Last June, Festi’neuch experienced one of its most striking moments: a sudden, unusually intense storm swept across the festival grounds. Within minutes, the teams were faced with an emergency situation, offering a vivid illustration of the challenges open-air event organisers face today, at a time when weather-related risks are becoming more frequent and more severe.
“The first minutes were decisive.”
According to the festival director, the first minutes were crucial. The rapid rise of the wind, followed by an unpredictable storm front, left very little room for manoeuvre. Despite this, the teams reacted with remarkable efficiency: securing sensitive areas, evacuating vulnerable zones, and coordinating internally to protect key infrastructure. Their ability to maintain a clear vision in the midst of turmoil enabled them to safeguard both the public and the staff. The episode is a reminder that, in the events sector, even meticulous preparation cannot eliminate the unexpected; reflexes, field experience, and team cohesion make all the difference.
The next day, the material damage was substantial: damaged structures, weakened installations, and unusable equipment. For a festival of this scale, such a financial shock could jeopardise not only the current edition but also those to come.
“Without appropriate insurance, the consequences would have been very difficult to absorb.”
This statement summarises the core issue revealed by this crisis: the need for organisers to have coverage calibrated to real risks, taking into account their infrastructure, environment, and now increasingly extreme weather events.
In this situation, the role of TSM, the festival’s insurer, proved decisive from the very first hours. The rapid deployment of experts to assess the damage, coordinated management of the claim process, administrative support, and assistance in planning the necessary repairs allowed the festival to clarify its priorities and stabilise the situation. This solid partnership demonstrates that insurance is more than compensation; it provides a stabilising framework that becomes essential when every decision counts.
Beyond the technical aspects, the episode also highlighted the strength of the human factor. The director emphasises the commitment of his team, their ability to stand together, and to maintain smooth coordination under pressure.
“What I saw that day was a collective able to face the unexpected together. It was our internal culture that carried us.”
This dimension, often invisible from the outside, is nevertheless one of the pillars of an event’s continuity.
Following the storm, Festi’neuch initiated a thorough review to strengthen its future preparedness: extended analysis of extreme weather scenarios, reinforced checks on vulnerable infrastructure, adjusted prevention measures, and a reassessment of its insurance coverage. TSM supports this process with a clear vision: helping organisers adapt to a reality in which climate risk has become structural rather than exceptional.
The experience lived by Festi’neuch now stands as a case study for the entire events sector. It demonstrates how preparation, rapid team responsiveness, and a strong partnership between organisers and insurer can transform a critical incident into a demonstration of resilience. Festi’neuch managed to navigate this crisis without compromising its future, thanks to solid organisation and insurance capable of fully assuming its stabilising role.
A valuable lesson at a time when cultural organisations across Switzerland are facing increasingly demanding climate-related challenges.
