Suspense Until the Very Last Landing
For years, the Swiss Cup Zurich has been one of the most spectacular competitions in international artistic gymnastics. In 2026, this long-standing event will embark on a new chapter: with a completely revamped competition format and a 360-degree arena.
To understand the new Swiss Cup Zurich (SCZ), just think of the FIFA World Cup. It, too, features a qualifying round (group stage) and knockout matches (from the quarterfinals to the final). The SCZ will operate exactly according to this same principle in the future.
Now, five teams will compete against each other, each consisting of two women and two men.
In the first three rounds, the teams accumulate points. Each team performs two routines per round. After the third round—that is, after six routines per team—the team with the highest point total advances directly to the semifinals.
The teams ranked 2nd through 5th must advance to the so-called elimination round (quarterfinals). There, they will face off in head-to-head matches—2nd place vs. 5th place and 3rd place vs. 4th place. The points are reset to zero. The athletes who did not compete in the third round will compete in this round.
From the Qualifying Round to the Knockout Stage
After the deciding round, the remaining three teams face off in the semifinals. Everyone starts from scratch again. Each team fields one female gymnast and one male gymnast. The team with the lowest score is eliminated. The others advance to the final.
The final also begins on an equal footing. Once again, all previous points are reset. All four athletes on a team will each perform one routine. The total score will determine the winner of the 2026 Swiss Cup Zurich.
Every moment can be decisive. The new format ensures that the suspense remains until the very end. A mistake in the preliminary round doesn’t automatically mean elimination, because the score is reset to zero later on. At the same time, no team can rest on its laurels after an early lead.
More Tactics Thanks to the Buzzer
A new tactical element promises to add even more excitement: the buzzer. During the qualifying rounds (Rounds 1–3), each team may designate one exercise that counts double. However, this decision must be made before the respective exercise begins. Teams that time it right can gain a decisive advantage. Those that miscalculate could lose important points.
The Arena Becomes a Cauldron
In addition to the competition format, another innovation awaits the audience: the 360-degree arena. Instead of watching the action from just three sides, spectators will now surround the entire competition area. This creates an atmosphere that is distinctly different from traditional gymnastics events. Fans are closer to the action, experiencing every landing, every emotion, and every cheer firsthand.
The arena thus becomes the focal point of the event. The athletes are literally at the center of the action and are cheered on from all sides.
More spectacle, more excitement, more Swiss Cup
The new Swiss Cup Zurich combines top athletic performances with an easy-to-follow competition format and an even more immersive audience experience. Head-to-head matchups, tactical decisions, constantly changing scenarios, and the 360-degree arena ensure that every routine matters. In other words: The Swiss Cup Zurich stays true to itself—while becoming more modern at the same time.
Key Points at a Glance
- Five teams
- Four athletes per team (two women and two men)
- Three rounds in the qualifying round
- Six exercises per team in the qualifying round
- The buzzer may be used once
