Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival 2026: 20 Years of Great Music Between Jazz, Soul, Gospel and Rock

MONACO – Twenty years of music, encounters and artistic crossovers. The Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival 2026 is celebrating an important milestone and will return from November 18 to 29 to the prestigious setting of the Salle Garnier at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, with a programme spanning jazz, soul, gospel, funk, pop and progressive rock.

This anniversary tells the story of an event that, since 2006, has helped transform the Principality of Monaco into an international destination for outstanding live music. For its twentieth edition, the festival once again focuses on the quality of its artists and the dialogue between different musical languages, confirming a formula that has captivated audiences and music lovers over the years.

A special edition in memory of Jean-René Palacio

The official presentation of the programme, held on September 3, opened with a tribute to Jean-René Palacio, the creator of the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival in 2006 and a key figure in the artistic direction of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer until his passing in 2021.

Stéphane Valeri, Président-Délégué of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, paid tribute to the man who created a festival built around a clear vision from the very beginning: to make jazz an open language, capable of engaging with different cultures, generations and musical genres.

Today, that journey continues under the artistic direction of Alfonso Ciulla, together with co-programmer Reno Di Matteo, with the aim of preserving the festival’s original spirit: an international, curious and boundary-free artistic vision.

Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival 2026: the programme and artists

The festival will open on November 18 with one of its most meaningful traditions: the free concert featuring young musicians from the Académie Rainier III. A symbolic event that places new generations at the centre of the celebration and highlights the importance of musical education.

November 20 will feature two major artists from the international music scene. The stage will welcome Youn Sun Nah, an artist known for her intense voice and extraordinary expressive range, followed by Grégory Porter, one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary jazz and a two-time Grammy Award winner.

The following day, November 21, the Salle Garnier will host the Thanda Choir, a group of fifteen young South African performers embarking on their first international tour. The evening will also feature Melody Gardot, the American singer-songwriter admired worldwide for her elegant style and unmistakable vocal presence.

Jazz and cinema: a tribute to Frank Sinatra

On November 22, the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival will bring together music and cinema with a screening of The Man with the Golden Arm, the celebrated film directed by Otto Preminger.

Featuring Frank Sinatra in the role of Frankie Machine, the film represents one of the most original events on the programme and reflects the festival’s desire to expand its artistic narrative beyond the traditional concert format, exploring the relationship between jazz, images and contemporary culture.

Soul, emerging voices and international stars

November 25 will be dedicated to new generations and soul-inspired sounds. The stage will welcome Tyreek McDole, a young talent with a strong artistic identity and Caribbean roots, who has already received significant recognition despite his young age.

He will be followed by Selah Sue, one of the most acclaimed Belgian artists on the European soul-pop scene, performing with the Gallands.

On November 26, the spotlight will turn to two acts representing different musical worlds, united by a powerful creative energy. British trio GoGo Penguin will present their new album Necessary Fictions, while The Brand New Heavies, pioneers of the acid jazz movement, will bring their unmistakable blend of funk, groove and soul to Monaco.

Marillion take centre stage for a night of rock

On November 27, the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival will take a decisive turn towards rock with an evening entirely dedicated to Marillion.

The legendary British band, a landmark name in international progressive rock, will be the sole protagonist of the evening. Their presence once again demonstrates the festival’s cross-genre identity and its willingness to move beyond traditional musical boundaries.

Creators of songs that have become classics of British music, including Kayleigh and Lavender, Marillion will bring one of the most eagerly anticipated performances of the entire 2026 edition to the stage of the Salle Garnier.

Lila-May and Thomas Dutronc: new trends meet timeless classics

On November 28, the spotlight will turn to Lila-May, a young French artist regarded as one of the emerging talents of the music scene and already enjoying major success across digital platforms and TikTok.

The second half of the evening will belong to Thomas Dutronc, who will pay tribute in his new show to some of the great names in music history, including Chet Baker and Django Reinhardt, while revisiting classics that helped shape the language of jazz.

An evening bringing together emerging trends, digital culture and musical heritage.

A grand finale with the Soweto Gospel Choir

The Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival 2026 will conclude on November 29 with the return of the Soweto Gospel Choir.

The celebrated South African choir, winner of three Grammy Awards and previously acclaimed by Monaco audiences in 2013, will present its show JOY. The title perfectly captures the spirit of the performance: music, singing, dance and a powerful sense of collective celebration.

Through the musical traditions of South Africa, the Soweto Gospel Choir will bring messages of hope, unity and resilience to the stage, delivering an emotional and spectacular finale to the festival’s twentieth edition.

A festival that is also an experience

The Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival is not simply a sequence of concerts. The event also places great importance on the audience experience and on the unique atmosphere of the Salle Garnier.

During evenings featuring two concerts, spectators will be able to gather during the interval in the elegant setting of La Rotonde, enjoying cocktails and special experiences created to mark the festival’s anniversary, including cappuccinos personalised with the 20th-anniversary logo.

These details help transform every performance into a broader experience, where music meets hospitality and the elegance that has long defined Monaco.

Twenty years of the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival, with an eye on the future

From 2006 to 2026, the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival has welcomed French and international artists, established stars and promising new talents, gradually building a distinctive identity.

Jazz remains at the heart of the festival, but its programme continues to embrace soul, gospel, rock, funk and new musical expressions. It is precisely this ability to evolve without losing its identity that has accompanied the festival throughout its first twenty years.

The 2026 edition is therefore not simply a celebration of the past, but also a statement of intent for the future: to continue telling the story of music as a place of encounter, freedom and artistic exchange.

From November 18 to 29, 2026, Monaco’s Salle Garnier will once again become the stage for an international musical journey, celebrating twenty years of history and many new emotions still waiting to be written.