Credit: Kéoma Oran

On Thursday 25 December 2025, the 63rd edition of the Zürcher Bal will take place at Luxexpo The Box in Luxembourg-Kirchberg.

The annual student celebration was first held in 1960 and has developed into an occasion for Luxembourg students from across Europe to reunite for a night of celebration. Classed as a black-tie affair, it features live music and this year is expected to welcome around 4,500 attendees. 

The organisers highlighted that the evening is a great occasion to promote local partners and Luxembourgish products, with Crémant, beer and other regional beverages set to feature prominently at the event’s bars. They emphasised: “This focus on local partners reflects the event’s roots in Luxembourg’s culture and its role as a meeting point for generations of students returning home for the holidays.”

Ahead of Zürcher Bal 2025, Chronicle.lu spoke to organiser Philippe Schaack of Lëtzebuerger Studenten Zürech asbl (LSZ) about the organisation and development of the festive event.

Chronicle.lu: Can you detail how the Zürcher Bal has evolved during the years you have been involved?

Philippe Schaack: Since the first edition — after the break caused by the pandemic in 2022 — we have treated the Bal like a continuous improvement project. Starting with limited inherited knowledge, we have rebuilt the playbook from scratch and refined every detail year after year. We have redesigned crowd flows to reduce queuing times, expanded and streamlined the cloakroom, improved toilet access and capacity, created calmer lounge areas and optimised the stage layout to improve audience experience and enable swift changeovers. Behind the scenes, we have professionalised the coordination of suppliers, volunteer briefings and run-of-show timing. Our mindset is simple: if something can be improved, it will be.

Chronicle.lu: Please describe the challenges you face in organising such a large event at a time of year when so many other social gatherings are taking place.

Philippe Schaack: We are fortunate that interest is consistently strong; the real pressure points are operational. Suitable venues are in short supply at that time of year, costs are elevated and our build-and-teardown windows are very tight. We effectively construct a full event infrastructure and then dismantle it within compressed holiday schedules. That also means aligning suppliers, security and technical crews when many operate with reduced availability. None of this is glamorous, but disciplined planning, strong partner relationships and a highly committed team make the difference.

Chronicle.lu: What do you believe to be the reasons behind the ongoing success of the event?

Philippe Schaack: Tradition is a powerful force; the Bal is a cherished social gathering that has a real sense of history and prestige. The dress code sets a special tone, turning the night into an occasion that people look forward to. It lands at the perfect moment in the academic calendar, giving students and friends a chance to reconnect after an intense semester and see each other again in a festive setting. We combine this tradition with “something new” each year in terms of staging, atmosphere or programming, so it never feels stale. Moreover, the event is community-led: students organising a celebration for their community. This blend of history, a sense of belonging, high standards and an element of surprise is what keeps the Zürcher Bal relevant and popular.

Tickets for Zürcher Bal 2025 will be available from Tuesday 25 November at https://zuercherbal.lu/en/ticketen-2025/.