Swiss National Costume Festival

The Swiss National Costume Festival, known in German as the Schweizerische Trachtenvereinigung (STV), is the umbrella organisation for the preservation, care and renewal of Swiss folk costumes, folk song, folk dance, folk music, folk theatre and dialect. It was founded on 6 June 1926 in Lucerne and today counts more than 15,000 members across 650 groups, which are in turn organised into 26 cantonal associations. The STV is a folkloric umbrella association represented in all four cultural and linguistic regions of Switzerland. The association's statutory purpose is the preservation, care and renewal of traditional dress and related folk arts. Its specialist commissions — covering folk dance, folk song, costumes, editorial work, and children's and youth work — prepare projects in education and training, publications and events for the management board and central committee. The STV maintains its business office in Bubikon, where administration, secretariat, editorial work, fundraising and finance are handled, and it also operates an online shop. Since 1928 the association has published its organ, the magazine «Trachtenpost» (originally «Schweizertracht», «Heimatleben» and «Tracht und Brauch»). It appears four times a year in a print run of 20,000 copies in German and French. The STV also organises and documents major national gatherings, including the Schweizerisches Trachtenchorfest (Swiss Costume Choir Festival), held in Sursee in 2026, and events such as the Day of the Costume at the Federal Palace in Bern. Through its festivals, publications and cantonal network, the STV functions as the central commercial and cultural brand for Swiss traditional costume activity.

The Schweizerische Trachtenvereinigung (STV) was founded on 6 June 1926 in Lucerne. From its beginnings it defined itself as a folkloric umbrella association, and its statutory purpose article set out the preservation, care and renewal of Swiss folk costumes, folk song, folk dance, folk music, folk theatre and dialect. In 1928 the association founded its organ, the magazine «Trachtenpost», originally published under the names «Schweizertracht», «Heimatleben» and «Tracht und Brauch». The magazine appears four times a year in a print run of 20,000 copies in German and French. Over the decades the STV grew into a nationwide network. Today it comprises more than 15,000 members in 650 groups, organised into 26 cantonal associations, and is represented in all four cultural and linguistic regions of Switzerland. Its specialist commissions — for folk dance, folk song, costumes, editorial work, and children's and youth work — prepare projects in education and training, publications and events for the management board and central committee. The association's business office is located in Bubikon, where management, secretariat, editorial work, fundraising and finance are handled; the STV also runs an online shop. The STV organises and documents major national gatherings. Among recent events are the Schweizerisches Trachtenchorfest (Swiss Costume Choir Festival) held in Sursee in 2026, the Day of the Costume at the Federal Palace in Bern, a flag handover at the company Heimgartner, a costume book vernissage in Bern, and a ski weekend in Savognin. These events, together with the Trachtenpost and the cantonal network, sustain the association's role as the central brand for Swiss traditional costume culture.

• 2026

  Schweizerisches Trachtenchorfest held in Sursee.

• 1928

  Founded the magazine «Trachtenpost» (originally «Schweizertracht», «Heimatleben», «Tracht und Brauch»).

• 1926

  Founded on 6 June 1926 in Lucerne.

Umbrella association and central brand for Swiss traditional costume, folk culture and related events.

• Trachtenpost magazine

  Association organ published four times a year in a print run of 20,000 copies in German and French.

• Online shop

  The STV operates an online shop.

1. 1Startseite | Schweizerische Trachtenvereinigungtrachtenvereinigung.ch
2. 2Verbandsgeschichte | Schweizerische Trachtenvereinigungtrachtenvereinigung.ch
3. 3Über uns | Schweizerische Trachtenvereinigungtrachtenvereinigung.ch
4. 4Galerien | Schweizerische Trachtenvereinigungtrachtenvereinigung.ch
5. 5Swiss National Costume Festivalwikidata.org