We celebrate the pulse of top-tier sporting events around the villagey
From the cheers drifting through Gstaad's streets to the thwack of tennis balls against an alpine backdrop and the thunder of polo ponies charging past at full speed, summer in the Saanenland is also a season of sport. Here are three events that have become fixtures of the local calendar.

1. BEACH VOLLEYBALL GSTAAD (1–5 July)

There is no mistaking when the beach volleyball week arrives in Gstaad. The village takes on a special energy as players, fans and officials fill the streets, cafés and terraces. Throughout the day, cheers and applause drift from the arena, creating a buzz that extends far beyond the sand. Since its first edition in 2000, the tournament has become one of the most iconic stops on the international beach volleyball circuit. Whether under blazing sunshine or stubborn mountain rain, the grandstands are invariably packed with enthusiastic spectators eager to witness the world's best players battle it out. The atmosphere is friendly, relaxed and unmistakably Gstaad – a world-class sporting event that still feels remarkably close to home.
www.beachgstaad.ch

2. EFG SWIS S OPEN GSTAAD (11–19 July)

Few tournaments on the ATP Tour feel as intimate as the EFG Swiss Open Gstaad. While many events are wrapped in security barriers and exclusivity, Gstaad retains an old-fashioned charm. Players stroll through the village, stop for coffee and enjoy a level of normality that is increasingly rare in professional sport. Inside the Roy Emerson Arena, spectators sit close enough to appreciate every rally, every expression and every tactical adjustment. Off the court, the tennis village continues to evolve, with lively food outlets, entertainment and opportunities to get closer to the action. Add a spectacular mountain backdrop and more than a century of tennis history, and it is easy to understand why so many players return year after year.
www.swissopengstaad.ch

3. HUBLOT POLO GOLD CUP GSTA AD (20–23 August)

Polo is often associated with wealth, exclusivity and private members' clubs. Gstaad's annual polo tournament tells a rather different story. Remarkably, it remains the only major summer sporting event that is completely free to attend. And there is no better way to discover the sport. Standing beside the field at Gstaad Airport, you quickly realise just how fast and physical polo really is. As horses thunder past at full gallop, close enough to feel the rush of air and hear every hoofbeat, the intensity is impossible to ignore. Between the sporting action, elegant hospitality and the popular players' parade through the village, the Hublot Polo Gold Cup remains one of the most distinctive weekends of the season.
www.polo-gstaad.ch