PLEASE NOTE: PARTY GUIDE is subject to change and will be updated between now and September.

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

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

Date: Saturday 5th September 2026

Venue: Casino Barrière, Montreux, Switzerland

Doors: 7pm / ends 12am (approx)

Tickets, Posters, T-shirts and Exclusive Merch: On Sale from 2pm, Friday, 30th January 2026 @ https://queenonlinestore.com/collections/mercury-phoenix-trust

Ticket / Wristband Information: Entry to the party is by way of a wristband. Your wristband can be picked up at the Info Desk upstairs outside the main party room at the Casino Barriere at the times below. You will need to show your Ticket Order Receipt to claim your wristband. No wristbands will be mailed out.

Wristband Pick Up Times: Friday, 4th September, from 12pm - 4pm and Saturday, 5th September, from 12pm onwards.

There will be three alphabetical 'Wrist Band Pick Up' points at the INFO DESK, as you look at it in the upstairs foyer, listed by your last name. Please line up in the designated queue to collect your wristband. There will be an MPT Team member and signs to help guide you.

A - G (to the left)

H - O (in the middle)

P - Z (to the right)

Golden Ticket: On purchasing your ticket, the named purchaser will be entered into a draw to win a Brian May and Roger Taylor signed presentation disc of your choice.

Theme: ‘Fancy and Formal’ - As we are celebrating Freddie Mercury’s 80th Birthday, we are upping the dress code for party guests. We are leaning into Freddie’s smarter and sharper dress sense this year, so think tuxedos, dresses, cravats, scarves and maybe even a monocle or face mask. Dress for a Rock n’ Roll Ball!

Live Entertainment: There will be a live band, DJ sets and exclusive on-screen content. Our regular Tombola, Merchandise, Silent Auction, Queen Archive Photo Opportunity and Face-Painting stands will be present as usual.

Foyer Fun: Come on by and say "Ayo!" to the MPT Team. From 12pm on Saturday, 5th September, come on up to the foyer outside the main party room at the casino, where we will have a whole host of activities going on before the party kicks off at 7pm.

Wristband Pick-Up - The important bit! Bring your Ticket order receipt and grab your wristband for entry at the party later that day - it really does help to get into the event on time!

Archive Photo Opportunity - TBC - Donation Required

Silent Auction - details to be confirmed, but we are lining up a very special art piece for auction!

Pop Up Merch Stand - Party & MPT merchandise for sale 12pm - 3pm

Free Sweets - Quality Street were apparently Freddie's favourite!

Greg Brooks - moved from the QSE, the Official Queen Archivist, is there for questions and a chat.

Info Desk - for questions, ticket sales, guest lists, and all the help you need.

MPT Facts and Photo Display - overseen by Jan from Team MPT, all the facts, figures, and photos.

Body Painting - get yourself a Queen design for the party. (From 5.30pm)

Playlists - all the above set to specially curated playlists!

The Queen Studio Experience: The QSE is FREE to enter, and on Saturday afternoon, the following Queen Team members will be present in the QSE for Fan Q&As and meet and greets. Please see below for times and locations: (All times are subject to change)

- Peter ‘Phoebe’ Freestone (Freddie Mercury's former PA) - The QSE Cinema Room (9.30am - 12.30pm) - Ask Phoebe Live! - Booking details to be confirmed nearer the time.

- Justin Shirley-Smith (Queen Head Studio Engineer) - The QSE Mountain Studios Room (1pm - 5pm) - Answering your questions and hitting the studio desk with some Freddie Mercury solo tracks.

The Montreux March: Every year, The Mercury Phœnix Trust and Freddie Days - Montreux join forces for a unique Freddie festival moment. We literally stop traffic with the Montreux March. Be sure to join in! More details to come.

Cash / Cards: The following activities in the main party room will take a mix of cards and cash - The MPT and Queen Merchandise Stand, The Queen Tombola Prize Table, and Face Painting. The bars also take either cash or cards.

The Merchandise and Tombola Tables: The stalls are very popular! They include a mix of CDs, T-shirts, Vinyl, Books, assorted merchandise, and rare and signed items.

Cloakroom: There is a cloakroom provided in the foyer outside the main party room for any clothing, merch and tombola prizes you may wish to leave there.

Food: A selection of food is available to purchase in the main party room on the night.

Age Restrictions: There is no age limit for the event; however, ticket holders must be aware that alcohol will be served and an ID will be required for access to the casino gambling floor. No Under-18s will be allowed into the casino. All party tickets are priced the same; there are no concessions.

Disabled Access: Disabled access is available to the main party floor via a lift in the main casino foyer. Please ask a member of the casino or MPT staff for assistance if required.

Travel: Ticket holders are responsible for all personal travel costs incurred when attending the event. The nearest airport is Geneva, and regular trains run from the airport to Montreux; the journey takes just over an hour.

Accommodation: Ticket holders are responsible for all personal accommodation costs incurred when attending the event. Below is a list of recommended hotels in Montreux.

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

IMPORTANT: This year is THE BIG ONE - Freddie’s 80th. Partying hard is a condition of entry! 

Any further questions, please email [email protected].