Yodelling Singer Nadja Räss Awarded Swiss Grand Prix for Music 2026.
Swiss yodelling singer Nadja Räss has been awarded the 2026 Swiss Grand Prix for Music, receiving one of the country’s most prestigious cultural honours along with a prize of CHF 100,000.
The Federal Office of Culture announced the award on Thursday, recognizing Räss as one of the most influential voices in Swiss yodelling and traditional folk music. At 47 years old, the singer from the canton of Schwyz has played a key role in preserving and promoting Switzerland’s alpine musical heritage.
Räss has also worked as a cultural mediator and was instrumental in supporting the inclusion of yodelling on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage last December. The jury highlighted her contribution to elevating traditional Swiss folk music on an international level.
She becomes the first folk musician ever to receive the Swiss Grand Prix for Music, marking a significant milestone for traditional music genres in Switzerland’s contemporary cultural scene.
Alongside the Grand Prix winner, ten other musicians, collectives, and institutions were also honoured this year. Among them were Geneva-based artist Flèche Love and Neuchâtel musician Louis Schild, reflecting the diversity of Switzerland’s modern music landscape.
The jury for the 2026 awards was chaired by Ticino musician and journalist Gian-Andrea Costa. The Swiss Music Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in Lausanne on September 19.
The recognition of Nadja Räss highlights the growing appreciation for traditional Swiss music and its evolving role in the country’s cultural identity.
