Referendum

In September 2025, the Grand Council of the Canton of Bern approved the project loan by a large majority. A committee has launched a referendum against the decision.

At its meeting on 10 September 2025, the Grand Council of the Canton of Bern approved by a large majority a project loan of CHF 15.7 million for the renovation and renewal project “Kunstmuseum Bern of the future”, and at the same time set a cost ceiling of CHF 81 million for the cantonal contribution to the overall project. A referendum committee collected more than 10,000 signatures against the project loan. Once the State Chancellery has formally confirmed that the referendum has come about, a cantonal vote on the project loan is expected to take place in the summer or autumn of 2026.

What does this mean for the project?

The project work will be suspended until the decision of the voting population.