Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival 2026: twenty years of jazz, boldness, and encounters at the Opéra Garnier

For twenty years, jazz has resonated amidst the gilded splendor of the Opéra Garnier. Conceived in 2006 by Jean-René Palacio, the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival has evolved over the years into a major fixture of the Principality's music scene. To mark this twentieth anniversary, Alfonso Ciulla-Artistic Director of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer-has curated a program that reflects the festival's spirit: eclectic, generous, and firmly focused on the next generation.
From November 18 to 29, 2026, the Salle Garnier will host world-renowned voices, emerging talents, iconic ensembles, and unexpected collaborations. This anniversary edition looks beyond the past, aiming instead to showcase what jazz has become: a borderless realm capable of engaging in dialogue with soul, rock, electronica, gospel, and world music.

An opening night dedicated to youth

The festival sets the tone on November 18 with young musicians from the Rainier III Academy. Now a highly anticipated tradition, this evening offers up-and-coming artists the chance to perform in an extraordinary setting and share the stage with an audience of passionate music lovers.
Concert - Free admission; reservations recommended.

Two days later, on November 20, the stage will welcome a key figure in contemporary jazz: Youn Sun Nah. With a career spanning twenty-five years, the South Korean singer will unveil a new musical universe alongside her band, blending delicacy and depth with soaring vocal flights.
The evening continues with Gregory Porter, one of the most recognizable voices in modern jazz. A two-time Grammy Award winner for Best Vocal Jazz Album, the American artist moves with rare ease between jazz, blues, gospel, and soul. It promises to be a spectacular encounter between two unique vocal talents. Concert - From €80

From South Africa to the mellow tones of Melody Gardot

On November 21, the musical journey takes a new turn with the Thanda Choir. Founded in 2023, this ensemble of fifteen artists is embarking on its first international tour, bringing the vibrant energy of South African vocal traditions to the Monaco audience.

Next up is Melody Gardot, whose mysterious yet intimate voice has defined an extraordinary two-decade career. Twenty years after her debut, the American singer continues to cultivate a unique atmosphere that blends jazz, blues, and *chanson*.
Concert - From €80

On November 22, the scene shifts for a cinematic interlude. In partnership with the Monaco Audiovisual Institute, the festival presents *The Man with the Golden Arm*, Otto Preminger's 1955 film. In this classic, Frank Sinatra plays Frankie Machine, an ex-convict dreaming of becoming a jazz drummer-offering a deep dive into American musical cinema and an era when jazz and the silver screen shared a particularly fruitful relationship.
Jazz & Cinema Screening - €15

An evening blending Caribbean jazz and liberating soul

On November 25, the younger generation takes the stage with Tyreek McDole. Rising to prominence on the New York scene, the Haitian-American singer creates a powerful jazz sound infused with Caribbean influences. His talent notably earned him the Best Vocalist award at the 2018 Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival.
He shares the evening with Selah Sue, a leading figure in Belgian soul-pop. Accompanied by the father-son duo The Gallands, she promises a performance that is warm, radiant, and deeply free-spirited. Concert - From €70

When jazz meets electro, funk, and hip-hop

On November 26, the festival continues its exploration of musical boundaries with GoGo Penguin. Hailing from Manchester, the trio will present *Necessary Fictions*, their latest album, where contemporary jazz and electronic textures converge. British-Ugandan singer-songwriter Daudi Matsiko will also join the group on stage.
Then, it will be time to turn up the heat. True pioneers of acid jazz, The Brand New Heavies will celebrate a career spanning over forty years with a repertoire where funk, soul, jazz, and hip-hop blend together with undiminished energy.
Concert - From €60

Marillion: A blend of virtuosity and emotion

On November 27, the spotlight turns to British rock with Marillion. Formed in 1979, the band has forged a unique identity by constantly pushing the boundaries of its musical universe. For the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival, they will deliver a performance where virtuosity, emotion, and spontaneity take center stage.
Concert - From €80

The new generation meets the great classics

November 28 will be dedicated to the passing of the torch. Just a few years into her career, Lila-May embodies a new generation.Her EP *Out of Time*, released in 2025, embodies this desire to create a dialogue between jazz and contemporary sounds.
She will then give way to Thomas Dutronc, who will pay tribute to jazz greats in a new show created in 2026. Blending the elegance of Chet Baker's cool jazz, the legacy of Django Reinhardt, and standards from the Great American Songbook, the singer-guitarist offers a personal journey through the classics.
Concert - From €70

A grand finale with the Soweto Gospel Choir

To close this anniversary edition on November 29, the Soweto Gospel Choir will transform the Opéra Garnier into a stage for celebration. A three-time Grammy Award winner, the South African choir will present *JOY*, a show blending song, dance, and spirituality.
It is a deeply symbolic way to conclude twenty years of the festival: through music that unites people, transcends cultures, and reminds us that-beyond genres and generations-jazz remains, above all, a story of freedom, sharing, and connection.

Twenty years on, yet still eager to surprise

With this 2026 edition, the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival does more than just celebrate its history; it reaffirms its ability to blur boundaries and foster dialogue between generations. From young talents at the Rainier III Academy to international legends, and from acid jazz and gospel to rock, soul, and electro, this twentieth edition ultimately mirrors jazz itself: multifaceted, vibrant, and impossible to pin down to a single definition.