The 2026 Watchmaking Heritage Biennial runs from Thursday, October 29, through Sunday, November 1, linking watchmaking companies and cultural institutions in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Le Locle and Saint-Imier. A new CHF 10 pass is intended to help visitors discover multiple locations; admission is free for people under 18. The details below come from WorldTempus’s October 12, 2026 interview with Denis Clerc, president of the organizing Fondation Urbanisme Horloger.
What is the Watchmaking Heritage Biennial?
Held every two years, the event opens parts of Switzerland’s watchmaking region to visitors through participating companies and cultural institutions, particularly museums. Its focus is broader than factory visits: Clerc says the foundation also publishes guides that put urban planning at the centre of watchmaking activity.
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La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle are joined by Saint-Imier, which became the Biennial’s third urban centre of interest in 2021. The three places connect the watchmaking industry with the built heritage of the region.
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When is the 2026 event, and what does the pass cost?
The 2026 Biennial is scheduled for October 29 to November 1. WorldTempus reports that a new single pass costs CHF 10 and lets visitors register to discover multiple companies and access various locations. Admission is free for under-18s.
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The pass should not be taken as confirmation that every location is included or that registration guarantees entry. The interview does not give a full location list, booking procedure, daily itinerary or company-by-company capacity rules. Check the event’s official information for current access and registration details before planning a visit.
Which companies are participating?
Clerc reports 37 participating companies, in addition to cultural institutions. He identifies these examples and participation histories:
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| Participation status | Companies named by Clerc |
|---|---|
| First-time participants | Corum; La Joux-Perret |
| Returning participants | Eberhard & Co; Girard-Perregaux |
| Long-standing participants | Audemars Piguet; Cartier; Jaquet Droz; Patek Philippe; Tudor; Zenith |
This is a selection named in the interview, not a complete participant directory. Clerc says brands are becoming more proactive, but the available account does not specify what each company will offer visitors.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWhy introduce a pass?
Clerc says the pass is meant to encourage visitors to make a longer journey among participating companies. He also links it to a practical problem: no-shows had left reserved places unavailable to other people. He describes the pass as a modest way to fund the event. These are the organizer’s stated aims; the interview does not establish whether the pass has reduced no-shows or changed attendance.
How many people attend?
WorldTempus describes typical attendance as 4,000 to 5,000 people, but this is a reported range rather than an independently verified count. For 2026, the foundation’s target is 5,000 people, according to Clerc. That is a goal, not a final attendance result.
Clerc cautions that attendance is difficult to count because one visitor may visit several companies over the four days. The interview does not provide an independently measured attendance study or an actual 2026 total.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Who organizes the event?
The organizer is the Fondation Urbanisme Horloger. Clerc describes it as independent of participating brands and says it is supported by traditional banks and local organizations. In his account, that funding arrangement gives the foundation autonomy, although its resources remain limited. This is Clerc’s description of the foundation’s governance and support.
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