Festi’Neuch 2026: Lighting, Video, and Rigging for the Cargo Stage

From June 11 to 15, 2026, the Jeunes-Rives in Neuchâtel once again hosted Festi’Neuch, one of French-speaking Switzerland’s must-see music festivals. Over the course of four days, several thousand festivalgoers gathered by the lake to enjoy an eclectic lineup featuring Swiss and international artists.

For this year’s edition, SKYNIGHT handled the installation of the lighting, video, and rigging infrastructure for the Cargo stage, the festival’s main stage. The project required several weeks of preparation and the continuous presence of technical crews throughout the event.

A main stage designed to host a wide variety of productions

Every year, the Cargo stage hosts artists from a wide range of artistic backgrounds, each accompanied by their own technical crews and with their own specific requirements.

In this context, the systems must offer power, flexibility, and reliability. Setup times between concerts are often short, and the systems must be able to adapt quickly to the needs of different productions.

To address these challenges, the SKYNIGHT teams ensured that:

• Installation of the lighting infrastructure for the main stage.
• Installation and operation of the video system.
• The construction of rigging infrastructure.
• Day-to-day technical support for hosted productions.
• Operational monitoring of the facilities throughout the festival.

The goal was to provide a high-performance technical environment that would allow the artists and their teams to focus fully on their performances.

A large-scale lighting setup to complement each performance

Light plays a central role in the experience offered to the audience. Beyond simply illuminating the performers, it contributes to the visual identity of each concert and plays a key role in immersing festivalgoers in the experience.

For the 2026 edition, the Cargo stage was equipped with a substantial lighting system designed to meet the needs of the various productions hosted there.

Key equipment deployed

• 27 MegaPointe Dress
• 46 Martin MAC Aura XB
• 30 Chauvet Color Strike
• 7 iFORTE Dress
• 11 Martin Quantum Wash
• 2 iFORTE LTX FS dresses processed via RoboSpot
• 31 Molefay LEDs installed on stage and above the audience

The MegaPointe fixtures were used to create a wide variety of dynamic effects, while the Martin MAC Aura XB fixtures provided the color washes and lighting atmospheres needed for the various artistic themes.

The Chauvet Color Strike lights were added to the setup to provide even greater visual impact, especially during the highlights of the concerts.

The front lighting relied on a combination of Robe iFORTE and Martin Quantum Wash fixtures to ensure precise lighting of the performers on stage. Two Robe iFORTE LTX FS fixtures, operated via RoboSpot, were used to effectively track the performers as they moved.

Finally, the 31 Molefay LED lights installed above the audience and on stage helped create spectacular visual effects while enhancing the interaction between the artists and festivalgoers.

The entire system was designed to give productions a great deal of creative freedom while maintaining technical consistency throughout the festival.

A video infrastructure designed for production flexibility

Video is now an essential part of major festival stages. It enhances the audience’s visual experience and meets the specific needs of the productions being presented.

On the Cargo stage, the video system was powered by an Aquilon processor, known for its operational flexibility in complex environments.

In particular, this architecture made it possible to:

• Centralized management of various video sources.
• The backdrops.
• Use of the side screens dedicated to IMAG.
• The ability to adapt quickly to the needs of different production lines.

Thanks to this setup, content could be broadcast flexibly according to the wishes of the artists and production teams.

This ability to adapt is a major challenge in the context of a festival where several productions are staged one after another on the same stage over the course of a few days.

Rigging: The Technical Backbone of the Cargo Stage

Although often less visible to the public, rigging is nonetheless one of the key elements in the success of a production of this scale.

Rigging infrastructure provides a safe means of supporting all the suspended equipment necessary for stage operations: lighting, video, technical structures, and scenic elements.

Setting up this infrastructure requires thorough preparation and close coordination among the various project stakeholders.

The SKYNIGHT teams were responsible for installing the mounting structures while ensuring compliance with the safety requirements for this type of event.

This phase serves as the foundation upon which all lighting and video installations are subsequently built.

Several weeks of preparation before the first festivalgoers arrive

Although the festival lasts four days, the technical teams’ work begins well in advance.

Project preparation involves many steps: needs analysis, coordination with production, logistics planning, and equipment preparation.

Once on site, the teams set up the infrastructure before conducting the various tests required to bring the stage into operation.

During the festival, technicians and stage managers monitor the equipment on a daily basis to ensure it is functioning properly and to address any requests from the production teams.

After the final concert, the dismantling phase finally begins, which in turn requires significant human and logistical resources to restore the site to its original condition.

Essential collaboration between production, stage managers, and technical crews

The success of an event like Festi’Neuch depends on the collaboration of many different stakeholders.

The production team, stage managers, artistic teams, technical service providers, and partners work together for several weeks to prepare and operate the festival’s various facilities.

This ongoing coordination ensures that operations run smoothly and provides both the artists and the audience with the best possible conditions.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Festi’Neuch for its continued trust, as well as to all the technical teams, stage managers, and partners involved in the 2026 edition.

SKYNIGHT: Supporting Festivals and Live Performances

For many years, SKYNIGHT has been supporting festivals, live performances, public events, and cultural events throughout Switzerland.

Our teams handle all technical needs related to lighting, video, sound, infrastructure, and rigging to provide solutions tailored to the requirements of each project.

Our participation in Festi’Neuch 2026 once again demonstrates our commitment to working alongside organizers and production teams to help ensure the success of major events and offer the public ever more immersive experiences.