Jazz à Foix
The biggest of the small jazz festivals, at the foot of Foix Castle
About Jazz à Foix
The biggest of the small jazz festivals
Since 2001, the Jazz à Foix festival has been making the Ariège region vibrate to the rhythm of jazz every end of July. Created by the association Art'Riège, it has established itself over twenty-five years as a must-attend event on the jazz scene in the south of France, earning its nickname of "the biggest of the small festivals". In the exceptional setting of the Lucien Goron school courtyard, at the foot of the majestic Foix Castle, music lovers enjoy remarkable acoustics and a warm atmosphere.
A generous IN and OFF program
The festival is structured around an IN program of paid concerts, with a nationally or internationally renowned artist headlining each evening. Artists such as China Moses, Ana Carla Maza, Dhafer Youssef, Paul Lay, and Marion Rampal have performed on the main stage. In parallel, the OFF program offers over 15 free concerts in various locations around the city: jazz aperitifs at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., evening concerts at 8 p.m., and after-parties at 11 p.m.
Five stages for a human-sized festival
Jazz à Foix features five stages throughout the city of Foix, creating a true musical immersion for a week. The main stage at the Lucien Goron school hosts the headliners, while the OFF program stages take over the squares, bars, and terraces of the medieval city. This proximity between artists and the public is the magic of the festival and creates a unique friendly atmosphere.
Strong local roots and national reach
Supported by a team of passionate volunteers and by the City of Foix since 2005, the Departmental Council of Ariège since 2006, and the Occitanie Region, Jazz à Foix has successfully combined artistic excellence with accessibility. The festival welcomes several thousand spectators each year and contributes to the cultural and tourist dynamism of Ariège during the summer.
Jazz à Foix — edition 2026
Jazz à Foix returns from July 20 to 25, 2026, for a new edition at the foot of the Comtal Castle, in the courtyard of École Lucien Goron (Village-Jazz stage). Five major paid IN evenings at 9:30 PM, from Tuesday, July 21 to Saturday, July 25, featuring Cyrille Aimée, Arnaud Dolmen, Nicolas Gardel, Émile Parisien, and a PianoForte finale bringing together four pianists, winners of the Victoires du Jazz. In parallel, a rich free OFF program (concerts at 6 PM and 7:45 PM, jam sessions, New Orleans strolls), masterclasses, and a unique Gospel workshop.
Jazz à Foix 2026
The Jazz à Foix festival, organized by the Art'Riège association, takes place from July 20 to 25, 2026, in the Comtal city of Ariège. Concerts are held in the heart of the city, on the Village-Jazz stage set up in the courtyard of École Lucien Goron, with the Comtal Castle as a backdrop. In case of bad weather, evenings are moved to L'Estive, Foix's national stage.
IN Program
The five main, paid evenings take place at 9:30 PM from Tuesday, July 21 to Saturday, July 25: Cyrille Aimée and her quartet, Arnaud Dolmen (winner of the Victoires du Jazz 2025) with his VityGroove project, trumpeter Nicolas Gardel with his album Mano Figa, Émile Parisien and his Floating quartet (with Yaron Herman on piano, Prabhu Edouard on percussion, and bassist Linda May Han Oh), followed by the PianoForte closing event bringing together four pianists: Baptiste Trotignon, Pierre de Bethmann, Eric Legnini, and Bojan Z.
OFF Program and Activities
The free OFF program opens the festival on Monday, July 20 (Jean-Michel Cabrol Mosaïc Jazz 4tet at 8:30 PM, then the group NouS in tribute to Claude Nougaro at 10:30 PM). From Tuesday, July 21 to Saturday, July 25, two OFF concerts are scheduled each evening at 6 PM and 7:45 PM on the Village-Jazz stage, complemented by jam sessions at 11 PM, masterclasses (including a Gospel workshop for the first time), and strolls by the New Orleans quartet Bawling Cats in town during aperitif hour. The Village-Jazz offers a bar, catering, and food trucks.
Programme Jazz à Foix 2026
Monday, July 20, 2026 — OFF (free, Village-Jazz)
- 8:30 PM — Jean-Michel Cabrol Mosaïc Jazz 4tet
- 10:30 PM — NouS (tribute to Claude Nougaro)
From Tuesday, July 21 to Saturday, July 25 — IN (paid, 9:30 PM, main stage)
- Tuesday 21 — Cyrille Aimée Quartet (voice blending jazz, pop, and Afro-Caribbean rhythms)
- Wednesday 22 — Arnaud Dolmen & VityGroove (unique creation, winner of the Victoires du Jazz 2025)
- Thursday 23 — Nicolas Gardel, trumpet, album Mano Figa (flamenco and Afro-Caribbean influences)
- Friday 24 — Émile Parisien Quartet Floating (Yaron Herman, Prabhu Edouard, Linda May Han Oh)
- Saturday 25 — PianoForte: Baptiste Trotignon, Pierre de Bethmann, Eric Legnini, Bojan Z (two pianos and two Fender Rhodes)
OFF every evening (free, Village-Jazz)
- Concerts at 6 PM and 7:45 PM on the Village-Jazz stage (Tuesday 21 to Saturday 25)
- Jam sessions at 11 PM every evening
- Strolls in town by the New Orleans quartet Bawling Cats during aperitif hour
- Masterclasses, including a unique Gospel workshop
Highlights Jazz à Foix 2026
- Five jazz headliners at 9:30 PM under the Comtal Castle (Cyrille Aimée, Arnaud Dolmen, Nicolas Gardel, Émile Parisien, PianoForte)
- PianoForte finale bringing together four pianists, winners of the Victoires du Jazz
- Free OFF program every evening + jam sessions at 11 PM
- Unique Gospel workshop and masterclasses
- Free for under 18s
Prices Jazz à Foix 2026
Practical information — Jazz à Foix
Practical Information
Access
The IN program concerts take place in the Lucien Goron school courtyard, in the town center of Foix. The OFF program concerts are spread across various locations in the town center.
Transport
- By train: Foix SNCF station (Toulouse-Latour-de-Carol line, about 1 hour from Toulouse).
- By car: From Toulouse (80 km), take the N20 towards Foix/Andorra.
Prices
- IN Concerts: Paid (prices vary depending on the evening, festival pass available)
- OFF Concerts: Free and open access
Ticketing
- Online: on HelloAsso (Asso Art'Riège) and jazzfoix.com
- On-site: at the entrance of the concerts, subject to availability
Contact
- Website: jazzfoix.com
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Where does it take place — Jazz à Foix
École Lucien Goron
Cour de l'école Lucien Goron, 09000 Foix