Evolving territories: how mountain regions envision their future

How mountain resorts are shaping their future: the 15th Moving Mountains Forum unveils an exciting programme

On 7 and 8 October 2026 in Les Diablerets, the meeting place for mountains in motion enters its fifteenth edition under the banner of redefining mountain territories. Faced with the challenges of climate and societal change, how are resorts envisioning their future? Who decides what? How will we live in the mountains tomorrow?

From Zermatt visionary Heinz Julen to the cradle of Savoyard alpinism in Pralognan-la-Vanoise, from equipment manufacturers to mountain guides, from glacier scientists to ski resort managers — all will come to exchange and debate the best practices paving the way towards sustainability.

For its 15th edition, the Moving Mountains Forum is innovating: the meeting place for mountains in motion, a platform for best practices towards a sustainable future at altitude, will now be held in early autumn, on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 October, at the Centre des Congrès Claude-Nicollier, Les Diablerets (VD). Players in the mountain economy and tourism, local and cantonal authorities, sustainable transition specialists, scientists and mountain living enthusiasts will gather to debate the best solutions for mountain communities to build their future together in the face of climate and societal upheaval.

The Forum programme, the full details of which will be published before the end of August, promises to be particularly rich. Under the overarching theme "Territories in transition: how resorts are envisioning their future", the two days of discussions and exchanges will shed light on key issues and very concrete ideas. Guest of honour at this 15th edition, the Savoyard village of Pralognan-la-Vanoise, a landmark of alpinism, will unveil its plans for the future and the natural and economic challenges it faces. This example will form part of a dialogue with representatives from the Vaudois Alps, which promises to be full of insight.

Among the other highlights of the 15th Moving Mountains Forum, Heinz Julen — architect, hotelier and well-known ideas provocateur — will present "Lina Peak", his visionary and provocative project: a 260-metre-high tower below Zermatt to house those who serve the resort's tourists but can no longer find an apartment due to property speculation. Is the future of mountain accommodation vertical?

In partnership with the EC(H)O podcast, which spotlights sustainable transition initiatives in Vaudois tourism, guides from near and far will discuss the profound changes affecting their centuries-old profession. Swiss and international glacier specialists will explain how they monitor the retreat of ice and permafrost, and how to cope with an uncertain environment. Ski resort managers will examine the best decision-making and economic models for planning the future. Mountain equipment manufacturers will discuss their environmental footprint.

On the morning of 8 October, students from HES-SO Valais Wallis will come to share their aspirations and questions with sustainable transition specialists from a wide range of backgrounds. Finally, in collaboration with the Skitzerland Association, the first edition of the Skitzerland Innovation Awards will recognise projects contributing to shaping the future of mountain tourism and snow sports.

A debate with the world of cinema and television

Before all of this, on Thursday 30 July at 3pm, as part of the 57th FIFALP (Festival du Film Alpin des Diablerets), official partner of Moving Mountains, we are hosting a public debate: "How can the Swiss mountains attract world cinema?" Following the acclaimed premiere of "Winter Palace" and other notable series and films, Switzerland and its mountain regions have a role to play. How to position themselves? How to attract the best productions? How to involve local communities? What role for the cantons and the Confederation? Representatives from the Federal Office of Culture, the cantons, the production and directing world, as well as concerned municipalities, will debate highly topical issues at a time when the distribution of federal and cantonal funding is being decided.

During the Forum on 7 October, a film from the FIFALP official selection, specially chosen by Moving Mountains for its relevance in terms of sustainability, will be screened at the end of the session.

In short, in 2026 more than ever, Moving Mountains is the meeting place for mountains in motion!

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The 2026 edition takes place on October 7 and 8 in Les Diablerets, at the heart of the issues we discuss.