Montreux Jazz Festival

Temporary Platforms for Bars and Restaurants

For the 2026 Montreux Jazz Festival, NUSSLI constructed several temporary structures directly on or over the water. The focus was on substructures for various bars and lounge areas. NUSSLI built the load-bearing platforms and the corresponding flooring, thereby laying the foundation for the festival’s subsequent use of the space.

One of the largest structures was the Nestlé Sunset Stage. A platform measuring approximately 31 by 16 meters was built over the water to house the bar. The structure was complemented by a sun deck, which provides additional space for visitors. The platform thus combines functionality with a pleasant atmosphere, taking full advantage of its unique location directly on Lake Geneva.

NUSSLI also built a platform over the water for the TEK Bar. The structure, measuring approximately 14 x 16 meters, served as the foundation for the tent structure provided by the client. As with the other structures, the design was tailored to the requirements of the specific location and the intended use.

Chiringuito: Platform with Custom Topping

Another unique feature was the chiringuito. A platform measuring approximately 11.5 by 19.5 meters was built here to serve as the foundation for a bar. The design was complemented by custom flooring—including, among other things, pink wooden planks.

Accessibility was also a key consideration during the planning and construction phases: The platform is wheelchair-accessible, thereby ensuring access to the area with as few barriers as possible. In this way, the temporary event infrastructure combines functional requirements with the unique design of the festival’s presentation.

A 132.5-meter bridge along the lakeshore

In addition to the platforms, NUSSLI built the Jaccoud Footbridge, another key piece of infrastructure for the festival. The 132.5-meter-long bridge extends into and over the water and is an important part of the path network on the festival grounds.

Event Setup on and in the Water

Construction on and in the water poses unique challenges in terms of planning, logistics, and execution. The subsoil, accessibility, fluctuating water levels, weather conditions, and the sensitive environment must all be taken into account as early as the conceptual design phase. For this project, NUSSLI constructed several temporary platforms and a 132.5-meter-long footbridge right on the water’s edge. NUSSLI has also carried out similar work on other projects, for example in Thun at the Thunersee Games, temporary Event Structures used along and above the water. NUSSLI develops safe and functional solutions that integrate into existing waterfront areas and can be used flexibly for the duration of an event.

Versatile Use of System Materials

The various structures at the Montreux Jazz Festival demonstrate the versatile applications of NUSSLI system materials. Depending on the requirements, platforms, substructures, and walkways of varying sizes can be built using the same modular construction system. At the Montreux Jazz Festival, the system was used for the large-scale platform of the Nestlé Sunset Stage as well as for smaller bar platforms and the 132.5-meter-long Jaccoud footbridge. By flexibly combining the individual system elements, structures can be adapted to different dimensions, uses, and on-site conditions. This enables efficient solutions for temporary event infrastructure and makes the system material highly versatile across various areas of the festival.