The Prix Suisse 2026 placed two themes at its center that are decisive for Switzerland’s future: vocational education and space. From the skills of young professionals to the view into space, one question ran through the entire evening: what makes Switzerland strong, and how knowledge, curiosity, and craftsmanship create the future.
Prix Suisse 2026
Prof. Dr. Thomas H. Zurbuchen
Astrophysicist, scientist, visionary, and innovator
On Saturday, November 7, 2026, Thomas Zurbuchen was awarded the «Prix Suisse» at a grand gala dinner organized by Initiative Schweiz at the Kursaal Bern. The Prix Suisse, a national award presented for the sixth time, is the highest honor for outstanding achievements in Switzerland.
„
If I’m not learning something new, I feel as though I were ill.
Prof. Dr. Thomas H. Zurbuchen - award winner
Fireside Chat with Kamala D. Harris
In an impressive conversation with Sandra Studer, Kamala D. Harris, 49th Vice President of the United States, spoke about the results of the US midterm elections and her assessment of the political developments.
As the 49th Vice President of the United States, Kamala D. Harris made history from 2021 to 2025 as the first woman to hold the office. The lawyer previously served as Attorney General of California and represented the state in the US Senate. In 2024, she ran for president as the Democratic Party’s candidate. In the conversation, she painted the picture of a democracy under strain and spoke openly about polarization, lost trust, and what holds societies together. Her view from the outside sharpened the view inward: where the world becomes more uncertain, stability, education, and cohesion become strategic assets. These are values on which Switzerland has been built for generations.
Not a plan B. The foundation.
Two out of three young people in Switzerland begin a vocational apprenticeship after school. They learn in two places at once – in the company and at the vocational school – and take on responsibility from day one. The dual system is supported by the economy, above all by SMEs. It is a competitive advantage and an engine of innovation. And it is not a dead end: no qualification without a next step. Four young professionals from all parts of the country show on stage what drives them.
Saype – Land art on the Chasseral
For the Prix Suisse and the 100th anniversary of Zesar.ch SA, the French-Swiss artist Saype turned the Chasseral into a canvas – on the language border where German-speaking Switzerland and the Romandie meet. His work, «Bâtir ses rêves», shows a child at a workbench holding a rocket up to the sky. Painted with biodegradable paints, it faded after just a few weeks. Saype, named on the Forbes «30 Under 30» list in 2019, has already created works at the United Nations in New York and Geneva.
Future of Space
The strategic arena of the 21st century
Our Earth is a speck of dust in the universe – and yet it has begun to reach for the stars. Today, space is the strategic arena of the 21st century: the USA is returning to the Moon with Artemis, more than ten thousand Starlink satellites orbit the Earth, and our everyday lives depend on navigation and communication from space. The program segment «Future of Space» shows where the journey is heading, who sets the rules there – and what role Switzerland can play.
Kairos – the first time station on the Moon
The Earth has around 450 atomic clocks, the Moon not a single one. With more than 400 lunar missions planned over the next two decades, the Moon needs a time of its own – otherwise navigation errors of kilometers per day loom. This is where Kairos comes in, the first time station on the Moon. Initiated by Zurich entrepreneur Nicole Herzog and in collaboration with ETH Zurich Space, a Swiss atomic clock is to measure lunar time for the first time by 2030. Neutral, precise, trustworthy: «There is only one Greenwich. And only one first lunar second.»
Skill you can taste
Where fine dining meets pâtisserie and the art of cheese
Tanja Grandits is one of the outstanding figures in Swiss haute cuisine. With two Michelin stars and 19 GaultMillau points, the chef of the Basel restaurant «Stucki» has ranked among the very best for years. Her cuisine is colorful, precise, and full of surprising aromas. For the Prix Suisse 2026, she and her team created a festive menu in which top Swiss products meet herbs, spices, and creative accents. Her credo: the team is the star.
To round off the evening, Rolf Mürner, one of Switzerland’s most distinguished pâtissiers, designed the dessert buffet, and the Bernese cult brand Jumi from Boll in the Emmental presented a cheese buffet. Swiss excellence you can taste.
Music that touches the soul
Kings Elliot performed at the Prix Suisse 2026. The singer-songwriter grew up in the canton of Schwyz and now lives in London. She writes indie pop that gets under your skin: honest, vulnerable, and with great vocal power. She has toured with Imagine Dragons and Lewis Capaldi and was named Best Breaking Act at the Swiss Music Awards in 2025.
Fitting the theme of the evening, she performed David Bowie’s «Space Oddity» and presented a new song of her own, «Meteor from Mars».
Highlights of the evening
Our guests can find more photos in a gallery (link follows / password protected).
