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2 minAccessibility at live events: why "nice to have" is no longer an option
Accessibility is often treated as an add-on in the event industry. A wheelchair ramp here, a sign language interpreter there, done. But thinking this way means ignoring not only a growing part of the audience, but also changing legislation and shifting societal expectations.
In Switzerland, around 1.7 million people live with a disability. In the EU, it is over 87 million. Many of them regularly attend events, when the conditions are right. Add to that older people with declining hearing, international guests who do not speak the event language, and everyone who benefits from better audio quality and subtitles.
Regulatory requirements are tightening. The European Accessibility Act (EAA), effective from 2025, requires service providers to make their offerings accessible. In Switzerland, the Disability Discrimination Act (BehiG) already applies to public events. Those who only react when the regulation arrives have missed the right moment.
But beyond all regulation, there is a simple argument: an event that includes everyone is a better event. When attendees understand the content, whether via live transcript, audio stream to their hearing aid, or translation into their language, the quality of the experience improves for all. The best event organizers have recognized this. The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel, ESAF 2025, ETH Zurich, they all rely on comprehensive accessibility because they know: inclusion is not a cost item, but a quality feature.
For event managers, this means: accessibility belongs in the planning from the start. Not as a special item in the budget, but as an integral part of the event concept. The technology exists. The only question is whether you use it.
In Switzerland, around 1.7 million people live with a disability. In the EU, it is over 87 million. Many of them regularly attend events, when the conditions are right. Add to that older people with declining hearing, international guests who do not speak the event language, and everyone who benefits from better audio quality and subtitles.
Regulatory requirements are tightening. The European Accessibility Act (EAA), effective from 2025, requires service providers to make their offerings accessible. In Switzerland, the Disability Discrimination Act (BehiG) already applies to public events. Those who only react when the regulation arrives have missed the right moment.
But beyond all regulation, there is a simple argument: an event that includes everyone is a better event. When attendees understand the content, whether via live transcript, audio stream to their hearing aid, or translation into their language, the quality of the experience improves for all. The best event organizers have recognized this. The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel, ESAF 2025, ETH Zurich, they all rely on comprehensive accessibility because they know: inclusion is not a cost item, but a quality feature.
For event managers, this means: accessibility belongs in the planning from the start. Not as a special item in the budget, but as an integral part of the event concept. The technology exists. The only question is whether you use it.