The Photo Münsingen photography festival, a beloved annual event that has drawn thousands of visitors to the Swiss town of Münsingen for over two decades, will conclude permanently after its 25th edition in May 2026. Organizers announced the difficult decision citing insurmountable financial difficulties and personnel shortages that have plagued the festival in recent years.
Urs Hintermann, who has served as the organizing committee president since 2021, expressed the weight of this decision. "This decision is very difficult for us," Hintermann said. "However, the end has been looming. Personnel and financial problems have been weighing on the event." A task force was established six months ago to find solutions, but no viable options emerged, leaving organizers with no choice but to end the festival.
The festival, which traditionally takes place during the Ascension Day holiday weekend at the historic Schlossgut estate, has specifically catered to amateur photographers through lectures, workshops, exhibitions, and competitions. "We really show good photography, have a high standard, but are not pretentious," Hintermann once described the event's mission. The festival has maintained its reputation for quality programming while remaining accessible to photography enthusiasts of all skill levels.
Several key leadership positions remain unfilled despite intensive recruitment efforts. Hintermann, who announced upon taking office that he would serve for five editions before stepping down, has found no successor for 2026. Additionally, vacant positions include heads of sponsorship, communication and marketing, and catering departments. "This problem is not unique to us," Hintermann noted, acknowledging broader challenges in volunteer recruitment, though the festival has consistently attracted sufficient volunteers for event operations.
Financial pressures have intensified significantly in recent years. The festival operates on an annual budget of approximately 150,000 Swiss francs, an amount that has become increasingly difficult to secure. Sponsorships form the primary financial backbone of the event, but recent gaps in this funding stream could not be compensated. Additional support comes from public entities including the municipality of Münsingen and the Canton of Bern, as well as various foundations.
The municipality of Münsingen typically contributed around 10,000 francs to the festival but recouped a portion of this amount through rental fees for the Schlossgut venue. According to Hintermann, these rental costs have increased recently, further straining the festival's finances. Municipal councilor Vera Wenger of the Green Party expressed regret over the festival's end, stating, "We very much regret this conclusion. The event is important for Münsingen. The traditional walk through the Schlossgut area on Ascension Day has become a tradition."
Wenger praised the organizers' efforts over the years, noting they "did a super job" but increasingly struggled with mounting challenges. She said she could understand their decision given the circumstances. The festival has been a significant cultural attraction for the town, bringing thousands of visitors annually and contributing to the local economy.
The first Photo Münsingen took place during the Ascension Day weekend in 2000, organized by the Münsingen Photo Club with the goal of creating "a new forum for photography." The inaugural program included slide presentations, exhibitions, and seminars, providing participants with camera handling tips and techniques. This educational focus has remained constant throughout the festival's 26-year history.
A photography competition for photo clubs was established from the very beginning, with the Fotoclub Sense claiming the first victory. The initial event attracted 1,300 visitors and established a foundation for consistent growth. Rudolf Mäusli, the festival's first president, provided remarkable continuity by serving until 2021, helping establish the event's reputation and traditions.
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the festival's momentum. The 2020 edition was canceled and moved to a virtual format featuring online training sessions, seminars, and digital exhibitions. The 2021 festival also fell victim to pandemic restrictions. When the festival returned in 2022, Hintermann emphasized, "The most important thing this year is that Photo Münsingen simply takes place again." In recent pre-pandemic years, the festival regularly attracted several thousand visitors.
The Münsingen Photo Club, which boasts approximately 100 members, has considered the festival its flagship event and a crucial networking opportunity. "The Photo has been the showcase of our association and has enabled many contacts," Hintermann explained. However, he emphasized that the club maintains numerous other activities and will explore creating a smaller-scale replacement event.
Despite the emotional difficulty of ending the festival, organizers are committed to delivering a memorable final edition in 2026. The photo club plans to organize an exceptional concluding celebration during the Ascension Day weekend, ensuring the festival's legacy receives proper recognition. As Hintermann noted three years ago, "We are simply obsessed with capturing something transient," making it fitting that this final edition will itself become a captured moment of the festival's own transience.
The end of Photo Münsingen represents the conclusion of a significant chapter in Swiss photography culture, marking the loss of an event that successfully bridged amateur and professional photography while maintaining high artistic standards and community accessibility throughout its quarter-century run.
