difference whether the festival takes place or not.
We live, evaluate, and implement sustainability based on a three-pillar principle:
- Ecological sustainability
- Social sustainability
- Economic sustainability
To achieve our goal, the Gurtenfestival has been relying on various measures listed below for many years.
Waste per guest amounts to only 1 kg – including setup and takedown.
For comparison: the Swiss daily average is 1.9 kg.Waste separation stations are available throughout the site, including in the valley and along the path to the Gurten.
54% of the waste is recycled; the rest is used for energy recovery at the Bern waste-to-energy plant (with an efficiency of over 80%).
Reusable cups have been standard since 2004 – making us one of the first festivals in Europe to adopt them.
In the Comfort Zone, drinks are served in glass (bottles, glasses).
All dishware (cups, plates, cutlery, PET, aluminum) is subject to a deposit.
Plates/bowls are made from sugarcane, cutlery from starch (cPLA).
Returned dishware is thermally recycled at the Forsthaus energy center – generating electricity and heat for the city of Bern.
Free product sampling on and around the festival grounds is prohibited. Exceptions are only made if the sampling offers a direct benefit (e.g. cooling towels).
At least 50% of all meals are vegetarian.
Only regional, seasonal ingredients and Swiss meat are used.
Fish must come from local waters only; seafood is not allowed.
All vendors use the official reusable dishware system.
Alcohol-free beer and drinks are available at all bars.
Electricity and water requirements are ordered through us, managed by us, and optimized where possible.
Only local food stands from the Bern region are present on the Gurten.
The largest stand (operating at two locations) offers fully vegan cuisine – in collaboration with Outlawz Food as a pilot project for economically viable vegan festival catering.
65% of guests arrive by public transport, 30% on foot or by bike. Only 5% still use a car or motorcycle.
Free bicycle parking is available directly at the Gurten funicular station.
Travel within the Libero zones 100/101 is free with a valid ticket and wristband.
Trams, Moonliner night buses, and shuttles operate 24/7 in the city and greater Bern area.
SBB and BLS significantly expand their regular train services during peak times.
Diversity in focus: aiming for the fairest possible gender balance among booked artists on stage.
The Waldbühne (Forest Stage) is reserved for Swiss artists – to support national and regional talent.
A new podcast stage expands the festival’s cultural offerings beyond music.
90% of all purchased goods (food, drinks, etc.) come from Switzerland – mostly from the Bern region.
Procurement is based on ecological and social criteria.
Transport to and from the site is strictly limited and optimized – also due to the geographic layout of the venue.
Helpers and suppliers without cargo use public transport exclusively.
Furniture, machinery, and vehicles are mostly rented and reused rather than purchased.
Pilot project starting in 2025: all generators will run on HVO (renewable plant-based oil).
Water-saving appliances and equipment are used throughout the entire festival site.
100% of electricity comes from renewable energy sources.
An in-house smart grid combines generators and grid power to ensure optimal load distribution and reduce the number of generators needed.
Consumers such as site lighting are centrally controlled and switched on/off based on demand.
- Around CHF 30 million in direct and indirect economic value for the Bern region – for example through jobs, infrastructure, mobility, and hospitality.