A big stage for nerd culture: Why Herofest is the perfect fit for Bern

Herofest is the embodiment of a community that often stays hidden in everyday life – people who love games, fantasy and nerd culture. Many immerse themselves in this world every day but usually pursue their passion alone. At Herofest, 25,000 like-minded people come together to celebrate what they love. For me, this is the Bernese culmination of the scene – you can feel the energy in every corner.

The atmosphere is incredibly friendly. You notice it immediately: Everyone is here to enjoy themselves. It feels a bit like a music festival: You instantly recognise who belongs. But instead of partying, the focus here is on discovery and shared experiences. Herofest is a place where hobbies are lived with genuine passion and commitment. The vibe is laid-back yet mixed with a certain seriousness. Many dress up, slip into their roles, proudly showcase their home-built robots or dive into card games. And: Herofest is a safe space. Everybody can be themselves. Bold cosplay or unusual hobbies aren’t ridiculed here, they’re celebrated.

Of course, there are competitive moments too. The ambition is palpable at SwitzerLAN, with more than 2,300 computers, or at tournaments for "Magic”, “Yu-Gi-Oh!” or “Pokémon”. But for most, one thing matters above all: the shared experience.

The event has been running since 2017, and the 2025 edition will be bigger than ever. With the new festival hall, we’re growing by around 50 per cent. For the first time, the outdoor area between the halls will also come to life, including a huge medieval market, staged in partnership with Greenfield Festival. This new connecting space links the halls in its own unique way.

One highlight we’re especially proud of is the new concert format. On Friday and Saturday, part of the new hall will host to two major shows: the Helvetic Pik symphony orchestra from Lausanne will perform the original “World of Warcraft” score, with the composer flying in from the US especially for this occasion. Joining them from Japan is a video game rock band reinterpreting Nintendo classics such as “Donkey Kong”.

Concerts like these are enjoying great success across Switzerland, from KKL Luzern to Hallenstadion Zürich. Until now, Bern has been missing out. Herofest provides the perfect setting: diverse experiences throughout the day, rounded off by a powerful musical finale at night.

The location is important: Bern lies at the very heart of Switzerland. That not only makes travelling here easier but also encourages cultural exchange. In the gaming and fantasy scenes, French- and German-speaking Switzerland often remain separate, but Herofest brings the two together. And then there’s the backdrop: the old town, the historic atmosphere – Bern feels made for a festival with fantasy elements, cosplay and a medieval market. It’s a perfect fit, both practical and atmospheric.

Look a little closer and you’ll see other advantages: Bern is a technology hub. Industries like medtech, IT or engineering are strongly represented, and many Herofest visitors work in exactly these fields. Yet another reason why Bern is such a natural fit.

The new festival hall is, of course, a major advantage. Growth is only possible if the infrastructure grows with us. Without space, events stagnate. The new hall opens up all kinds of opportunities.

Most important for us is the Cube, with its permanently installed stage and huge LED wall. It's a true game changer for the planning of Herofest. In recent years, we had to set up stages in the main hall at great effort, then dismantle or fence them off at night. Now we can use the Cube independently. It can host 1,200 people – just right for our evening concert formats. We don’t need an arena, but a setting that's intimate and atmospheric.

Another bonus is the outdoor area between the halls, creating a natural flow from the festival hall to the one opposite. And here’s a detail to make you smile: originally, we planned to create a fantasy backdrop with a gloomy forest. On the visualisations it looked perfect. In reality, though, the trees are still young, with barely any shade. Not quite enough for a forest – yet. But who knows? In 15 years, we might have a real enchanted wood here.

Bern’s short distances are definitely an advantage, even if the current renovation of Kornhaus bridge comes with some restrictions. Overall, we benefit hugely from the city’s compact layout. For cosplayers, the old town is a real highlight. If you’ve gone to the effort of creating a costume, you want photos to remember it. Bern’s historic alleys are the perfect backdrop for unforgettable shots. Many visitors take the opportunity to explore the city before or after Herofest.

Those who are more deeply immersed in the scene often stay longer and discover the city around the festival. The proximity to good restaurants and bars is another plus.

One of Herofest’s goals is to extend these stays to two or three days. That’s already reality at SwitzerLAN, where more than 2,000 participants spend four days in the city. As Herofest grows, we want to strengthen this effect, building it into a festival experience that goes far beyond a single day.

A pretty big one. Bern has plenty of meeting places that keep the scene alive all year round: the “Zockbar” on Marktgasse, the “Erupt” at the station, or places like “Zwergenschmiede” and “Drachennest” – the latter a true institution for pen-and-paper, board and card games. All this shows: the scene in Bern is present and active.

Even as Herofest grows more national, Bern remains our home base. A large part of the audience still comes from the canton, though we don't have precise figures on city vs. canton. Of the roughly 25,000 visitors (and maybe 30,000 this year), a significant share is still from the region.

Currently, around 95 per cent of our visitors come from Switzerland. International guests are still rare. Those who do travel further tend to be a part of the hardcore community.
Long term, the goal is to reach more people from the metropolitan areas around Basel, Zurich, Lucerne, Lausanne and Fribourg.

The biggest challenge is clear: offering visitors something new and exciting every single year. On the one hand, that means enough great exhibitors and attractions. On the other, it’s about keeping the community engaged, even those who have already attended several times. The key question is: how do we get someone to say, “I’ve already been three times, but this year I’ll come again”? Then there's the budget, of course. Many problems could be solved with more resources. But the tighter the budget, the more small issues turn into real hurdles. Every organiser knows that feeling. At times, we’d also like more support from the authorities for our plans.

For 2025, we’ve put together an especially diverse programme with many highlights. One example is one of the first large-scale robot camps, where students will present the machines they’ve developed themselves. Still, it’s always a battle for attention amid the countless leisure options out there,

Our goal is clear: to focus entirely on the on-site experience. Every year there should be something surprising, something spectacular, something people will remember. The kind of moment that makes tickets sell out every year.

We don't want to grow endlessly. Our focus is on quality, not quantity. And we want visitors to leave with smiles on their faces. Our vision is that people buy their ticket knowing: Herofest delivers. Always.

The community is demanding, and that’s a good thing. It’s what drives us. It’s like a Tomorrowland stage or a Defqon1 show: you know it will be spectacular, even if you don't know exactly what's coming. That's the sense of anticipation we want to create.

Absolutely. The community is open, warm and welcoming. The hardcore fans shape the atmosphere, of course, but a large part of the audience are “normal” people who just feel like trying something new. Sunday, for instance, is family day. But couples or groups of friends without any scene connection are also very welcome.

And the best part: almost all of the attractions on site can be tried out for free. Whether it’s games, creative stands or shows, there's plenty to discover. Nintendo will be there with a large booth, along with more than 70 artists and around 30 Swiss game studios. There really is something for everyone – even grandparents.

Some people might feel a bit hesitant at first. But in reality, it’s like visiting the horse tent at BEA, Bern's spring fair: even if you don't ride, you can still enjoy the animals. And Herofest is the same. You don't need to be “nerdy” to have fun with robots.