Montreux, the Riviera in Comic Sans

On the shores of Lake Geneva, Montreux proudly displays Comic Sans in its streets. But here, it might actually make sense.

The backstory

Montreux means the Jazz Festival, Freddie Mercury’s lakeside statue, and the UNESCO-listed Lavaux vineyards. But it’s also the home of the Montreux Comedy Festival, a flagship event for stand-up comedy since 1990. Formerly known as the Festival du Rire, it has since rebranded with a new name and logo, but its DNA remains unchanged: Montreux is a city of performance and comedy. Some of the biggest French-speaking comedians have graced its stage.

So here we are: a Swiss city, birthplace of Helvetica and modern graphic design, that also happens to be a stronghold of laughter. In that light, spotting Comic Sans on local signage takes on a whole new meaning.

Why it’s a gem

Because Comic Sans is the world’s most ridiculed font… in the city that celebrates comedy. The festival may have swapped its old name for sleeker international branding, but the comic spirit lives on. Is it an ironic choice, an accidental tribute, or just someone at city hall who clicked the wrong dropdown? Who cares. The result speaks for itself: in Montreux, Comic Sans might be the only font that’s thematically justified.