G7 Évian 2026: what actually changes for residents

From June 15 to 17, 2026, Évian-les-Bains will host the 52nd G7 Summit. Behind the diplomatic event lies an extraordinary security system that will modify the daily lives of residents, workers, and local businesses for an entire week. Here is what you need to know.

A mandatory QR code: which municipalities are affected?

This is the measure that will affect the most people. An "Expanded Protection Zone" is established around the Summit sites: to enter or leave, you will have to present a QR code issued by the Haute-Savoie prefecture.

Three municipalities are officially included in this zone, for their parts close to the Summit sites:

• Évian-les-Bains
• Neuvecelle
• Publier

Neighboring municipalities (Lugrin, Meillerie, Amphion, Saint-Gingolph, Thonon-les-Bains…) are not in the restricted zone, but their residents who wish to travel to Évian will also have to present a QR code at checkpoints.

This digital pass is granted upon proof of residence or professional activity. The steps are done online via the prefecture, following the same system used for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Practical Tip: do not delay. The QR code must be obtained before June 11. Requests are likely to be numerous as the summit approaches.

The RD1005: slowdowns to be expected

The Route Départementale 1005, the main axis running along the lake between Thonon and Évian, will remain open but with checkpoints. Expect significantly longer travel times, especially during rush hours.

Alternative routes will be set up for transit traffic, but the usual fluidity will not be there.

Trains to Évian cancelled from June 11 to 17

The Évian-les-Bains train station will be inaccessible to the public during the entire week of the summit. Rail connections from Paris, Geneva, or Bellegarde are interrupted from midnight on June 11 until June 17 inclusive.

Thonon-les-Bains becomes the terminus. If you arrive by train, that's where you will get off, and shuttles or buses will take over. Count about an extra hour from Geneva.

Lake Geneva closed to pleasure craft

Starting June 11, pleasure boating on the French part of the lake is strictly forbidden. No boat trips, no water or sports activities on the water on the French side — until the end of the summit.

No more CGN boats from Lausanne

For the many cross-border workers who commute to Évian from Switzerland via the CGN (Compagnie Générale de Navigation), this is a major disruption. The Évian lake station will be completely closed. Lines N1 (Lausanne–Évian) and N2 (Lausanne–Thonon) will be heavily disrupted, with replacement buses from Thonon. The journey will be considerably longer.

Drones banned from June 10 to 18

A Temporary Restriction Zone (ZRT) covers the sky over Évian and the entire Lake Geneva region — on both the French and Swiss sides — from June 10 at 1:00 PM to June 18 at 3:00 AM. The ban is absolute and with no exceptions: no drones can fly, regardless of size or use.

French and Swiss fighter jets will be on constant alert to enforce this restriction.

Deliveries and heavy goods vehicles on adjusted schedules

Truck traffic, and especially vehicles carrying dangerous goods (fuel, chemical products), will be highly restricted during the day. Businesses will need to anticipate their stocks and shift their deliveries to night slots.

For businesses: authorities are not imposing administrative closures, but logistics will have to be rethought.

High school exams (baccalauréat) relocated to Thonon

High school students from Évian taking their written exams on June 11 and 12 (French, Mathematics, Philosophy, Specialties) will be automatically transferred to the Versoie high school in Thonon. Special school buses will be chartered and QR codes will be generated directly by the prefecture in coordination with the National Education. Families will not have to take any additional steps.

And what about Ô Bercail?

Ô Bercail is located at 5 Rue de la Source Clermont, in the heart of Évian-les-Bains — and therefore well inside the expanded protection zone. The space remains open during the summit. Here is what that means in practice depending on where you are coming from.

You live in Évian, Neuvecelle, or Publier: you are already inside the zone. Get your QR code before June 11 to move around freely.

You come from Lugrin, Meillerie, Amphion, or a municipality in the Bas-Chablais: you are arriving from outside the zone. Your QR code (obtained with professional proof) will be required at checkpoints. Expect a longer travel time on the RD1005, and prefer off-peak hours.

You come from Thonon-les-Bains: trains are no longer running to Évian — Thonon is the terminus. By car, plan for checks on the RD1005. By transport, replacement buses will be set up from Thonon, with a journey noticeably longer than usual.

You come from Switzerland: the CGN is no longer serving Évian during this period. The lake station is closed. You will have to travel by road or take a replacement bus from Thonon. Plan for a significantly longer travel time from Lausanne or Geneva.

We will get back to you soon with more information on how Ô Bercail will operate during this week. In the meantime, feel free to write to us at info@o-bercail.fr for any questions.

Summary: dates to remember

• June 10 at 1:00 PM — Closure of the airspace (drones absolutely banned)
• June 11 at midnight — Cancellation of trains to Évian, closure of the lake to pleasure craft, setup of road checkpoints
• June 15–17 — The G7 Summit itself
• June 17 evening — Official end of the summit
• June 18 at 3:00 AM — Reopening of the airspace

The measures will then be gradually lifted. Life will return to normal starting June 18-19, once the infrastructure is dismantled.