Festival du Monastier - The Place to Cuivres
All the music, all the brass
About Festival du Monastier
Over 36 years of brass music in the heart of Velay
Founded in 1988 by passionate local musicians, the Festival du Monastier was born from an audacious idea: to make this village in Haute-Loire, nestled at the foot of the Massif du Mézenc, a major center for brass music. For over 36 years, the association La Musique des Cuivres and its volunteers have championed the founding values of this unique event: musical commitment, discovery, and sharing. The pretext of brass instruments—trumpets, trombones, horns, saxophones, tubas, sousaphones—allows for all kinds of programming audacity, from jazz to soul, funk to electro, French chanson to baroque music, as well as Balkan brass bands and New Orleans swing.
Multiple stages in a heritage setting
The festival unfolds its program across several emblematic locations in Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille, offering festival-goers a rich and varied musical experience:
- The Cour du Château abbatial: The festival's main stage (IN stage), this historic venue—the castle celebrates its 500th anniversary in 2025—hosts evening concerts starting at 9 PM, blending headliners and discoveries in a unique atmosphere.
- The Place du Vallat: The heart of the festival village, this square hosts free OFF concerts daily at 11 AM and 6 PM, in a friendly atmosphere amidst food and craft stalls.
- The Abbatiale Saint-Chaffre: This gem of Romanesque heritage, with its historic 1518 organ, is the privileged setting for concerts of early, baroque, and contemporary music, offering exceptional acoustics for moments of musical grace.
- Le RéBémol: This bar in the town center transforms into a Brass Room to host jam sessions starting at 11:30 PM, extending the evenings in an intimate and improvised atmosphere for jazz lovers.
A daring program
The brass theme allows the Festival du Monastier to break free from the tyranny of headliners and offer a bold and eclectic program. The organizers primarily aim to introduce a wider diversity of music: from Anglo-American rock'n'soul to prohibition swing, from romantic brass bands to jazz explorations, from sacred Italian Renaissance music to musical journeys between London and Paris. Each edition is built around original themes that contribute to the festival's richness and identity.
Music workshops for all levels
Alongside the concerts, the festival offers music workshops led by top instructors, providing individual and group sessions in various disciplines: romantic brass band, early and baroque music, Afro-American jazz, and Balkan gypsy music. These participatory workshops allow amateur and experienced musicians to improve their skills and share their passion in a supportive environment, culminating in a performance concert at the end of the festival.
A festival driven by volunteer passion
The Festival du Monastier is, above all, a human adventure. Each year, over 150 volunteers mobilize to organize, welcome, and bring this event to life. For over 36 years, new volunteers have joined the adventure, adding to the circle of "veterans," the core group primarily revolving around music. This collective involvement is the very foundation of the festival, ensuring the authenticity and warmth that have earned it its reputation among the approximately 10,000 festival-goers welcomed each year.
Festival du Monastier — edition 2026
37th edition of the Festival du Monastier - The Place to Cuivres, from August 4 to 8, 2026 in Monastier-sur-Gazeille (Haute-Loire). Five days of concerts dedicated to all music styles and all brass instruments: jazz, soul, funk, hip-hop, ancient and baroque music, romantic and Balkan gypsy brass bands. The program includes 16 concerts, 8 of which are free, distributed between the village stage in Place du Vallat, the Cour du Château abbatial, the Abbatiale Saint-Théofred, and the Église Saint-Jean, not forgetting the nocturnal jam sessions at the Brass'Room.
37th Edition: August 4 to 8, 2026
The Festival du Monastier returns for its 37th edition from August 4 to 8, 2026. True to its identity forged since 1988, the festival offers five days of concerts celebrating the diversity of brass instruments across all musical styles, with a spirit rooted in humanity: 16 concerts on the program, 8 of which are free, and some 150 volunteers mobilized to welcome approximately 10,000 festival-goers.
Each day, the village stage in Place du Vallat hosts free OFF concerts open to all (Wonder Brass Quartet, Balkan Party, tribute to Chet Baker…). Paid evening concerts take place in the village's emblematic venues: Église Saint-Jean, Abbatiale Saint-Théofred, and Cour du Château abbatial, with concerts returning to these locations after several editions in Place du Couvent. Nocturnal jam sessions extend the evenings at the Brass'Room, at Le Ré Bémol bar.
The traditional brass workshops are renewed for the entire duration of the festival. During individual and collective practical workshops, novices and experienced musicians can learn about romantic brass bands, Afro-American jazz, ancient & baroque music, and Balkan gypsy brass bands, supervised by a leading educational team.
Programme Festival du Monastier 2026
Tuesday, August 4, 2026 — “Virtuoso Dialogue” (Église Saint-Jean)
- Opening concert with the jazz duo Smoking Mouse, accompanied by Marion Bataillard's visual arts exhibition.
Wednesday, August 5, 2026 — “Romanticism and the Golden Age of Brass Bands” (Abbatiale Saint-Théofred)
- SaxBach Ensemble
- No Slide
- Romantic Brass Ensemble
Thursday, August 6, 2026 — “Jazz Expansions” (Cour du Château abbatial)
- Elliavir
- Lou Rivaille
- The Very Big Experimental Toubifri Orchestra
Friday, August 7, 2026 — “Brass Against The Machine” (Cour du Château abbatial)
- Cut Capers
- Pistons — a mix of funk, hip-hop, and electronic music.
Saturday, August 8, 2026 — “Zagreb-Napoli Express” (Cour du Château abbatial)
- Taqsim Driver
- Radio Tutti XXL
Free OFF Concerts — village stage, Place du Vallat
- Wonder Brass Quartet
- Balkan Party / Guča
- Tribute to Chet Baker
Nocturnal Jam Sessions
- Brass'Room at Le Ré Bémol bar.
Highlights Festival du Monastier 2026
- 16 concerts, 8 of which are free, over five days
- Return of evening concerts to the Cour du Château abbatial
- Free OFF concerts daily in Place du Vallat
- Brass workshops: romantic brass band, Afro-American jazz, baroque music, Balkan gypsy brass band
- Nocturnal jam sessions at the Brass'Room
Prices Festival du Monastier 2026
Practical information — Festival du Monastier
Practical Information
Access
Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille is located in Haute-Loire (43), in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, about 20 km southeast of Le Puy-en-Velay, at the foot of the Massif du Mézenc.
- By car: From Le Puy-en-Velay, take the D535 towards Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille (approx. 25 minutes). From Saint-Étienne, allow about 1 hour 30 minutes via the RN88 then the D535.
- By public transport: Regional buses connect Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille to Le Puy-en-Velay. Nearest train station is in Le Puy-en-Velay.
Concert Venues
- Cour du Château abbatial: Evening concerts (IN stage) at 9 PM
- Place du Vallat: Free OFF concerts at 11 AM and 6 PM, festival village with food stalls
- Abbatiale Saint-Chaffre: Early, baroque, and contemporary music concerts
- Le RéBémol: Brass Room and jam sessions from 11:30 PM
Prices
The OFF concerts on the Place du Vallat are free. The evening concerts in the Cour du Château abbatial and the concerts at the Abbatiale are ticketed (prices vary depending on the evening, generally between €10 and €20). Festival passes and reduced rates are available. Tickets can be purchased online on the festival website and on Billetweb, as well as at Fnac, Carrefour, and Géant outlets.
Music Workshops
Workshops are offered throughout the week: romantic brass band, early and baroque music, Afro-American jazz, Balkan gypsy music. Registration on the festival website.
Food and Accommodation
A festival village with food stalls is set up on the Place du Vallat. Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille has gîtes, bed and breakfasts, and campsites nearby. Booking is recommended during the festival period.
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Where does it take place — Festival du Monastier
Cour du Château abbatial et Place du Vallat
Place du Vallat, 43150 Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille