Nestled in Switzerland’s picturesque Engadin Valley, the town of St. Moritz is best known for its status as a legendary alpine resort with world-class ski hills, scenic lake views, and après glamour. The town has been a favorite destination among cultural icons for over 150 years, with past visitors including Audrey Hepburn, Coco Chanel, and Alfred Hitchcock.
As much as St. Moritz’s history is steeped in ski and winter sport culture, there’s a parallel legacy of art and culture which can be found there. St. Moritz and the surrounding landscapes of the Engadin region have long inspired artists and thinkers like Giovanni and Alberto Giacometti and Friedrich Nietzsche, as well as contemporary artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Gerhard Richter, and Julian Schnabel. Legendary arts dealer Bruno Bischofberger opened the town’s first gallery in 1963, but the area’s art-world notoriety is still going strong today.
Whether you’re seeking an arts-infused respite from the slopes or you’re exploring St. Moritz as a cultural destination in its own right, you’ll be rewarded with galleries, arts and design events, and design-forward stays. Here are our favorites.
NOMAD Design Fair
The boutique traveling design fair NOMAD gathers gallerists, artists, designers, and art enthusiasts to St. Moritz (the picturesque town is its flagship location). Visitors can explore NOMAD’s showcase of collectible design and contemporary art, with the fair acting as a platform for conversations centering design, landscape, art, and architecture. This winter, the ninth edition of NOMAD will return to St. Moritz from February 12 to 15, 2026. The event will be hosted in the renovated Villa Beaulieu, a former wellness clinic called Klinik Gut. The space is to be reimagined for exhibitions as “more spacious, still central, and with extraordinary panoramic views,” according to Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte, cofounder and director of NOMAD.
Engadin Art Talks
In the nearby town of Zuoz, just a 20-minute drive from St. Moritz, a series of contemporary arts conversations kicks off January 23, 2026—the 15th edition of Engadin Art Talks. This year’s series, running through January 25, 2026, is titled “Bonds & Gaps,” according to EAT, a non-profit organization. Expect an interdisciplinary approach to conversations about art through exhibitions, lectures, music, and more. The evolving lineup currently includes architect Mariam Issoufou Kamara, dancer and choreographer Trajal Harrell, and installation artist Rirkrit Tiravanija.
Vito Schnabel Gallery
In 2015, Vito Schnabel opened his namesake St. Moritz gallery in a very special place—Bruno Bischofberger’s former gallery space. Schnabel, a renowned art dealer who has supported the careers of artists like Rene Ricard and Ron Gorchov, is the son of painter and filmmaker Julian Schnabel. The younger Schnabel says his dad recently “produced a new series of drawings and plate paintings depicting the surrounding mountain peaks” of the Engadin Valley.
With his strong artistic presence in St. Moritz, Vito Schnabel’s gallery has exhibited works from both established and emerging contemporary artists. “Over the last ten years since we inaugurated our space here, more and more galleries have opened, and there are now art fairs and other art events throughout the busy season,” says Schnabel. “While there is a much bigger audience now, it’s still very much a small-town feel.”
Hauser & Wirth
The St. Moritz outpost of the famed Swiss gallery showcases a regular series of exhibitions across its 4,400 square-foot-space. Situated inside the building owned by the famed Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, the gallery was designed by longtime Hauser & Wirth collaborator architect Luis Laplace. Starting December 13, 2025, the gallery will show “Alberto Giacometti: Faces and Landscapes of Home,” focusing on the Swiss sculptor’s work, including paintings and drawings that represented his views of family and home. Giacometti’s family (including his father, painter Giovanni Giacometti) spent their summers in the Engadin region in the 1910s.
The space’s ground floor is also both a changing installation and a functional bar originally conceived by artist Dieter Roth. Atmospheric and inviting, it’s a perfect meeting place for a drink and conversation after exploring the gallery space upstairs.
Segantini Gallery
This dome-shaped building is home to the works of Giovanni Segantini, a prolific 19th-century painter who worked in the area and often painted outdoors, bringing his equipment and supplies high into the mountains. The building was designed by St. Moritz architect Nicolaus Hartmann specifically to house this artist’s works, including the impressive and unfinished triptych “Life – Nature – Death.” Segantini is known for his Alpine landscapes and use of divisionism, which infuses his paintings with a captivating luminosity that’s best experienced in person.
Galerie Karsten Greve
Within the center of St. Moritz on Via Maistra, Galerie Karsten Greve—which also has outposts in Paris and Cologne—hosts exhibitions throughout the year, including a selection of contemporary works from Leiko Ikemura, Josef Albers, and others. Until November 15, 2025, the gallery is exhibiting a curated selection of autumnal-inspired works from an international selection of Swiss and international artists like Louise Bourgeois, Jean Dubuffet, and Qiu Shihua.
Muzeum Susch
While not technically located in St. Moritz but just outside it, in the surrounding Engadin Valley, those interested in contemporary art would be remiss not to venture to Muzeum Susch. On the grounds of a former monastery within the tiny Alpine town of Susch, the museum was founded by Polish entrepreneur and art collector Grażyna Kulczyk with a focus on contemporary art from women artists and site-specific installations.
Starting December 13, 2025, the museum will open an exhibition of the work of Croatian artist Edita Schubert, who worked across sculpture, performance, and installation. The exhibition, “Profusion,” will be the first major retrospective of the artist’s work outside of Croatia, and will include her installation work, self-portraits, and more.
Galerie Tschudi
Tschudi celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025, toasting the gallery housed in a medieval building in the town of Zuoz. Known for hosting contemporary exhibitions within the historic surroundings, this winter Tschudi will present work from French-Swiss artist Julian Charrière titled “A Thousand Worlds,” beginning on December 20, 2025. Alongside it, the gallery will also show “Meta-Painting” from international conceptual artist Kimsooja, whose work explores different mediums and perceptions.
Grace La Margna Hotel
Hotels are also playing into the city’s artistic side. Grace La Margna is a relative newcomer on the St. Moritz hotel scene, reopening in 2023 as the newest hotel in the town in 50 years. Grace La Margna brings a contemporary sensibility to the historic Art Nouveau property dating back to 1906 with a modern wing, featuring interiors that are a marked shift from the old-school ornate and period-style decor common throughout the area. Instead, Grace La Margna brings in elevated furnishings, natural materials such as limestone and granite, and an airy, neutral color palette through contemporary design from Divercity Architects in collaboration with London-based interior designer Carole Topin.
A sleek spa takes inspiration from the surrounding Alpine rocks for an immersive design, while boasting a long pool and saunas. La Margna also has an emphasis on contemporary art, with a selection of works found throughout the hotel as well as temporary exhibitions. Beginning in December, the hotel will collaborate with Italian contemporary artist Pietro Terzini, who will present creative light installations directly on Grace La Margna’s facade.
Hotel Castell Zuoz
Just outside of St. Moritz, at the arts-focused Hotel Castell Zuoz, guests can explore the art-filled hallways of this castle-esque hotel, which reopens for the winter season on December 13, 2025. The historic space puts art in the spotlight, with an abundance of work that can be discovered simply by wandering through the sprawling property.
On the grounds, a James Turrell experiential sculpture, Skyspace Piz Uter, is an exploration of light and architecture. Elsewhere, a sauna and reflecting pool designed by Japanese artist Tadashi Kawamata is an idyllic spot to recharge, as is the deck overlooking the valley and mountains beyond.
The hotel’s charming rooms feature interior design from Ben van Berkel and Caroline Bos of Amsterdam’s UNStudio, or aromatic Swiss pine design by St. Moritz architect Hans-Jörg Ruch. The Red Bar from Zurich architect Gabrielle Hächler and artist Pipilotti Rist is ideal for a late-night glass after a day on the mountains. Downstairs at Castell Zuoz, a hammam infused with glowy, ombré light is a transportive destination to relax and recharge.
Source: W Magazine
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