Events

Events are essential for building community, sharing knowledge, and inspiring collaboration. The Villars Institute hosts a wide range of programs—from summits and conferences to cultural activities—including three flagship events: the Villars Summit, the Villars Symposium, and the Global Learning Conference, along with several partner events. Together, these gatherings bring diverse voices from Switzerland and around the world to advance planetary health, sustainable development, and education.

The Fourth Villars Music Academy Concert

Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland

10–11 July 2026

Experience an unforgettable two-day celebration of classical music featuring leading international musicians performing alongside rising talents and prize-winning artists from the Villars Music Academy. The program also includes the announcement of the Robert Dunand Prize finalist, an exclusive distinction awarded to one of the Academy’s outstanding young performers.

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Festival International du Film Alpin des Diablerets (FIFALP)

Diablerets, Switzerland | 25 July – 1 August 2026

The Festival International du Film Alpin des Diablerets (FIFALP) brings together more than 60 films exploring the mountains of Switzerland and beyond through stories of adventure, discovery, environmental change, and human resilience. In partnership with the Villars Institute, the festival offers a powerful cinematic platform to reflect on the future of alpine regions, the impact of climate change, and the importance of protecting mountain environments and communities. As the oldest international alpine film festival, it continues to celebrate the beauty, fragility, and cultural richness of the mountains, while inspiring dialogue and action for a more sustainable future.

Past events

Expand to view 17 past Events

The Fifth Villars Symposium

Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland

14–17 June 2026

The Villars Symposium will take place on 14–17 June at the Villars Palace Hotel, bringing together over 150 Villars Fellows alongside the Institute’s partners, leading experts and innovators. The aim of the Symposium is to initiate the Fellows’ lifelong journey as systems leaders through interdisciplinary learning, intergenerational collaboration and exposure to real-world challenges.

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The Fourth Villars Summit

Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland

18–20 March 2026

The Villars Institute Summit 2026 will take place on 18-20 March at the Villars Palace Hotel with 300 experts, conservation leaders, chief sustainability officers, entrepreneurs, investors and philanthropists. The aim of the Summit is to address the climate and biodiversity crises holistically through interdisciplinary collaboration to accelerate systems transformation.

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Villars CSO Leadership Roundtable

17–18 March 2026

The Villars CSO Leadership Roundtable convenes a select group of global Chief Sustainability Officers, scientists, and practitioners to navigate the growing risks and opportunities at the intersection of nature, business, and geopolitics. Designed as an action-oriented forum, the Roundtable fosters peer learning and strategic dialogue to integrate nature into corporate decision-making, accelerate cross-sector collaboration, and strengthen CSOs’ role in driving systems change toward resilient, nature-positive economic pathways.

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Villars Ocean Forum 2026

Ground Zero for Planetary Tipping Points: Ocean, Poles & Glaciers

16–17 March 2026

Bringing together over 150 leaders from science, business, policy, conservation, philanthropy, exploration, and storytelling, the Forum will explore bold, science-led solutions to safeguard our blue and white frontiers.The convening will be co-hosted by Dr. Sylvia Earle, Prof. Johan Rockström, Victoria Attwood-Scott and Keith Tuffley AM.

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Global Learning Conference in Africa

Kigali, Rwanda

19–20 February 2026

The Global Learning Conference in Africa convenes leading educators, thought leaders, policy and decision makers, entrepreneurs and multi-generational learners to address these systemic issues, to reshape the future of learning, and to drive impact at scale. The conference was co-founded by the Global Learning Council, the Villars Institute and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), and the 2026 edition in Africa is co-hosted by the Rwanda Ministry of Education. This gathering offers a unique opportunity to collaborate across geographies, sectors and disciplines, to design resilient pathways for the future of learning and education, and to spark innovations that respond to our most pressing global challenges.

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The Fourth Villars Symposium

Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland

16–20 June 2025

The Villars Symposium will take place on 14–17 June at the Villars Palace Hotel, bringing together over 200 Villars Fellows alongside the Institute’s partners, leading experts and innovators. The aim of the Symposium is to initiate the Fellows’ lifelong journey as systems leaders through interdisciplinary learning, intergenerational collaboration and exposure to real-world challenges.

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Global Learning Conference 2025

Kigali, Rwanda

15–16 June 2025

The Global Learning Conference in Africa convenes leading educators, thought leaders, policy and decision makers, entrepreneurs and multi-generational learners to address these systemic issues, to reshape the future of learning, and to drive impact at scale. The conference was co-founded by the Global Learning Council, the Villars Institute and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), and the 2026 edition in Africa is co-hosted by the Rwanda Ministry of Education. This gathering offers a unique opportunity to collaborate across geographies, sectors and disciplines, to design resilient pathways for the future of learning and education, and to spark innovations that respond to our most pressing global challenges.

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The Third Villars Summit

Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland

19–21 March 2025

The Villars Institute Summit 2025 will take place on 19-21 March at the Villars Palace Hotel with over 280 experts, entrepreneurs, investors, and philanthropists. The aim of the Summit is to address the climate and biodiversity crises holistically through interdisciplinary cooperation to accelerate systemic change.

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The Third Villars Symposium

Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland

25–28 June 2024

The Villars Symposium will take place on 14–17 June at the Villars Palace Hotel, bringing together over 200 Villars Fellows alongside the Institute’s partners, leading experts and innovators. The aim of the Symposium is to initiate the Fellows’ lifelong journey as systems leaders through interdisciplinary learning, intergenerational collaboration and exposure to real-world challenges.

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Frontiers Planet Prize Awards Ceremony 2024

Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland

25–26 June 2024

The Villars Institute is delighted to co-host the 2024 Awards Ceremony of the Frontiers Planet Prize. Three international champions will each be awarded 1 million Swiss francs in the 2024 Planet Prize Awards Ceremony, to support scientific breakthroughs with the greatest potential to stabilize the planet’s ecosystem.

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GLC 2024 Annual Meeting

Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland

24–25 June 2024

The GLC 2024 Annual Meeting will take place on 24 and 25 June 2024 in Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland. This Annual Meeting will bring together thought leaders, practitioners as well as students and learners from around the globe.

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The Second Villars Summit

Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland

20–23 March 2024

The Villars Institute Summit 2024 took place on 20-23 March at the Villars Palace Hotel with over 280 experts, entrepreneurs, investors, and philanthropists. The aim of the Summit is to address the climate and biodiversity crises holistically through interdisciplinary cooperation to accelerate systemic change.

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Villars Framework Launch Summit

Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland

15–17 September 2023

The Villars Framework Launch Event – Remaking the Global Trading System for a Sustainable Future Project convened senior leaders from national governments, international organizations, businesses, NGOs, and universities to shape a people-centered and inclusive agenda to align the international trade system with sustainable development and climate change action, and thereby strengthen the trade system. The discussion focused on the Villars Framework for a Sustainable Trading System, which represents the culmination of two years of intensive research, analysis, and discussion, through ten thematic workshops exploring various aspects of the trade-sustainability interface.

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The Nature Restoration Roundtable

Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland

11–12 September 2023

The Nature Restoration Roundtable is a global meeting of 30 invited experts to explore ways to accelerate natural climate solutions at scale in key biomes around the world. The Roundtable will also shape the agenda for the 2024 Villars Institute Summit which convenes over 200 experts, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and philanthropists working across domains to unlock systemic solutions in the areas of agrifood, biodiversity, climate, and energy. The Roundtable will also provide an unique opportunity to shape the future strategy of a new $500 million USD nature-based solutions platform (Silvania) focusing on preventing deforestation; supporting biodiversity; and scaling sustainable forest management.

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The Second Villars Symposium

Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland

27–30 June 2023

The Villars Symposium will take place on 14–17 June at the Villars Palace Hotel, bringing together over 200 Villars Fellows alongside the Institute’s partners, leading experts and innovators.. The aim of the Symposium is to initiate the Fellows’ lifelong journey as systems leaders through interdisciplinary learning, intergenerational collaboration and exposure to real-world challenges.

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The First Villars Summit

Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland

15–17 March 2023

The inaugural Villars Institute Summit took place on 15-17 March at the Villars Palace Hotel with 200 experts, entrepreneurs, investors, and philanthropists. The aim of the Summit was to address the climate and biodiversity crises holistically through interdisciplinary cooperation to accelerate systemic change.

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The First Villars Symposium

Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland

21–24 June 2022

The Villars Symposium will take place on 14–17 June at the Villars Palace Hotel, bringing together over 200 Villars Fellows alongside the Institute’s partners, leading experts and innovators.. The aim of the Symposium is to initiate the Fellows’ lifelong journey as systems leaders through interdisciplinary learning, intergenerational collaboration and exposure to real-world challenges.

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