Paléo Festival Goes Solar And Wins Best Major Festival in Europe
- Seema Sharma
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Big news for Nyon.
The Paléo Festival Nyon is starting 2026 with two major announcements: the launch of its own solar farm AND being named Best Major Festival at the European Festival Awards.
As the festival prepares for its 2026 edition (Tuesday 21 – Sunday 26 July) and looks ahead to its 50th anniversary in 2027, Paléo is reinforcing both its international reputation and its long-term sustainability ambitions.
A Solar Farm Next to the Festival Site
From this year, Paléo will quite literally run on sunshine. Located right next to the festival grounds, a new solar installation made up of 261 photovoltaic panels now produces more than 100,000 kWh per year. This covers around 50% of the Festival’s electricity needs for one edition.
To put that into perspective:
It’s eight times the energy required by the Grande Scène during one festival.
It represents the equivalent of around a dozen round-the-world trips in an electric car.
It is one of the first initiatives of its kind for a festival in Switzerland.
The remaining electricity continues to come from a 100% green energy mix, which Paléo has used since 2006.
A Long-Term Project Rooted in the Region
The solar farm is the result of several years of development, carried out in collaboration with Swiss company OptimalGo.
Started in 2023 and fully operational since January 2026, the installation is designed as a local energy circuit. In practical terms, this means Paléo can produce and consume its own renewable electricity and in the event of surplus, supply it to nearby residents, farmers and small businesses.
It’s another step in the Festival’s broader sustainability policy, which in recent years has included:
The introduction of reusable tableware (2024)
A permanent regional cup-washing facility (2025)
“A Greener Festival” certification (2025)
A new carbon assessment is also planned following the 50th edition in 2027.
Best Major Festival in Europe
While investing in sustainability at home, Paléo has also been recognised on the international stage. In January, at the European Festival Awards ceremony held during Eurosonic Noorderslag in the Netherlands, the Paléo Festival Nyon received the Best Major Festival Award.
This category is reserved for events welcoming more than 40,000 festival-goers per day. The award recognises outstanding quality in both programming and overall audience experience. After an online vote involving 300,000 participants across Europe, a professional jury selected the winner from ten finalists.
For Paléo, the award reflects not only its line-up and organisation, but also the strength of its community: a permanent team, association members, and more than 5,000 volunteers who bring the Festival to life each year. As Daniel Rossellat, President of Paléo Festival Nyon, noted, the distinction above all celebrates “a collective adventure and the exceptional commitment of the entire Paléo community.”
Looking Ahead to 2027
These announcements come at a symbolic moment.
As Paléo prepares its 2026 edition, it is also gearing up for its 50th anniversary in 2027 which is a fantastic milestone for one of Switzerland’s most iconic cultural events. Between energy innovation, international recognition and continued community engagement, the festival is positioning itself not just as a major music event, but as a long-term cultural and environmental actor in the region.
For Nyon, it’s a reminder that one of its biggest stages continues to evolve and shine, well beyond the music. With sustainability milestones and a major European award already in hand, attention now shifts to the music. The 2026 line-up will be unveiled in March and expectations are high!
Here's the aftermovie of Paléo 2025
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