The official inauguration of Watches and Wonders Geneva 2026 took place on Tuesday, 14 April at 11:30 a.m. in the Palexpo auditorium, attended by political authorities from the City and Canton of Geneva, representatives of the economic community, and executives from the 65 exhibiting brands. Lifetime Magazine is present as a media partner, standing among the most respected voices in haute horlogerie.

Our team is on-site at the heart of the Salon, meeting iconic maisons, discovering emerging independents, and exploring the innovations shaping the future of watchmaking. Through in‑depth interviews, extended features, and immersive visual storytelling, we will guide our readers through the distinctive atmosphere of Watches and Wonders 2026, capturing the creativity and craftsmanship that define this exceptional gathering.

This edition is set to be one of the most dynamic to date, bringing together 65 watch brands, including 11 first‑time exhibitors. The 2026 programme extends well beyond the Palexpo halls, offering an enriched schedule of citywide events, workshops, and cultural experiences open to both professionals and the public. Watches and Wonders Geneva Foundation (WWGF), created in September 2022 on the initiative of Rolex, Richemont and Patek Philippe, and supported by Chanel, Hermès and LVMH through their representation on the Board, continues its mission as a non‑profit organisation dedicated to promoting watchmaking worldwide through the organisation of this major event.

Nearly 300 guests attended the inauguration ceremony, including Geneva authorities, official representatives, international journalists, partners, and service providers involved in staging the Salon. The ceremony opened with an address by Cyrille Vigneron, President of the Watches and Wonders Geneva Foundation, who reaffirmed Geneva’s status as the world capital of watchmaking and emphasised the Salon’s role as a cultural actor—“a culture that needs to be nurtured, transmitted and transformed in order to keep it alive.” He described the event as “a platform that balances with competition and cooperation.”

State Councillor Nathalie Fontanet, responsible for the Department of Finance, Human Resources and External Affairs, highlighted the event’s expanding international reach and the strength of Geneva’s watchmaking ecosystem, which unites heritage, innovation and resilience in an uncertain global environment. She noted that this unique concentration of skills, expertise and innovation constitutes an unrivalled advantage recognised far beyond Switzerland’s borders. She added that the Salon is “far more than just a showcase; it is a true hub for exchange, encounters and forward‑thinking. It is here that tomorrow’s trends take shape, perspectives are shared, ideas are exchanged and ambitions are forged.” The ceremony concluded with a ribbon‑cutting that brought together public authorities and executives from all 65 participating brands.

Among the distinguished guests were Ana Roch, President of the Parliament of the Canton of Geneva; Helene Budliger Artieda, State Secretary at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO); Alfonso Gomez, Mayor of the City of Geneva; and Marjorie de Chastonay, Executive Council Member of the City of Geneva. They were joined by Laurent Jimaja, Mayor of the municipality of Grand‑Saconnex; Michel Pomatto and Valérie Issot‑Buchoux, both Executive Council Members of Grand‑Saconnex; and Carole Studer, President of the Municipal Council of Grand‑Saconnex. Also present were Philippe Richard, Secretary General of the Department of Economy, Innovation, Employment and Heritage of the Canton of Vaud; François Longchamp, Chairman of Palexpo; Claude Membrez, CEO of Palexpo; and Matthieu Humair, CEO of the Watches and Wonders Geneva Foundation. Members of the Foundation’s Board, members of the Exhibiting Committee, and the CEOs of all participating brands were likewise in attendance, underscoring the significance of the event for the global watchmaking community.

The 65 exhibiting brands represented a remarkable cross‑section of contemporary watchmaking excellence. They included A. Lange & Söhne, Alpina, Angelus, Armin Strom, Arnold & Son, Artya Genève, Audemars Piguet, Baume & Mercier, Behrens, Bianchet, Bremont, B.R.M Chronographes, Bulgari, Cartier, Chanel, Charles Girardier, Charriol, Chopard, Christiaan van der Klaauw, Chronoswiss, Corum, Credor, Cyrus Genève, Czapek & Cie, Eberhard & Co., Favre Leuba, Ferdinand Berthoud, Frederique Constant, Genus, Gerald Charles, Grand Seiko, Grönefeld, Hautlence, Hermès, H. Moser & Cie., Hublot, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger‑LeCoultre, Kross Studio, Laurent Ferrier, L’Epée 1839, Louis Moinet, March LA.B, Nomos Glashütte, Norqain, Oris, Panerai, Parmigiani Fleurier, Patek Philippe, Pequignet, Piaget, Raymond Weil, Ressence, Roger Dubuis, Rolex, Rudis Sylva, Sinn Spezialuhren, TAG Heuer, Trilobe, Tudor, U‑Boat, Ulysse Nardin, Vacheron Constantin, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Zenith. Their presence reflects the breadth, diversity and vitality of contemporary horology.