Swatch Celebrates 15th Anniversary of Swatch Art Peace Hotel with Global Event Honoring Art and Creativity

This is a shining milestone in our long love story with creativity.

Launched on November 1, 2011, the Swatch Art Peace Hotel was conceived as a place where artists could live, create, and above all, express themselves with complete freedom. It was born from Swatch’s deep passion for art and a simple, positive belief: 'Artists make the world a better place.' Since opening, the residency has welcomed over 600 artists from 61 countries, providing studios, a 'second home,' and a vibrant, multidisciplinary community where ideas flow day and night.

"Fifteen years ago, Swatch was guided by love for art and for those who create it, envisioning a space without limits to creativity—a place where ideas could freely circulate, collide, and take flight. Since then, the Swatch Art Peace Hotel has gained international recognition as a hub for artistic expression, cultural dialogue, and innovation. This anniversary celebrates a 15-year journey of creation—honoring everything that has flourished here, every artist, and everything yet to bloom," said Carlo Giordanetti, CEO of Swatch Art Peace Hotel.

To mark this special milestone with profound cultural significance in China, Swatch is launching a year-long series of commemorative events. These will include exhibitions, creative collaborations, and cultural programs that embody the spirit, evolution, and creative community cultivated since the residency’s inception. Beginning with 'Art Journey 2026' in Shanghai in January, a curated cultural program will unfold across Europe and various cities in China, showcasing works by past and present guest artists from the Swatch Art Peace Hotel.

Event Schedule

- PHOTOFAIRS Shanghai (Shanghai, China) | May 7–10, 2026

This special exhibition at Asia’s leading art fair for photography and digital art will spotlight artists working with animation, video, and moving images.

- Flora Fantastica (Venice, Italy) | May 6 – July 26, 2026

Held in the Royal Gardens of Venice, this vibrant exhibition blends diverse art forms to vividly depict an imaginative natural world. Coinciding with the renowned and influential Biennale Arte, it adds a creative highlight to the global art calendar.

- Kunsthaus Biel (Biel, Switzerland) | July 16 – August 30, 2026

The Swatch Art Peace Hotel returns to Biel, the city where the concept was first conceived. A commemorative exhibition will bring together artists who have shaped the residency’s 15-year history.

- Locarno Film Festival (Locarno, Switzerland) | August 5–15, 2026

This unique exhibition merges the avant-garde energy of the film festival with the ethos of the Swatch Art Peace Hotel, presenting works that challenge conventions and inspire new ways of thinking.

- Swatch Art Peace Hotel Celebrations (Shanghai, China) | Autumn 2026

The anniversary program will conclude with two special closing events at the Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai, marking a powerful finale that celebrates 15 years of creativity and builds anticipation for future developments.

- 15 x 15 Art Invasion (Various locations in China) | Ongoing throughout the year

Throughout the anniversary year, pop-up exhibitions by past and present Chinese guest artists from the Swatch Art Peace Hotel will be held at select venues across China, offering the public direct engagement with the creative community.

As part of the celebratory program, guest artist and photographer Jake Homovich has created 'In Transit – In Translation,' a work capturing the residency experience through interviews with residents and compelling visual storytelling. The piece is currently on display at the Swatch Store within the Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai.

Additionally, the Swatch Art Peace Hotel is releasing a special commemorative issue of its biennial publication 'Traces,' featuring works by guest artists who stayed at the hotel over the past two years.

About the Swatch Art Peace Hotel

From its inception, Swatch has cherished art and maintained dialogue with artists worldwide.

The Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai has been an open artist residency for all creatives since 2011. It serves as a creative hub where artists nurture projects, advance their careers, and generate new ideas in a unique environment. Invited artists are given time and space to work freely, honing their craft within a dynamic international community of exceptionally talented, creative, and adventurous individuals. Since its opening, over 600 artists from 61 countries have stayed at the residency, fostering an environment that is deeply rooted in history yet boldly modern and future-oriented.