With the end of the well-known Kispi Ball at the Baur au Lac (finews reported), Zurich lost one of its longstanding social institutions. Now a new event is set to fill at least part of that gap: On November 21, 2026, the «Zurich Ball» at the Dolder Grand will take place for the first time.

The organizers describe the evening as an exclusive ball night with around 250 invited guests from business, entrepreneurship, politics, and culture. According to a media release, the goal is to combine «European ball tradition with Swiss entrepreneurial spirit» and to create a platform for high-level exchange.

Entrepreneurs as Hosts

The initiative comes from three Swiss entrepreneurs: serial entrepreneur and investor Tobias Reichmuth, location promoter Florin Lanz, and digital entrepreneur Samuel Manz. They are supported by a ball committee consisting of Carla Bünger, Lucy Tallo, Marc P. Bernegger, and Nadia Hochstrasser.

The founders say they deliberately draw inspiration from the grand European ball traditions while reinterpreting them through an entrepreneurial lens. «The Zurich Ball should be a place where entrepreneurship, culture, and social responsibility come together naturally,» Reichmuth is quoted as saying in the statement.

The Finance Industry as a Natural Partner

As co-initiator Reichmuth explained in an exchange with finews, the financial sector is also likely to play an important role. «Entrepreneurs who want to grow need financing. Accordingly, the financial industry is an important partner and will be well represented at the Zurich Ball,» he wrote.

Interest appears to be building quickly following the announcement. Within just a few hours after the official communication, several sponsorship inquiries had already been received – including from a Swiss private bank, a Zurich fashion house, and a private jet company, Reichmuth said. The organizers have also already sold several tables.

«I believe we are filling a vacuum with the Zurich Ball,» the entrepreneur added.

An Award for the Next Generation

A central element of the evening will be the presentation of the «Zurich Next Generation Entrepreneur Award». The prize is intended to honor young entrepreneurial personalities who set new impulses through innovation and a sense of social responsibility.

According to the organizers, the winner will be selected by an independent jury composed of representatives from business and culture.

A Serial Entrepreneur With a Sense for Trends

Co-initiator Tobias Reichmuth, also known from the television show «Höhle der Löwen», has for years been one of the more visible figures in Switzerland’s startup and investor scene. The lawyer with a doctorate has founded several companies and today primarily works as an investor.

Reichmuth has repeatedly positioned himself as an early supporter of emerging technological trends – including in the fields of cryptocurrencies and digital finance platforms – and moves within networks spanning entrepreneurship, venture capital, and the international tech scene.

With the Zurich Ball, he and his partners now aim to establish a new fixture in the social life of Switzerland’s business capital.