The Official Freddie Mercury Birthday Party 2026 - In Aid of The Mercury Phoenix Trust – Fighting AIDS Worldwide

Please note: This Party Guide is subject to change and will be updated regularly between now and September 2026.

"Oh yes, I'm the great pretender, just laughing and gay like a clown..."

Join us in Montreux as we celebrate what would have been Freddie Mercury's 80th birthday with an unforgettable evening of music, memories, and fundraising in support of The Mercury Phoenix Trust.

Event Information

Date: Saturday 5 September 2026
Venue: Casino Barrière, Montreux, Switzerland
Doors Open: 7:00 pm
Event Ends: Approximately 12:00 am
Tickets: SOLD OUT

Official Party Merchandise

Exclusive event merchandise, including posters, T-shirts, and other special items, is available now from the Queen Online Store.

Wristband Collection

Entry to the party is by wristband only. Wristbands must be collected in person from the Information Desk located in the upstairs foyer outside the main party room at Casino Barrière.

Please bring your ticket order receipt when collecting your wristband. Wristbands will not be mailed.

The collection process has been updated for 2026 to help ensure a smooth and efficient experience. Wristband pick-up will now operate across two queues based on the first letter of your surname:

A – N: Guests whose surnames begin with the letters A to N

O – Z: Guests whose surnames begin with the letters O to Z

Please join the appropriate queue when collecting your wristband. Members of the MPT Team will be on hand to assist and direct guests if required.

We recommend collecting your wristband as early as possible to help avoid queues before the party begins.

Collection Times

Friday 4 September - 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Saturday 5 September - From 12:00 pm onwards

Refunds & Queries

Online Refunds via the MPT Online Store: If you can no longer attend the party, you may request a refund through the MPT Online Store. The deadline for online refund requests is Wednesday, 5 August 2026, one month before the event.

As the party is sold out and there is a substantial waiting list, any returned tickets will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis to those who have asked to be notified of availability.

To request a refund before the cut-off date, please click here.

In-Person Refunds in Montreux (4–5 September) If you find that you have a spare ticket or require a refund while you are in Montreux on the weekend of the party, a dedicated system will be in place for refunds and ticket-related queries. Please visit the Information Desk, where all refund enquiries will be handled and a member of the team will direct you to the appropriate queue.

Refunds will be issued in cash only. Every effort will be made to provide an amount as close as possible to the original ticket purchase price; however, due to exchange rate fluctuations, we cannot guarantee that the exact amount paid will be refunded.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Golden Ticket Prize Draw

Every ticket purchaser will automatically be entered into a special draw to win a Brian May and Roger Taylor signed presentation disc of their choice.

Theme: Fancy & Formal

As we celebrate Freddie's milestone 80th birthday, we're encouraging guests to embrace Freddie's elegant side.

Think tuxedos, evening dresses, cravats, scarves, monocles, masks, and plenty of rock 'n' roll glamour. This is your chance to dress for a truly unforgettable Rock 'n' Roll Ball.

Entertainment

The evening will feature:

 - TWO Live music performances - feat. JJs Cocktail Club and The Mingo City Slickers
 - DJ sets - feat. DJ Thor
 - Exclusive on-screen content - unseen interviews and performance footage
 - The famous Queen and MPT Tombola
 - Exclusive merchandise on The MPT Stall

Foyer Activities

The celebrations begin long before the doors open.

From 12:00pm on Saturday, join the Mercury Phoenix Trust team in the upstairs foyer for an afternoon of activities, entertainment, and opportunities to meet fellow fans from around the world.

Highlights include:

 - Wristband collection
 - Merchandise pop-up shop
 - Silent Auction - It's a Beautiful Day” by Chris Klein - A canvas signed by Roger Taylor & Brian May and officially endorsed by Dame Zandra Rhodes. 1 of just 25 
 - Queen Archive Photo Opportunity feat. John Deacon’s STINGRAY bass…and Freddie’s mic stand!
 - MPT facts and photo exhibition
 - Face and body painting
 - Wine Tasting of Queen’s new Côtes de Provence Rosé

And yes – there may even be some complimentary Quality Street sweets, said to have been among Freddie's favourites! PLUS curated Queen playlists throughout the day.

The Queen Studio Experience

The Queen Studio Experience (QSE) is free to enter and will once again host special guest appearances, fan Q&As, and meet-and-greet opportunities.

Featured guests include:

Peter "Phoebe” Freestone - Former Personal Assistant to Freddie Mercury in the QSE Cinema Room

9:30 am – 12:30 pm - Subject to booking, more details to come.

Justin Shirley-Smith - Queen Head Studio Engineer and Co-producer - Mountain Studios Room

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

All timings remain subject to change.

The Montreux March

One of the most popular moments of Freddie's birthday celebrations returns once again.

The Mercury Phoenix Trust and Freddie Days Montreux will join forces for the annual Montreux March, bringing fans together in a unique celebration of Freddie's life and legacy.

Further details will be announced soon.

Cash & Cards

Most activities within the main party room accept both cash and card payments, including the MPT and Queen merchandise stands, the Queen Tombola prize table, and face painting. The venue bars also accept both payment methods.

Merchandise & Tombola

Be sure to visit our ever-popular merchandise and tombola stands, packed with a fantastic selection of CDs, vinyl, T-shirts, books, exclusive memorabilia, and even rare and signed collectables. Whether you're looking for a special souvenir or hoping to win a unique prize, there's something for every Queen fan.

Cloakroom

A cloakroom facility will be available in the foyer outside the main party room. Guests are welcome to leave coats, merchandise purchases, and tombola prizes there while they enjoy the evening.

Food & Refreshments

A selection of food will be available to purchase throughout the evening in the main party room, ensuring you can keep your energy up for a night of celebration, music, and dancing.

Travel & Accommodation

Guests are responsible for arranging and covering their own travel and accommodation costs.

Nearest Airport: Geneva Airport

Regular direct train services run from Geneva Airport to Montreux, with a journey time of just over one hour.

A list of recommended hotels is available below and on the official Montreux tourism website.

Accessibility

The venue offers disabled access to the main party floor via a lift. Casino and MPT staff will be happy to assist if required.

Age Information

There is no minimum age for attendance. Please note that alcohol will be served, and valid identification is required for access to the casino gaming floor.

Most Important of All...

This is THE BIG ONE.

Freddie's 80th birthday only comes around once, and we're planning a night worthy of the occasion. Bring your dancing shoes, your best outfit, and your loudest "Ayo!"

We can't wait to celebrate with you in Montreux while raising vital funds for The Mercury Phoenix Trust and its work supporting HIV/AIDS programmes around the world.

Any further questions, please email [email protected].

(Party Branding Design: Chiara Tomaini)

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Recommended Hotels in Montreux

www.helvetie.ch | +41 21 966 77 77

www.hotelbonport.ch | +41 21 962 80 70

www.tralalahotel.ch | +41 21 963 49 73

www.edenpalace.ch | +41 21 966 08 00

www.eurotel-montreux.ch | +41 21 966 22 22

www.brhhh.com/suisse-majestic | +41 21 966 33 33

www.fairmont.com/montreux | +41 219621212

www.thefreddiemercuryhotel.ch | +41 24 482 85 00

For additional hotels in Montreux, please check: www.montreuxriviera.com/en/ | +41 84 886 84 84