There are music festivals, and then there are the ones that make you rethink where a festival can actually take place. Shapes Festival belongs firmly in the second category. Returning to Leysin in the Swiss Alps from 15th to 21st March 2027, it is bringing together a carefully chosen collection of DJs, selectors and live acts for a week where the mountains are as much a part of the experience as the music itself.
This year’s line up already makes for compelling reading. With names including ANTAL, OPTIMO (ESPACIO), DJ STORM, SASSY J, ALEX ATTIAS and SHUBOSTAR, Shapes is setting out its stall with a programme that favours musical curiosity, distinctive sounds and artists with their own ideas about what makes a dancefloor come alive. There is more still to come, with further names yet to be announced.
And that is precisely what makes the festival so interesting. Shapes has never needed to rely on a conventional festival formula. Instead, it offers something a little more personal, bringing together music, mountain life and the sort of shared experiences that tend to stay with you long after the last record has played.
A LINE UP THAT REWARDS AN OPEN MIND
One of the most appealing aspects of the 2027 programme is its breadth. Rather than leaning too heavily on one particular sound, the announced artists suggest a festival built around different musical perspectives, with plenty of room for unexpected discoveries along the way.
Antal is an especially welcome name on the bill. Known for his deep knowledge of records and his instinct for bringing together sounds from across the musical spectrum, he is the sort of DJ who can turn a set into a journey rather than simply a succession of tracks. His appearance feels particularly well suited to a festival that values discovery and musical individuality.
Then there is Optimo (Espacio), the Glasgow institution associated with adventurous selections, left field dance music and a healthy disregard for predictable genre boundaries. Their sets have long been celebrated for the way they move between styles, creating an atmosphere in which the unexpected feels entirely natural. At Shapes, that spirit should fit right in.
DJ Storm brings another important dimension to the programme. A hugely respected figure in jungle and drum and bass, she has played a pivotal role in the development of those sounds and remains an influential presence behind the decks. Her inclusion adds a different kind of energy to the line up, broadening its reach beyond the familiar territories of house and disco.
Sassy J is another name worth seeking out. The Swiss DJ is known for an eclectic approach that draws on soul, jazz, broken beat, house and much more, always guided by feel rather than rigid musical boundaries. Her sets have a warmth and depth that make her a natural fit for the festival’s more exploratory side.
Together, these artists offer a good indication of the thinking behind the bookings. This is a programme that leaves room for different moods, different tempos and different ways of experiencing dance music.
DISCOVERIES BEYOND THE HEADLINE NAMES
The line up becomes even more intriguing when you look beyond its most immediately recognisable names.
Shubostar has built a reputation for cosmic, psychedelic and left field electronic sounds, bringing a distinctive sense of atmosphere to the dancefloor. Fantastic Twins adds another intriguing presence, while Cinnaman, an influential figure in Amsterdam’s adventurous club scene, is well placed to bring a broad and unpredictable selection to the mountains.
Alex Attias is another name that should appeal to listeners who appreciate DJs with a deep understanding of musical history. With a background spanning house, broken beat, jazz and soul influenced electronics, his approach reflects the kind of open minded selection that gives a festival its character. Elsewhere, the announced programme includes Eva May, Princess P, Nessa La Rose, Suki Quasimodo, D’Monk, Leopold, Disco P, Cjro, Astrojazz, DJ Armi and Gringo Del Sol, alongside the Pitaya Soundsystem, Kasheme Soundsystem and Subactive Soundsystem.
It is a varied collection of artists, and that variety is part of the attraction. A good festival should offer more than a handful of sets you already know you want to see. It should also leave you stumbling across an unfamiliar name, staying for another half hour and discovering that the set you had not planned to hear becomes one of the highlights of your week.
With more artists still to be announced, there is every reason to keep an eye on how the programme develops.
NOT YOUR TYPICAL FESTIVAL SETTING
Of course, the music is only part of the story. Shapes Festival takes place in Leysin, a Swiss Alpine resort where the setting changes the entire rhythm of a festival week.
Here, a day can begin on the ski slopes before moving into an afternoon of music, with evenings and late nights offering a different atmosphere altogether. The mountains provide a dramatic backdrop, while the village gives the festival a more intimate feel than you might find at a sprawling summer event.
One of the most distinctive venues is Kuklos, the revolving restaurant perched at around 2,200 metres above sea level. During the festival, it becomes the setting for a sunset party with panoramic Alpine views. It is an unusual place to hear a DJ, to say the least, and a reminder that Shapes is as interested in creating memorable settings as it is in assembling an impressive line up.
Down the mountain, Les Fers offers a different proposition, with dancing on the snow between ski runs. Bel Air provides the main après ski gathering point, while The Underbelly becomes a hub for nighttime music, with space for live performances, club nights and a more relaxed area to spend time between sets.
The festival also takes over La Fromagerie, one of the village’s oldest chalets, for evenings hosted by the Kasheme crew from Zurich. Expect local food, wine, cheese and music in a setting that feels a world away from a conventional club. These are not simply different rooms in which to hear the same music. They give the festival a sense of movement, encouraging people to explore Leysin and allowing the atmosphere to change as the day progresses.
A WEEK THAT GOES BEYOND THE DANCEFLOOR
What makes Shapes particularly appealing is the freedom to approach it in your own way. Keen skiers can spend their days on the slopes before joining the parties, while those who are more interested in the music can concentrate on the programme without ever needing to put on a pair of skis.
There is also something refreshing about a festival that builds in time to slow down. Between sets, there are mountain views, local restaurants, fresh Alpine air and the possibility of a trip to the nearby thermal baths. The experience feels less like a race between stages and more like a week spent somewhere worth discovering.
That balance between music and everything around it is central to Shapes’ appeal. You might arrive for a particular DJ, but the memory that stays with you could just as easily be a sunset above the peaks, a spontaneous afternoon on the snow or a conversation with someone you met on the dancefloor.
WHY SHAPES FESTIVAL 2027 DESERVES YOUR ATTENTION
With Antal, Optimo (Espacio), DJ Storm, Sassy J and a diverse supporting cast already confirmed, Shapes Festival is shaping up to be an appealing prospect for anyone who prefers their dance music with a sense of adventure.
The programme brings together established selectors, respected figures from different corners of club culture and artists worth discovering, all within a setting that gives the event a character of its own. The remaining announcements should add further detail to an already promising picture.
Shapes Festival takes place in Leysin from 15th to 21st March 2027. Whether you are planning a full week in the Alps or a shorter visit built around the music, it offers a convincing alternative to the usual festival experience.
For those who believe the best dancefloors are about more than big names and familiar sounds, Shapes is one to watch. The mountains are waiting, the records are ready, and there is still more of the story to come.
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