Académie-Festival de Musique des Arcs
Free classical and jazz music at 1,800 meters altitude
About Festival des Arcs
The Académie-Festival des Arcs: Over Half a Century of Music at Altitude
The Académie-Festival de Musique des Arcs was born in 1973, in the wake of the development of the resort of Les Arcs, conceived by urban planner Charlotte Perriand and developer Roger Godino. From the very first years, the festival set itself an ambitious mission: to offer free concerts of classical chamber music in an exceptional mountain setting, at an altitude of 1,800 meters, and to provide a summer academy allowing young musicians to perfect their skills with recognized masters.
More than half a century later, under the artistic direction of Eric Crambes, the festival has lost none of its vitality. Every summer, during the second half of July, it brings together more than 60 international artists who give around forty concerts — all free — in the venues of the resort of Les Arcs and the villages of Haute-Tarentaise. The festival welcomes approximately 12,000 listeners per edition, confirming its attractiveness and its unique place in the French musical landscape.
Three Missions at the Heart of the Artistic Project
The Académie-Festival des Arcs is structured around three fundamental missions that have guided its programming and actions since its inception:
- Classical Music Accessible to All: The complete freeness of the concerts removes all barriers to access and reaches a wide audience, from the discerning music lover to the curious vacationer.
- Transmission of Knowledge: The summer academy hosts young instrumentalists who benefit from masterclasses and courses given by the festival's guest artists.
- Support for Contemporary Creation: Each year, a composer in residence receives a commission for a world premiere, the first performance of which is given during the festival.
2026 Edition: "Bridges — Classical and Jazz in Resonance"
The 53rd edition of the Académie-Festival des Arcs, scheduled from July 21 to 31, 2026, is set to the theme "Bridges: Classical and Jazz in Resonance". This edition will offer an unprecedented dialogue between classical music and jazz, exploring the stylistic bridges and cross-influences between these two musical worlds. A rich program of around forty free concerts, lectures, and concerts for young audiences will animate the resort and surrounding villages.
A Reach Beyond the Resort
Over the decades, the festival has extended its reach far beyond the resort of Les Arcs. Concerts are now given in the villages and towns of Haute-Tarentaise, contributing to the summer cultural life of the region and introducing classical music to audiences who might not otherwise have access to it.
Festival des Arcs — edition 2026
The 53rd edition of the Académie-Festival de Musique des Arcs takes place from July 19 to 31, 2026, on the theme "Bridges: classical and jazz in resonance". Around fifty free concerts, performed by more than 60 international artists, bring classical music and jazz into dialogue in the resort of Les Arcs and the villages of high Tarentaise, facing Mont Blanc.
53rd edition — "Bridges: classical and jazz in resonance"
From July 19 to 31, 2026, the Académie-Festival de Musique des Arcs offers two weeks of musical effervescence in the resort of Les Arcs (Arc 1800) and the villages of high Tarentaise. The 2026 theme, "Bridges: classical and jazz in resonance", explores the connections between two aesthetics that have constantly echoed each other, from the swing of Gershwin's concertos to Bernstein's writing, including improvisation and reinterpretations of Mozart and Bach.
The festival brings together around fifty free concerts and more than 60 international artists. Vibraphonist and composer Franck Tortiller, a major figure in jazz in France, is composer-in-residence: in addition to the world premiere of a work commissioned by the festival, more than ten of his compositions are performed during the event.
The summer academy welcomes young musicians for masterclasses, and the program combines indoor concerts, village concerts, conferences, cine-concerts, and workshops.
Programme Festival des Arcs 2026
2026 Program (announced highlights, July 19 to 31):
- Opening Concert — excerpts from Rossini's The Barber of Seville, conducted by Jean-François Verdier, directed by Jean Lacornerie (Arc 1800, Centre Bernard Taillefer)
- West Side Story by Les Percussions Claviers de Lyon
- Tribute to Django Reinhardt
- The Story of Babar by Francis Poulenc (young audience concert)
- The Soldier's Tale by Stravinsky, with a narration by Sylvain Tesson
- Bach Day (suites and concertos)
- Piano Recitals ("Pianissimo" / "Piano au pré", Les Arcs - Villaroger)
- Franck Tortiller, composer-in-residence: world premiere of a work commissioned by the festival and more than ten of his compositions
- Cine-concerts and screenings in partnership with the Festival du film des Arcs, conferences and village concerts
Composers in the program: Rossini, Mozart, Franck, Ravel, Beethoven, Schumann, Bacewicz, Gershwin, among others. The detailed day-by-day program is published on festivaldesarcs.com.
Highlights Festival des Arcs 2026
- 53rd edition on the theme "Bridges: classical and jazz in resonance"
- Around fifty entirely free concerts
- More than 60 international artists, facing Mont Blanc
- Opening concert featuring Rossini's The Barber of Seville
- Franck Tortiller composer-in-residence, with a world premiere
Prices Festival des Arcs 2026
Practical information — Festival des Arcs
Practical Information
Location
Resort of Les Arcs (mainly Arc 1800) and villages of Haute-Tarentaise, commune of Bourg-Saint-Maurice.
Access
By train: Bourg-Saint-Maurice SNCF station (TGV from Paris, TER from Chambéry), then funicular to Les Arcs 1600 (7 min).
By car: from Chambéry, A430 then RN90 towards Bourg-Saint-Maurice (1h30).
Prices
All concerts are free.
Usual Dates
Second half of July, for approximately 10 days.
Contact
Association Musique et Danse aux Arcs
Website: festivaldesarcs.com
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Where does it take place — Festival des Arcs
Station des Arcs (Arc 1800) et villages de haute Tarentaise