Music Festival

Jazz Art Lympia 2026: Open-Air Jazz Returns to the Port of Nice

RIVIERA BUZZ23 June, 20264 Mins read258

The smooth, sultry sounds of jazz will again grace the Port of Nice this summer with the return of Jazz Art Lympia for a new season of open-air performances.

Now in its eighth year, Jazz Art Lympia has become one of Nice’s most distinctive summer cultural events, transforming the rooftop terrace of the Espace Culturel Départemental Lympia into an open-air jazz club overlooking the Port of Nice.

These Thursday evening sessions present world-class jazz in a truly unique Riviera setting, bringing together acclaimed musicians and emerging talents and celebrating one of the world’s most enduring musical genres.

2026 FESTIVAL PROGRAMME

CATHY HEITING & LOÏS COEURDEUIL QUARTET
Thursday, 16 July, 2026

^{Video via Cathy Heiting on YouTube}

Vocalist Cathy Heiting joins forces with guitarist Loïs Coeurdeuil for an evening of soul and jazz, blending timeless standards with original compositions. Expect plenty of emotion, swing and groove from a duo renowned for its musical chemistry, with Heiting’s engaging stage presence perfectly complemented by Coeurdeuil’s virtuosic guitar work.

They are joined by Franck Lamiot on Hammond organ and Samuel Bobin on drums, completing a quartet of accomplished musicians. Their recent EP, recorded at Studio Manuel and mixed by Lamiot, features six original tracks, including two French-language songs with lyrics co-written by Bobin, showcasing the group’s distinctive blend of jazz, soul and contemporary influences.

Cathy Heiting: vocals, lyrics, and composition
Loïs Coeurdeuil: guitar and composition
Franck Lamiot: Hammond organ and composition
Samuel Bobin: drums, lyrics, and composition

GLAM’ JAZZ
Thursday, 23 July, 2026

^{Video via Sandrine Destefanis on YouTube}

The Glam’ Jazz Quartet celebrates the timeless elegance of jazz through a repertoire that is both melodic and accessible. Taking audiences on a journey through the genre’s rich history, the ensemble revisits beloved standards from the 1920s to the 1960s, bringing each era vividly to life.

From the Charleston rhythms and Gatsby-era charm of the Roaring Twenties to the irresistible swing of the 1930s, the quartet captures the spirit of jazz’s golden age. The programme also pays tribute to classic French songs that became international jazz favourites, alongside the smooth, sun-drenched sounds of bossa nova. Combining sophistication, nostalgia and infectious rhythm, Glam’ Jazz offers an enchanting evening of musical glamour.

Sandrine Destefanis: vocals
Thierry Faure: piano
Fabrice Bistoni: double bass
Didier Guazzo: drums and percussion.

LUZ DO SAMBA
Thursday, 30 July, 2026

^{Video via linusjazz on YouTube}

Luz do Samba brings the warmth, rhythm and spirit of Brazil to Jazz Art Lympia with a repertoire inspired by samba, bossa nova and Brazilian popular music. Blending tradition with contemporary influences, the group performs a mix of original compositions and reimagined classics, enriched by subtle jazz inflections.

True to its name, which evokes both light and the emotional richness of Brazilian music, Luz do Samba creates an atmosphere that is at once vibrant, soulful and uplifting. The result is a colourful musical journey that captures the essence of Brazil while embracing the improvisational spirit of jazz.

Linus Olsson: vocals & guitar
Hugo Mezzasalma: piano
Thomas Cordogli: bass
Max Miguel: drums.

JAZZ ON THE TOP’S WITH SPECIAL GUEST NICOLAS FOLMER
Thursday, 6 August, 2026

Jazz on the Top’s brings together a group of accomplished musicians united by a passion for exploring the rich traditions of jazz. Their repertoire draws on works by some of the genre’s greatest figures, while also incorporating selected pop classics reimagined through a jazz lens.

At the heart of every performance are improvisation and musical interaction, the defining elements of jazz. By embracing a variety of rhythms and influences, the ensemble moves effortlessly between styles, creating performances that are both dynamic and unpredictable, while remaining firmly rooted in the spirit of jazz.

Luc Fenoli: guitar and direction
Nicolas Folmer: trumpet and vocals
Eva Dubois: vocals
Serge Montout: keyboards
Gabriel Fenol: bass
Rachid Bouracha: drums and vocals

BABEL SWING QUARTET
Thursday, 13 August, 2026

Babel Swing Quartet play Jazz Art Lympia 2026

Formed in 2025, Babel Swing brings together a group of musicians who share a passion for musical exploration and cultural exchange. Drawing inspiration from jazz and swing, the ensemble creates bridges between genres, transforming familiar songs through inventive arrangements and a distinctive vintage flair.

Their repertoire moves effortlessly from French chanson and pop favourites to classic swing standards, all reinterpreted with creativity and elegance. Performed in several languages and delivered with infectious energy, Babel Swing offers a vibrant musical journey that celebrates diversity, rhythm and the universal language of music.

Liviu Muzsikus: violin
Laurent Poquet: double bass
Enzo Jamois: guitar
Marine Caron: vocals

ITALIAN SPIRIT TRIO
Thursday, 20 August, 2026

^{Video via Art in Live on YouTube}

Three accomplished musicians come together to present a fresh and imaginative instrumental tribute to some of Italy’s most beloved songs. Infused with jazz influences, the project reinterprets familiar melodies through a dynamic and contemporary lens while remaining faithful to their emotional essence.

The chemistry between the performers creates a seamless musical dialogue that guides audiences on a journey through the rich traditions of Italian music and its diverse cultural influences. The trumpet brings iconic melodies to life, percussion adds colour and rhythmic texture, and the piano provides cohesion and depth, weaving the elements together into a captivating whole. The result is a performance that is both accessible and artistically adventurous, revealing new dimensions within timeless Italian classics.

Marco Vezzoso: trumpet
Alessandro Collina: piano
Andrea Marchesini: percussion

The Espace Culturel Départemental Lympia will remain open until 9 pm on the nights of the concerts, allowing visitors to explore the current exhibition, Lilette et Gilbert Valentin, Quand La Terre Devient Lumière

Combining exceptional artistry with a relaxed Riviera atmosphere, Jazz Art Lympia offers audiences a chance to savour memorable performances, and promises another summer of unforgettable rhythms, melodies and waterfront magic.