The programme for the 65th edition of the renowned Jazz à Juan festival has officially been unveiled, and it promises to be one of the standout music events of the summer.
Running from 9th – 19th July, the festival returns to its iconic setting in the Pinède Gould in Juan-les-Pins, where the seaside stage has hosted some of the greatest names in jazz and contemporary music for decades.
For this milestone 65th edition, organisers have assembled an impressive line-up of both national and international talent. Music lovers can look forward to performances from global stars including Tom Jones, Seal, and Morcheeba, alongside a diverse programme that celebrates the spirit of jazz while embracing a wider spectrum of musical styles.
Courtesy Jazz à Juan on Instagram
FESTIVAL PROGRAMME
Thursday, 9th July
José James feat. China Moses (8:30 pm)
On the 50th Anniversary of Marvin Gaye’s “I Want You”, José James and China Moses will perform the album in its totality, followed by more personal sets, revealing Marvin Gaye’s lasting influence. Much more than a concert, it is a celebration of love, creativity and a timeless musical legacy.
Tom Jones (10 pm)
With a career spanning an extraordinary six decades, legendary Welsh singer and performer Sir Tom Jones remains one of the most enduring figures in global music. Renowned for his powerful voice and magnetic stage presence, he continues to captivate audiences worldwide with a timeless catalogue of hits and an energy that has never waned.
Video via The Ed Sullivan Show on YouTube
Over the course of his remarkable career, Jones has sold more than 100 million records, cementing his place among the great icons of popular music. His influence on the industry remains profound, inspiring generations of artists while maintaining a loyal fan base that spans decades. With his unmistakable talent and lasting appeal, Sir Tom Jones’s legacy is certain to endure for many years to come.
Saturday, 11th July
Dhafer Youssef (8:30 pm)
Tunisian oud virtuoso and vocalist Dhafer Youssef is widely regarded as one of the most distinctive musical voices of his generation. Renowned for his deeply expressive performances, his music effortlessly transcends borders, languages and genres, creating a sound that is both deeply rooted in tradition and strikingly contemporary.
Morcheeba (10 pm)
With its gentle, introspective songs carried by the unmistakable voice of Skye Edwards, Morcheeba has come to embody a softer, more contemplative strand of British trip-hop, a sound that has enjoyed remarkable longevity. The group emerged alongside fellow British trip-hop innovators such as Massive Attack and Portishead during the 1990s.
Video via Warner Music Italy on YouTube
Since then, Morcheeba has released 10 studio albums and sold more than 10 million records worldwide, securing its place as one of the genre’s most enduring acts. Blending warmth, lyricism and emotional depth, the band’s 11th album, Escape The Chaos, explores a subtle tension between meticulously crafted electronic textures and organic instrumentation, further demonstrating Morcheeba’s ability to evolve while remaining true to its signature sound.
Monday, 13th July
Mica Millar (8:30 pm)
British composer, producer and singer Mica Millar stands out as a fiercely independent artist, bringing a fresh and contemporary female perspective to the worlds of soul, R&B, blues, gospel and jazz. With a voice rich in emotion and authenticity, she has quickly established herself as one of the most compelling new voices on the UK’s soul scene.
Seal (10 pm)
Video via Warner Records Vault on YouTube
With one of the most recognisable voices in modern music, Seal has left an unmistakable imprint on the worlds of pop, R&B, soul and dance. A versatile and influential presence in popular culture, his catalogue includes a string of iconic tracks such as Killer, Crazy and the timeless ballad Kiss From A Rose. These songs not only defined an era but continue to resonate with audiences around the world. Over the years, Seal has collaborated with a wide range of musicians, from Jeff Beck, Joni Mitchell and Santana to P!nk, John Legend and Gallant, reflecting the breadth of his artistic reach.
Tuesday, 14th July
Banksia (8:30 pm)
Banksia, made up of three of Tokyo’s most sought-after musicians, has earned a reputation as one of the most dynamic and celebrated ensembles on the contemporary Japanese jazz scene. Since forming in 2017, the trio has developed a distinctive and innovative sound that has attracted international attention. In 2025, the trio expanded its global presence with its first Australian tour, which included sold-out performances at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, further cementing its status as one of the most exciting acts in modern jazz.
Maë Defays (10 pm)
Navigating effortlessly between jazz and soul, Maë Defays crafts a musical universe that is both poetic and deeply evocative. A songwriter, composer, singer and guitarist, she was born into a family of artists whose roots stretch between Europe and the Caribbean. Immersed from an early age in music and cinema, she channels this rich cultural heritage into songs that carry a boundless sense of storytelling and emotion.
Video via Maë Defays Music on YouTube
A remarkable musician and storyteller, Defays reflects on nature and its fragile beauty, inviting listeners to contemplate the world around them – its wonders as well as its wounds. At the heart of her music lies her voice: ethereal, crystal-clear, soft yet profound, rising gently above a perfectly balanced live quintet. The result is a performance that is at once delicate and powerful, carrying audiences far beyond the stage.
This evening is offered free by the Ville d’Antibes Juan-les-Pins. Further information on reserving your place is available on the festival website (scroll down to the Tarifs Soirée section)
Wednesday, 15th July
Fatoumata Diawara (8:30 pm)
With her vibrant voice and magnetic stage presence, she channels the spirit of Africa – its struggles, its resilience and its rediscovered joys – singing powerfully in her mother tongue, Bambara. A captivating performer, Diawara has a rare ability to move audiences deeply, drawing them through a spectrum of emotions, making them laugh, reflect, and above all, dance. Through her music, she addresses pressing social issues such as female genital mutilation and forced marriage, experiences that have shaped her own life and which she transforms into a universal message of strength, hope and resilience.
Video via Fatoumata Diawara on YouTube
Having left Mali at the age of 19 to forge her own destiny, Diawara, now in her forties, continues to challenge social injustices while celebrating her life as both an artist and a mother. Today she stands as one of the most important voices in contemporary African music, and her performances are renowned for their electrifying energy and emotional intensity.
Goran Bregović (10 pm)
Goran Bregović has become one of the most recognisable figures in world music over the past three decades. The Balkan rock star has built a reputation for blending traditional sounds with an electrifying contemporary edge. On stage, Bregović performs with his celebrated Wedding and Funeral Band, an ensemble featuring a vibrant brass section and Bulgarian singers. Together they deliver exuberant concerts bursting with rhythm, energy and theatrical flair – performances so infectious in their spirit and freedom that audiences can hardly resist joining the celebration.
Thursday, 16th July
The Fearless Flyers (8:30 pm)
The Fearless Flyers were formed by two members of Vulfpeck, the acclaimed Michigan funk collective known for bringing together some of the most accomplished musicians on the contemporary scene: bassist Joe Dart and guitarist Cory Wong. The quartet is completed by guitarist Mark Lettieri of Snarky Puppy and the formidable Nate Smith on drums, and produces a sharp, rhythmically charged sound – an irresistible blend of precision and groove that turns their music into a powerful funk-driven dance machine.
Keziah Jones (10 pm)
Video via Keziah Jones on YouTube
A committed and uncompromising musician, Keziah Jones has never hesitated to embrace pop influences while remaining deeply connected to his Nigerian roots. At the same time, his artistic path has always been resolutely nomadic. As the creator of the distinctive and influential style he calls “blufunk” – a fusion of blues and funk – Jones has built a reputation for constant reinvention. A truly multidisciplinary artist who seems untouched by the passage of time, Keziah Jones (born Olufemi Sanyaolu) remains a discreet yet deeply inspiring figure whose music continues to reveal new dimensions with every listening.
Friday, 17th July
Samara Joy (8:30 pm)
Music has always played a central role in Samara Joy’s life. Her grandparents led the Philadelphia gospel group The Savettes, while her father toured with renowned gospel singer Andraé Crouch, surrounding her from an early age with a rich musical heritage.
Although she first grew up listening to gospel and R&B, Joy discovered her passion for jazz while studying at Fordham High School for the Arts in New York. There, performing regularly with the school’s jazz band, she began to develop the distinctive style and vocal presence that would later establish her as one of the most exciting young voices in contemporary jazz.
With her album Portrait, released in 2024, Samara Joy offers a revealing glimpse into her artistic evolution – not only as one of the defining jazz voices of her generation, but also as a songwriter, arranger and bandleader.
Marcus Miller – We Want Miles! (10 pm)
Video via Paul Cummings on YouTube
Marcus Miller’s We Want Miles! project promises to be a thrilling tribute to one of the most influential figures not only in jazz, but in the entire history of modern music: Miles Davis. The project revisits music from the legendary 1981 live recording in Japan, while also drawing from key works across Davis’s remarkable career. The programme spans iconic compositions from the 1950s and 1960s, through to his later creative periods with albums such as Tutu (1986) and Amandla (1989). Through We Want Miles!, Miller celebrates the enduring legacy of Davis, bringing new life to the music of a visionary who reshaped jazz time and time again.
Saturday, 18th July
New Sketches of Spain (Erik Truffaz or Antonio Lizana) (8:30 pm)
An emancipated disciple of his illustrious predecessor, Erik Truffaz has established himself as one of the leading figures of electro-jazz trumpet, a musician whose creativity and spirit of exploration have never faltered.
His meeting with Antonio Lizana – the acclaimed Spanish saxophonist and flamenco singer – sparked an ambitious artistic collaboration. Together, they set out to present their own contemporary interpretation of Sketches of Spain, the legendary work whose brilliance has transcended generations. Through this project, Truffaz and Lizana bring a fresh perspective to a timeless masterpiece, blending jazz, flamenco and modern sonic textures into a vibrant new vision.
Thomas Dutronc – Jazz & Friends (10 pm)
Following the success of Frenchy, a gold-certified album widely praised by both audiences and critics, Thomas Dutronc returns this summer with a new live project devoted to the great classics of jazz.
Video via Jazz à Vienne on YouTube
In this programme, Dutronc immerses himself in the cool jazz universe of Chet Baker, pays homage to the gypsy jazz legacy of Django Reinhardt, and offers refined reinterpretations of timeless pieces from the Great American Songbook. Blending virtuosity, elegance and his unmistakable style, the guitarist and singer once again demonstrates his deep connection to the rich traditions of jazz.
Thomas Dutronc offers a performance where virtuosity, swing and improvisation come together to share a unique moment with his audience.
Sunday, 19th July
Linda Lee Hopkins (8:30 pm)
Music has been part of Linda Lee Hopkin’s life since childhood, when her father’s amateur gospel group rehearsed at home and the microphone was often a hairbrush in front of the mirror. As a young adult, winning a singing competition in a Pennsylvania club gave her the confidence to pursue a career, revealing a natural talent for embodying songs and captivating audiences.
She later moved into musical theatre before settling in Paris in 1991, where she became a sought-after vocalist for both studios and touring artists. Over the years, she has collaborated with names such as Nino Ferrer, Bernard Lavilliers, Gloria Gaynor, Percy Sledge, Ray Charles and Ben l’Oncle Soul.
Video via Linda Lee Hopkins on YouTube
With Spirit & Soul, Linda presents her first deeply personal album, inspired by the roots of African-American music and her own life experiences. Her upcoming concerts promise powerful and intimate musical moments.
This evening is offered free by the Ville d’Antibes Juan-les-Pins. Further information on reserving your place is available on the festival website (scroll down to the Tarifs Soirée section)
AWAY FROM THE MAIN STAGE
The Jammin’Summer session presents the public with an exciting opportunity to discover new young jazz talent. Taking place each evening from 9th to 20th July from 7:15 pm to 8:15 pm at La Petite Pinède (located at the corner of Boulevard Baudoin and Rue Jacques Leonetti), these young artists represent all the current trends on the jazz scene. Access to these evenings is free and open to all.
The Médiathèque Albert Camus will host ‘Les Matinales du Festival’ on 15th and 18th July from 11 am to 12 pm. These concerts will be followed by a discussion with the musicians (until 12:30 pm).
There will also be exhibitions held at the Juan-les-Pins Tourist Office, located in the Palais des Congrès, open daily from 9 am to 7 pm.
Courtesy Festival Jazz à Juan
The 65th Festival Jazz à Juan takes place from 9th to 19th July, 2026 at La Pinède Gould in Juan-les-Pins. Ticket sales are now open. There will be food trucks and pétanque on site from 7:30 pm on the evening of each concert – performances start at 8:30 pm.
With its unique atmosphere, legendary heritage, and a line-up packed with acclaimed performers, this year’s Jazz à Juan is shaping up to be another unforgettable chapter in the festival’s long and celebrated history.
VENUE DETAILS
Festival Jazz à Juan
La Pinède Gould (Square Franck Jay Gould)
25 Bd Edouard Baudoin
06160 Antibes
PHOTO CREDITS
- Lead image courtesy and © Jazz à Juan 2024 / K. L’Hermite
- All other images and videos as credited
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