Zurich Zoo to reinvent the Zoofäscht charity gala from 2028

Zurich Zoo will take over the Zoofäscht from 2028, opening a new chapter for one of Zurich’s best known charity events. The current independent organising committee has decided to step down after almost four decades of running the gala. The zoo announced the change on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.

The redesigned event will keep its fundraising purpose while changing its scale and rhythm. Zurich Zoo plans a two day weekend on the last weekend of August 2028. Saturday will host a new Zoo Night, followed by a family day on Sunday. The zoo has not yet published a full programme, ticket prices or a fundraising target.

That timetable gives the institution time to build a format that reaches beyond the traditional gala audience. The original Zoofäscht grew from a single summer evening into a recurring fixture on Zurich’s social calendar. By taking direct responsibility, the zoo will also connect the event more closely to its conservation work, visitor experience and development plans.

The announcement marks a transition in stewardship rather than an end to the event. Zurich Zoo says the new concept will draw on the Zoofäscht’s origins while introducing fresh ideas for future audiences.

The first Zoofäscht drew around 1,000 visitors on August 29, 1987. Hans C. Bodmer led the organising committee behind that inaugural event, which brought guests to the Zürichberg for an evening built around food, animals and fundraising.

The organisers handed visitors a filled picnic basket at the entrance. Guests then enjoyed dinner in the zoo, an informal detail that helped define the event’s character. The gala combined hospitality with a direct connection to Zurich Zoo, giving supporters a social reason to contribute to the institution.

With a few exceptions, the Zoofäscht has taken place every two years since its launch. The independent committee’s work helped sustain the event across nearly 40 years, while proceeds regularly financed new construction projects at the zoo. The source material does not give a cumulative fundraising total, but it identifies the gala as an important source of support for development at the site.

That history will shape the 2028 relaunch. Zurich Zoo has said it wants to build on the event’s origins, preserving the link between a memorable visit and practical support for the institution. The planned family day also extends the audience beyond the formal evening setting that defined the original gala.

The 2028 format will split the celebration across two distinct days. Saturday’s Zoo Night is expected to carry the gala’s evening atmosphere, while Sunday will turn the site toward families. Zurich Zoo has presented the arrangement as a way to combine established elements with a broader public programme.

The division reflects the zoo’s stated goals. The institution wants visitors to gain insight into endangered animals, develop enthusiasm for global biodiversity protection and find ways to become personally involved. Those aims place conservation education alongside entertainment and fundraising.

A family day could also give the Zoofäscht a stronger connection to Zurich residents who may not attend a formal charity gala. Parents and children will have a separate opportunity to experience the zoo, although the institution has not released details about activities, capacity or access. The Saturday programme has also yet to be announced.

The two day structure will require careful coordination. Zurich Zoo must manage visitors, animal welfare, hospitality and fundraising across a full weekend, while maintaining the event’s distinctive identity. The organisation has more than two years to confirm the practical details before the planned launch on the last weekend of August 2028.

The fundraising mission will remain at the centre of the Zoofäscht. Previous galas regularly generated substantial sums for new construction projects at Zurich Zoo. The institution now plans to carry that purpose into a format focused on conservation, biodiversity and public participation.

The shift gives Zurich Zoo direct control over how the event supports its priorities. The source announcement does not identify which future construction or conservation projects will receive money from the 2028 event. It also provides no estimate of expected attendance or revenue. Those details will matter as the zoo turns a long running tradition into an institution led weekend.

For Swiss supporters, the relaunch will preserve a familiar way to contribute while offering more points of access. A Saturday evening can serve established donors and guests, while Sunday can introduce families to the charitable purpose behind the event. The format may help the zoo explain how donations connect to its work, provided it publishes clear information about beneficiaries and results.

The last weekend of August 2028 is now the target for the first edition under Zurich Zoo’s management. Until then, the institution will need to define the programme, partnerships and fundraising model that will determine whether the Zoofäscht’s next chapter matches the reach of its history.