Saint-Raphaël Jazz Festival 2026: four days of music on the French Riviera with jazz, street bands and world percussion

The French Riviera is getting ready for four days of jazz and international music with the return of the Saint-Raph’ Jazz Festival 2026, one of the longest-running and most anticipated musical events of the French summer.

From 9 to 12 July 2026, the city of Saint-Raphaël will become a huge open-air stage to celebrate the 45th edition of the festival, with a programme packed with free concerts, street performances, musical encounters and activities designed for all generations.

For the occasion, the city’s squares, gardens, seafront and neighbourhoods will welcome more than one hundred musicians, taking audiences on a journey through classic jazz, swing, blues, funk, groove, tango, Afro-Latin music and contemporary influences.

Saint-Raphaël becomes the jazz capital of the French Riviera

With a long-standing reputation in the French music scene, the Saint-Raph’ Jazz Festival will once again confirm its mission in 2026: bringing music beyond traditional venues and making it accessible to everyone through concerts in the streets and public spaces of the city.

Throughout the four-day festival, residents and visitors will be able to enjoy evening performances, roaming shows, music workshops and free events designed to create a lively atmosphere of celebration and sharing.

The programme will explore every side of jazz, from the roots of New Orleans to the latest international trends, featuring French artists alongside guests from the global music scene.

Three stages in the heart of Saint-Raphaël for evening concerts

From 9 to 11 July, the city centre will host three main concert venues:

• Casino Barrière;
• Place Coullet;

• Bonaparte Gardens.

Every evening, from 8 pm until midnight, seven musical groups will take turns on stage, presenting performances dedicated to the great figures of jazz history, original artistic projects and unique interpretations.

Music will also accompany evening strolls thanks to numerous street bands performing throughout the city centre and along the seafront.

From 6 pm to 11 pm, eight musical groups will bring the streets to life in iconic locations such as Cours Guilbaud, Quai Albert Ier, Promenade René Coty, Boulevard du Général de Gaulle and Place Victor Hugo, transforming the city into a continuous musical journey.

Jazz takes over Saint-Raphaël’s neighbourhoods

The Saint-Raph’ Jazz Festival will also involve several districts of Saint-Raphaël with dedicated events.

In Boulouris, the Looking-up Project will offer a new interpretation of major international film soundtracks through arrangements combining jazz, blues, swing and Latin American rhythms.

In Santa Lucia, Brazilian pianist Julien Bonnel will present his original blend of jazz and groove.

At Le Dramont, guitarist and composer Jean-Philippe Sempéré will take audiences on a musical journey through the atmosphere of the 1960s and 1970s, reinterpreted with a contemporary approach.

Finally, in Valescure, the Shabada Swing Quintet will bring a repertoire combining jazz, swing, pop and gospel to the streets of the neighbourhood.

Tribute to James Brown: the festival’s headline concert

One of the most anticipated events of the 45th edition will be the major tribute concert dedicated to James Brown, the worldwide legend of soul and funk music.

The concert will take place on Saturday 11 July at the Agora of the Palais des Congrès, featuring Allan Adoté together with a ten-piece band.

The show will revisit some of the most famous songs by the “Godfather of Soul”, including I Got You (I Feel Good), It’s a Man’s Man’s World and Get Up Offa That Thing, recreating the energy of James Brown’s legendary funk performances through powerful brass arrangements and dynamic rhythms.

The World Percussion Festival makes its debut

The main innovation of the Saint-Raph’ Jazz Festival 2026 will be the launch of the World Percussion Festival, organised by the local association La Casa Jazz and artistically directed by Argentine percussionist Minino Garay, one of the leading figures in the international jazz and world music scene.

From 9 to 11 July, the Village des Jazz, set up on the Esplanade Delayen, will host free workshops dedicated to different rhythmic traditions:

• Brazilian and Argentine percussion;
• djembe;
• vibraphone;

• body percussion;
• instruments and rhythms from Eastern musical traditions.

The area will also become a meeting point for the public, with aperitif-time concerts and a dedicated street food area.

The new festival will also feature four free concerts with internationally renowned artists, including Minino Garay, drummer André Ceccarelli, pianist Adrien Brandeis, and Cuban percussionists Yaroldy Abreu and Abraham Mansfarroll.

The grand final parade closes the Saint-Raph’ Jazz Festival

The festival will come to an end with the traditional musical parade on Sunday 12 July, a symbolic event that recalls the original spirit of the festival.

More than one hundred musicians will march from the Cultural Centre to the seafront, crossing the city centre with a procession of jazz, swing and street music.

A spectacular moment that brings together audiences and artists every year, transforming Saint-Raphaël into a major musical celebration on the French Riviera.

Practical information

📍 Location: Saint-Raphaël, French Riviera (France)
📅 Dates: 9–12 July 2026
🎷 Event: Saint-Raph’ Jazz Festival – 45th edition
🎵 Programme: concerts, street music, workshops and World Percussion Festival
🎟️ Many events are free of charge

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