He was born in Lausanne and studied at the conservatory there under Charles Munch. He was appointed a guest conductor of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande in 1959, and in 1968 succeeded Paul Kletzki as principal conductor of the Berne Symphony Orchestra. From 1977 he held the post he is best rememebered for, principal conductor of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. In 1990 he became music director of the Orchestre National de France, and in 1996 was appointed principal conductor of Tokyo's NHK Symphony Orchestra.
Dutoit is particularly noted for his interpretations of French and Russian 20th century works, especially those of Igor Stravinsky.