20 Minuten says goodbye to print and launches into the digital future
After 26 years, the print edition of 20 Minuten is appearing in the blue boxes for the last time. Switzerland’s digital media brand with the widest reach is marking this farewell with a special edition and will focus entirely on digital channels going forward.
Today, 20 Minuten is appearing in print for the last time. The commuter newspaper, which launched a genuine media revolution in Switzerland in December 1999, is ending its print era with a special edition. This not only pays tribute to its 26-year history, but also provides an outlook on the digital future of the media brand.
Prominent voices at the farewell
Numerous prominent personalities have their say in the special edition. In an interview, Media Minister Albert Rösti talks about how he first noticed and learned to appreciate 20 Minuten. SBB CEO Vincent Ducrot talks about the long-standing partnership with the commuter newspaper. The editorial team has also captured the voices of CEOs, sportswomen, celebrities and the public, who express their wishes for the new digital era.
The special edition is supplemented with touching stories from the community, who either really took off after a story or experienced a wave of solidarity. An essay on the history of the media revolution places the significance of 20 Minuten for the Swiss media landscape in context.
Cult object boxes find new home
The iconic blue newspaper boxes, which have been part of the Swiss cityscape since 1999, are being given a worthy reuse. Some of them will go to the National Museum and the Museum of Communication in Bern. The special edition also presents the best and funniest ideas for reusing the boxes as part of a box competition. The remaining boxes will soon be dismantled and passed on or recycled.
Comprehensive digital offering
In future, 20 Minuten will focus fully on digital channels, which will be continuously expanded with additional offerings. The app and web version have had a fresh design and new functionalities since October 2025. The "Start Smart" e-mail newsletter provides a quick news overview in the morning. 20 Minuten continues to accompany commuters on their way to work with its presence on the large digital screens at train stations and in several transport companies. Of course, 20 Minuten is also present on social media and WhatsApp.
Bernhard Brechbühl, CEO of the 20 Minuten Group, is optimistic about the future: "Our success story began with our unique commuter newspaper, which started a real media revolution in Switzerland in 1999. We quickly succeeded in becoming the digital media brand with the widest reach in all parts of the country. We are thus starting the new digital era from pole position. Following the renewal of our brand identity and app in the fall, we are working on further innovations for our users and for the advertising market, which we will launch in 2026. As painful as it is to say goodbye to our commuter newspaper after 26 years, we are looking forward to the digital future with our community and our customers."
The 20 Minuten Group is part of the TX Group and comprises the news media 20 Minuten, 20 Minutes and lematin.ch, the digital radio station Goat Radio as well as the holdings Tio/20 Minuti in Ticino and L'essentiel in Luxembourg.
