Colmar Jazz Festival
Ten days of jazz in the heart of Colmar
2026
About Colmar Jazz Festival
Established in 1996 by the City of Colmar, the Colmar Jazz Festival takes place every September. Ticketed concerts are held at the Théâtre municipal, the Salle de spectacles Europe, and Le Grillen, while free performances are hosted at the Pôle média-culture Edmond Gerrer, the Plaine Pasteur, and the Comédie de Colmar. The lineup features a blend of gypsy jazz, blues, soul, improvised music, and electro, showcasing both international stars and emerging artists supported by the Propulsion program. The festival also includes workshops, masterclasses, jam sessions, and film screenings.
Colmar Jazz Festival — edition 2026
The Colmar Jazz Festival celebrates its 30th edition from September 21 to 26, 2026. Five paid evenings at the Municipal Theatre, Salle de spectacles Europe, and Le Grillen: Ringo Lorier Quartet for the opening, Rhythm Hand Blues, Christophe Panzani & 20syl, China Moses, and Anne Paceo. Additionally, there are four free events starting September 17, two public workshops, and a festival pass available for €95.
30th Edition, September 21–26, 2026
Founded in 1996, the Colmar Jazz Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary. The City of Colmar is hosting five paid evenings and four free events, featuring gypsy jazz, sign-sung blues, electro, soul, and jazz pop.
Paid concerts are split across three venues: the Municipal Theatre for the gypsy jazz opening night with the Ringo Lorier Quartet; the Salle de spectacles Europe for the blues of Rhythm Hand Blues, the soul of China Moses, and the jazz pop of Anne Paceo; and Le Grillen for the electro night with Christophe Panzani & 20syl. Free events will take place at Le Grillen, Pôle média-culture Edmond Gerrer, Plaine Pasteur, and the Comédie de Colmar.
Festival highlights include a gypsy jazz guitar masterclass led by Ringo Lorier, a sign-singing workshop led by Christelle Pépin, an improv night followed by an open jam session, a film screening dedicated to Michel Portal, and a Franco-German dance and voice improvisation workshop from September 17 to 24.
Manon Mullener, winner of the Propulsion program coordinated by the Tangram company, is an artist-in-residence at the Municipal Theatre and will perform as the opening act for China Moses.
Highlights Colmar Jazz Festival 2026
- China Moses, Friday, September 25 at 8:00 PM at Salle de spectacles Europe, with Manon Mullener as the opening act
- Anne Paceo and her “Atlantis” program, Saturday, September 26 at 8:00 PM at Salle de spectacles Europe
- Christophe Panzani & 20syl, “Sula Bassana,” Thursday, September 24 at 8:00 PM at Le Grillen
- Gypsy jazz opening night with the Ringo Lorier Quartet, Monday, September 21 at 8:00 PM at the Municipal Theatre
- Rhythm Hand Blues, sign-sung performance, Tuesday, September 22 at 8:00 PM at Salle de spectacles Europe
- Four free events: Duo Brady and Christine Ott on the 17th at Le Grillen, Claire Besson & Hugo Diaz on the 19th at Pôle média-culture, Blue Heaven Stompers and the jazz jam on the 23rd, and the “Quelques notes sur la liberté” screening on the 26th
- Festival pass for €95, granting access to all paid concerts
Programme Colmar Jazz Festival 2026
Official program published by the City of Colmar (2026 brochure and colmar.fr/jazz). Times listed are concert start times; doors open 30 minutes prior.
Thursday, September 17, 2026
- 8:00 PM — In/Off Night: Duo Brady + Christine Ott “The Cry” · Le Grillen · free admission subject to availability · standing concert · duration 2h30. Duo Brady (jazz / contemporary music, France): Michèle Pierre on cello and Paul Colomb on cello, featuring the “La Vie d'après” repertoire, presented as part of Jazz Migration. Christine Ott presents “The Cry” (jazz, improvisation, and experimental music, France): Christine Ott on Ondes Martenot and keyboards, Mathieu Gabry on keyboards, Pierre-Loïc Le Bliguet on drums and percussion, first performance in France. Evening organized in partnership with Le Grillen and the Jazz Off Colmar association.
Saturday, September 19, 2026
- 4:00 PM — Claire Besson & Hugo Diaz, guitar/saxophone duo (France) · Pôle média-culture Edmond Gerrer · free admission subject to availability · duration 1h. Claire Besson on guitar, Hugo Diaz on soprano saxophone. Event by the Colmar City Library Network in partnership with the festival.
Sunday, September 20, 2026
- 2:00 PM — Gypsy Jazz Guitar Masterclass led by Ringo Lorier · Le Pacific · Tariff C (€12 to €21) · duration 2h. Focus on rhythm (pompe) and soloing techniques, taught through listening and imitation rather than sheet music. Open to all guitarists. Limited spots, registration via the box office; the workshop is subject to a minimum number of participants.
Monday, September 21, 2026
- 8:00 PM — Opening Night: Ringo Lorier Quartet, “Tribute to Django”, gypsy jazz (France) · Municipal Theatre · Tariff B (€6 to €28) · duration 1h15. Ringo Lorier on guitar, Cherry Reinhardt on guitar, Favino Lorier on guitar and violin, Christophe Reinhardt on double bass. From Django Reinhardt’s gypsy jazz to Paco de Lucia’s flamenco jazz, with influences from Joao Gilberto’s bossa nova, Baden Powell’s samba, and Carlos Santana’s jazz fusion.
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
- 6:00 PM — Sign-singing Workshop with Christelle Pépin · Salle de spectacles Europe · Tariff E (€6 to €12) · duration 1h30. Discover French Sign Language and Deaf culture through a song interpreted in sign-singing. Open to both Deaf and hearing audiences. Limited spots, registration via the box office.
- 8:00 PM — Rhythm Hand Blues, blues / soul (France) · Salle de spectacles Europe · Tariff C (€6 to €21) · duration 1h15. Émilie Hedou on vocals, Léa Bourdeau on sign-singing, Nicolas Blampain on guitar, Jérémie Pontier on piano and drums, Hervé Pouliquen on double bass. A sign-sung performance featuring original compositions by Émilie Hedou. Timmpi vibrating vests are available for Deaf and hard-of-hearing guests upon prior reservation: [email protected].
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
- From 2:00 PM — Afternoon of games and music with a “guinguette” vibe · Plaine Pasteur, access via Avenue de Paris · activities and mini-concerts on-site, co-organized with the City’s Urban Policy department and local neighborhood associations.
- 4:00 PM — Blue Heaven Stompers, New Orleans brass band (France) · Plaine Pasteur · outdoor concert, free admission · duration 1h. Éric Theiller on cornet, Raymond Halbeisen on clarinet, Pierre Rebou on trombone, Patrick Grujon on banjo, Jean-François Charbonnier on tuba. New Orleans jazz, Chicago jazz, and 1920s/30s Charleston.
- 7:00 PM — Improv and Jazz Jam Night · Comédie de Colmar · free admission subject to availability, bar open. First half: Franco-German improv “Corps et voix,” a showcase from the “Improvisation, Dance & Voice” workshop with Louise Garance Wetterwald and Julia Klockow. Second half: Jazz jam with the Euterpe Jazz Quartet: David Forget on drums, Louis Haessler on bass, Diego Manuschevich on saxophone, Xavier Roesch on piano. Mini-concert of standards followed by an open jam for professional and amateur musicians (bring your instrument). In partnership with the Franco-German Young Creation Platform, the Comédie de Colmar, and the Opéra national du Rhin.
Thursday, September 24, 2026
- 8:00 PM — Electro Jazz Night: Christophe Panzani & 20syl, “Sula Bassana” + The Big Tusk · Le Grillen · Tariff B (€6 to €28) · duration 2h30. 20syl on MPC, turntables, and effects, Christophe Panzani on saxophone, flute, and bass clarinet: a meeting between electro-hip hop (Hocus Pocus, C2C) and jazz. Opening act: The Big Tusk, electro jazz (Switzerland): Shems Bendali on trumpet and percussion, Théo Duboule on guitar, Andrew Audiger on keyboards, Nathan Vandenbulcke on drums, presented as part of the AJC / Pro Helvetia partnership.
Friday, September 25, 2026
- 8:00 PM — Soul Jazz Night: China Moses + Manon Mullener · Salle de spectacles Europe · Tariff A (€6 to €36) · duration 2h. China Moses (soul / jazz, USA) on vocals, with Kwame Yeboah on keyboards and vocals, Faniry Andrianarisoa on drums, Manny Simelane on bass, Jérôme Cornelis on guitar, saxophone, and vocals. Opening act: Manon Mullener (jazz / latin jazz, Switzerland), piano solo, winner of the Propulsion program and artist-in-residence at the Colmar Municipal Theatre. Timmpi vibrating vests available upon prior reservation: [email protected].
Saturday, September 26, 2026
- 4:00 PM — Film Screening: “Quelques notes sur la liberté”, a film by Benjamin Delattre featuring Michel Portal, produced by Sophie Faudel, Mélisande Films · Pôle média-culture Edmond Gerrer auditorium · free admission subject to availability · 54 min, French with no subtitles.
- 8:00 PM — Electro Pop Night: Anne Paceo, “Atlantis” + Selma Namata Doyen, “Brötchen” · Salle de spectacles Europe · Tariff A (€6 to €36) · duration 2h. Anne Paceo on drums and vocals, Maya Cros on keyboards, Lilian Millie on trumpet, Gauthier Toux on piano, Christophe Panzani on saxophone, Isabel Sörling on vocals and percussion, Sébastien Tondo on sound, Fabien Maurin on lighting. Opening act: Selma Namata Doyen with “Brötchen,” a solo improvised music set featuring drums and percussive elements (xylophone, hot water bottles). Timmpi vibrating vests available upon prior reservation: [email protected].
Throughout the Festival
- September 17 to 24 — “Corps et voix” professional training, a Franco-German dance and voice improvisation workshop with Louise Garance Wetterwald and Julia Klockow, in Colmar. Registration and info: [email protected], +33 4 78 62 89 42. Public showcase on Wednesday, September 23 at the Comédie de Colmar.
- Refreshment bars available in all partner venues before and after concerts, hosted on certain nights by musical or non-profit associations.
- Artistic education initiatives for schools and social partners: piano encounter with Manon Mullener at Lycée Camille Sée, gypsy jazz discovery with the Ringo Lorier Quartet at Collège Pfeffel, saxophone masterclasses with Christophe Panzani at the conservatory, Jazz Radio workshop with the Centre socioculturel Europe and the Jazz in da House association, and “ça balance !” backstage tours.
Prices Colmar Jazz Festival 2026
Tariff A (China Moses on Sept 25, Anne Paceo on Sept 26): Municipal Theatre Zone 1 and Salle de spectacles Europe €36 full / €32 subscriber or reduced / €18 reduced+; Theatre Zone 2: €32 / €28 / €16; Zone 3: €24 / €21 / €12; Zone 4: €12 / €10 / €6.
Tariff B (Ringo Lorier Quartet on Sept 21, Christophe Panzani and 20syl on Sept 24): Theatre Zone 1, Salle Europe and Le Grillen €28 / €24 / €14; Theatre Zone 2: €25 / €22 / €12; Zone 3: €19 / €16 / €9; Zone 4: €11 / €9 / €6.
Tariff C (Rhythm Hand Blues on Sept 22, gypsy jazz guitar masterclass on Sept 20): Theatre Zone 1 and Salle Europe €21 / €18 / €12; Theatre Zone 2: €18 / €15 / €10; Zone 3: €15 / €12 / €8; Zone 4: €10 / €8 / €6.
Tariff E (sign-singing workshop on Sept 22): all zones at the Theatre and Salle Europe €12 / €10 / €6.
Culture Card: €6 for concerts, upon presentation of the card, reserved for students.
Reduced rate: 18–26 year olds, Cézam card holders, subscribers of the Municipal Theatre, Salle de spectacles Europe, Comédie de Colmar, and Tanzmatten de Sélestat, groups of 10+, and individuals with a disability rating of 80% or higher (free entry for one companion if required).
Reduced rate +: under 18s, job seekers, social welfare recipients (RSA, ASS), and Pass Culture beneficiaries.
Free: In/Off night on Sept 17, concert on Sept 19, Blue Heaven Stompers and jam night on Sept 23, screening on Sept 26, subject to availability.
Tickets available online, at the Municipal Theatre (Tue–Fri, 10 AM–1 PM), and at the Salle de spectacles Europe (Tue–Fri, 2 PM–5 PM) starting September 1, and at the door 1 hour before the concert starts (excluding workshops).
Practical information — Colmar Jazz Festival
Practical Information
Festival Venues in Colmar
- Salle de spectacles et centre socioculturel Europe, 13 rue d'Amsterdam
- Théâtre municipal de Colmar, 3 place Unterlinden
- Le Grillen, 19 rue des Jardins
- Pôle média-culture Edmond Gerrer, 1 place de la Montagne Verte
- Comédie de Colmar, 6 route d'Ingersheim
- Plaine Pasteur, access via avenue de Paris
- Le Pacific, 2A rue de Riquewihr
Schedule
The time listed is the start time for the concerts. Doors open 30 minutes prior.
Getting There
By train: Colmar station; city center venues are within walking distance. By car: A35 motorway, take the Colmar-Centre exit; use city center parking lots.
Ticketing
- Online at colmar.fr/jazz
- At the Théâtre municipal, Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and at the Salle de spectacles Europe, Tuesday to Friday from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, starting September 1st
- At the door, 1 hour before the concert begins (excluding workshops)
Ticketed festival concerts can also be included in the season ticket packages for the Théâtre municipal and the Salle de spectacles Europe.
Accessibility
Timmpi vibrating vests are available for deaf and hard-of-hearing guests at select concerts. These are limited in number and must be reserved in advance by emailing [email protected]. All venues provide designated seating for guests with reduced mobility.
Refreshments
A bar is open at all partner venues before and after concerts. On certain evenings, the bar is managed by local musical or non-profit organizations.
Ticket Office Contact
Théâtre municipal: 03 89 20 29 02, [email protected]. Salle de spectacles Europe: 03 89 30 53 01, [email protected].
Origins: Jazz in the City, Jazz on the Field
The Colmar Jazz Festival was born in 1996 on the initiative of Jacques Dreyfuss, deputy mayor, with the ambition to complement Colmar's cultural offerings. The festival was then titled "Jazz en ville, jazz au Champ" and was based on two simultaneous events: lunchtime concerts in front of the city center's restaurant terraces, and concerts under a tent with a capacity of 300 in the central aisle of the Champ-de-Mars. The first artists were local musicians — Robert Mérian, Michel Hausser, Ron Pittner, Werner Brum — who laid the foundations for a festival rooted in the Alsatian musical scene.
A Festival That Grew With Its City
Over the years, the Colmar Jazz Festival has developed considerably. From a modest local event, it has become a national-scale festival, spanning ten days in September and hosting around thirty concerts in Colmar's most emblematic venues: the Salle de spectacles Europe, the Théâtre municipal, Le Grillen, the Église Saint-Matthieu, the Cour de la Maison des Associations, and the Librairie Feuilles d'encre. This diversity of locations gives the festival a unique charm, where each concert is experienced in a different architectural setting.
Heritage and Exploration: The Artistic Lineup
The programming of the Colmar Jazz Festival is distinguished by its balance between heritage and exploration. The festival mixes big names in international jazz and emerging talents, notably supported by the "Propulsion" initiative which offers a showcase for young award-winning musicians. From classical jazz to contemporary jazz, including Afro-Cuban fusion, improvised music, and original creations, each edition offers a rich and varied musical journey. In 2025, the 29th edition hosted Vincent Peirani, the Cuban Jazz Syndicate, Theon Cross, Camille Bertault, and Emile Londonien.
Jazz In and Jazz Off: The Festival Spills Out
In addition to paid concerts ("Jazz In"), the Colmar Jazz Festival offers free events and outdoor concerts ("Jazz Off") in the Cour de la Maison des Associations or in bookstores and cafes in the city center. These accessible events contribute to the democratization of jazz and allow curious audiences to discover artists in intimate and friendly formats.
Where does it take place — Colmar Jazz Festival
Colmar Jazz Festival in brief
History of Colmar Jazz Festival
Edition 2025 Sep 2025Other festivals near Colmar
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