Festival Côté Cour
Chamber music festival in Aix-en-Provence, between Musée Granet, La Manufacture and heritage sites
About Côté Cour
A Young Chamber Music Festival in Provence
The Festival Côté Cour is a chamber music festival created in 2021 in Aix-en-Provence. Every summer, for a week in July, it offers a series of concerts in the heritage venues of Aix-en-Provence and surrounding towns: the Amphithéâtre de La Manufacture, the Patio du Musée Granet, the Fondation Vasarely, as well as churches and castles in the region. This intimate and itinerant format allows for the (re)discovery of chamber music in exceptional architectural settings.
A Repertoire from Romanticism to Impressionism
The Festival Côté Cour's programming explores a repertoire ranging from Romanticism to Impressionism, with a preference for string quartets, quintets, sonatas, and trios. Works by Dvořák, Schubert, Ravel, Fauré, Bizet, Grieg, Strauss, Prokofiev, Piazzolla, and Poulenc have been featured in past editions. The festival showcases high-level chamber ensembles, bringing together musicians from the world's greatest stages for unique collaborations.
Commented Public Rehearsals: A Trademark
One of the unique features of the Festival Côté Cour is its commented public rehearsals, a format that has been at the heart of the project since its creation. These sessions, usually held at the Amphithéâtre de La Manufacture or the Auditorium du Musée Granet, allow the public to witness the musicians' work, understand interpretation choices, and discover the behind-the-scenes preparation of a concert. This educational and immersive approach brings the audience closer to the music and the artists.
An Itinerant Festival Rooted in the Territory
The Festival Côté Cour extends beyond Aix-en-Provence, with concerts in heritage sites in neighboring towns: Puyricard (Place de l'Église), Pertuis (Espace de Croze, Médiathèque Les Carmes), and Saint-Martin de Pallières (Cathédrale Souterraine du Château). This itinerant dimension helps bring chamber music to areas less served by cultural offerings, while also highlighting the architectural heritage of Provence. The growing festival celebrated its 5th edition in 2025, confirming its place in the Aixois musical landscape.
Côté Cour — edition 2026
6th edition of the Côté Cour Festival in Aix-en-Provence, from July 15 to 19, 2026. Five days of chamber music with nine events (six of which are free) spread between the church square of Puyricard, the Amphithéâtre de la Manufacture and the patio of the Musée Granet, under the artistic direction of Marie Laforge and Léo Doumène.
6th edition — July 15 to 19, 2026
The Côté Cour Festival returns to Aix-en-Provence for its 6th edition, from Wednesday, July 15 to Sunday, July 19, 2026. The program offers nine events over five days, six of which are free: opening concert, lutherie exhibition, free educational concerts (children from leisure centers, people in precarious situations or with disabilities), commented public rehearsals, and three exceptional evenings in the patio of the Musée Granet.
Artistic direction is provided by Marie Laforge and Léo Doumène. This year, the Camerata Côté Cour brings together about fifteen artists, including Étienne de Bénazé (tenor), Marie Laforge (flute), Bastien Nouri (oboe), Lauriane Maudry (clarinet), Antoine Berquet (bassoon), Félix Polet (horn), Laetitia Amblard and Albane Genat (violins), Oriane Pocard-Kieny (viola) and Paul-Marie Kuzma (cello).
The three evenings at the Musée Granet travel from the banks of the Thames to Vienna, from English baroque to the Beatles, alongside Mozart, Fauré, Haydn, Rossini, Dowland, Britten, Holst, Poulenc, Caplet and Saint-Saëns' Carnival of the Animals.
Programme Côté Cour 2026
Wednesday, July 15, 2026 — 8:00 PM · Puyricard, Place de l'Église
Opening Concert — surprise program. Free concert. In addition, exhibition from luthier Camille Hommel's workshop from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Puyricard town hall.
Friday, July 17, 2026 — 10:30 AM · Aix-en-Provence, Amphithéâtre de la Manufacture
The Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns. Free concert.
Friday, July 17, 2026 — 9:00 PM · Aix-en-Provence, Patio du Musée Granet
The Great Classics — works by Haydn, Mozart, Donizetti, Rossini and Refice.
Saturday, July 18, 2026 — 9:00 PM · Aix-en-Provence, Patio du Musée Granet
The Beatles and English Music — works by Handel, Dowland, Britten, Holst, Blake and songs by the Beatles.
Sunday, July 19, 2026 — 9:00 PM · Aix-en-Provence, Patio du Musée Granet
Masques et Bergamasques — works by Fauré, Saint-Saëns, Poulenc and Caplet.
The festival also includes commented public rehearsals and free educational concerts during the week.
Highlights Côté Cour 2026
- Nine events in five days, six of which are free
- Three evenings in the patio of the Musée Granet
- Free opening concert at Puyricard church square
- Saint-Saëns' Carnival of the Animals with free access
- Artistic direction by Marie Laforge and Léo Doumène
Prices Côté Cour 2026
Practical information — Côté Cour
Practical Information
Venues
Concerts take place in various heritage venues:
- Amphithéâtre de La Manufacture, Aix-en-Provence
- Patio du Musée Granet, Aix-en-Provence
- Place de l'Église, Puyricard
- Espace de Croze, Pertuis
- Cathédrale Souterraine du Château, Saint-Martin de Pallières
Times
- Evening concerts at 8:00 PM or 9:00 PM
- Public rehearsals during the day
Prices
- From 10 to 30 euros depending on the concert
- Public rehearsals accessible at a reduced rate
Contact
- Website: www.festivalcotecour.fr
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Where does it take place — Côté Cour
Divers lieux patrimoniaux d'Aix-en-Provence
Place de l'Archevêché, 13100 Aix-en-Provence