Bô Noël’s trajectory in Lausanne
Lausanne’s end‑of‑year celebration, Bô Noël, has become a staple of the city’s winter calendar since its inception in 2015. Run largely in the city centre, the festival has drawn wide participation and media attention, turning the urban streets into a festive venue that blends markets, light installations, and family moments. The event has helped position Lausanne as a year‑end destination, especially for residents and visitors looking for a compact, walkable celebration that feels distinctly local.
In recent editions, the festival’s footprint extended beyond the historic core, embracing installations at Plateforme 10, including the big wheel. The shift toward decentralised activities drew mixed reactions: some visitors appreciated the wider spread, while others felt the central heart of Bô Noël was diluted. Still, the overall turnout remained high, underscoring the event’s importance for the city’s winter tourism mix.
2024 numbers and the layout question
Official figures for the 2024 edition highlighted robust engagement, with well over 400,000 visitors attending. This level of participation reinforced the festival’s economic and cultural value for Lausanne and its economic actors. However, the decision to move certain activities to Plateforme 10—a notable example being the large Ferris wheel—prompted debate about where the festival should anchor its core identity and how to balance a traditional Christmas market with new attractions.
2025: the final edition
The City of Lausanne announced that 2025 will mark Bô Noël’s last edition as it is currently known. The municipal administration has framed this as an opportunity to reflect on the festival’s impact, learn from past iterations, and plan a fresh, future‑oriented approach for the city’s end‑of‑year celebrations. This decision signals a transition period and a commitment to a coherent, citywide festive strategy that aligns with Lausanne’s broader tourism goals.
From 2026: a new concept under a four-year contract
Looking ahead, Lausanne intends to entrust a single organiser with the design and execution of a new concept for a four‑year period starting in 2026. The City has launched an open call for projects to source ideas that can reimagine the end‑of‑year festivities while staying true to the event’s spirit. The objective is to build on the existing success of Bô Noël and give the celebrations a coherent framework that dovetails with Lausanne’s tourism strategy, in close collaboration with local business and cultural stakeholders.
A spokesperson for the city articulated the plan as opening a new chapter: the aim is to leverage established strengths, integrate festival activities more closely with the city’s tourism strategy, and maintain robust dialogue with the economic sector. The process emphasizes collaboration and a shared vision for how winter festivities can contribute to Lausanne’s appeal as a year‑round destination.
What this means for Lausanne’s festive calendar
The transition from Bô Noël to a new concept reflects a strategic shift: rather than simply extending the same format, the city seeks a refreshed model that offers clarity, consistency, and stronger alignment with Lausanne’s tourism ambitions. This includes careful consideration of where events take place, how they attract both local residents and international visitors, and how they integrate with other winter attractions such as Plateforme 10 and surrounding cultural venues.
For local businesses, residents, and visitors, the change promises more predictable planning and potentially more cohesive branding for Lausanne’s December period. By inviting proposals from experienced event organisations, Lausanne hopes to benefit from new ideas while preserving the festive spirit that residents associate with Bô Noël.
What happens next
The city’s call for proposals marks the formal start of the next phase. Stakeholders across the economic and cultural sectors are invited to submit concepts that demonstrate feasibility, creative impact, and alignment with tourism objectives. The process will unfold over the coming months, with selection guiding the festival’s future identity and footprint.
The broader takeaway is clear: Lausanne intends to translate the success of Bô Noël into a sustainable, tourism‑oriented festive model that resonates with both residents and visitors, while preserving the charm and communal spirit that have defined the event for nearly a decade.
