Jazz à la Villette

Jazz à la Villette: Paris's Premier Jazz Event

Jazz à la Villette was born in 2002, succeeding the Villette Jazz Festival, whose history dates back to 1986 with the first edition of "Halle That Jazz". In 1996, the festival was renamed La Villette Jazz Festival, becoming the first event to incorporate the Cité de la Musique, the Grande Halle, outdoor spaces, Le Trabendo, and the Théâtre Paris Villette. Its rebirth under the name Jazz à la Villette marked a new beginning, with an expanded program and renewed ambition.

Co-produced by La Villette and the Philharmonie de Paris, the festival has established itself as one of Europe's most important jazz events, attracting tens of thousands of spectators each year to the 19th arrondissement of Paris.

A Program Balancing Jazz Tradition and Musical Openness

The richness of Jazz à la Villette lies in its ability to combine respect for jazz tradition with openness to related music genres. The program encompasses all currents of jazz — be-bop, free jazz, jazz fusion, contemporary jazz — while making generous space for soul, funk, hip-hop, afrobeat, and improvised music.

Over the years, the festival has hosted legends such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Pharoah Sanders, Pat Metheny, Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington, Thundercat, Snarky Puppy, Gregory Porter, and Anne Paceo, confirming its status as a leading jazz stage.

Exceptional Venues for a Unique Sonic Experience

Jazz à la Villette benefits from an exceptional setting. Concerts unfold in several rooms with remarkable acoustics: the Grande Salle Pierre Boulez at the Philharmonie, the Salle des concerts of the Cité de la Musique, the Charlie Parker space at the Grande Halle, and Le Trabendo. During the day, free outdoor concerts animate the Parc de la Villette, offering a popular and festive dimension to the festival.

An Accessible and Open Festival

Jazz à la Villette is committed to making jazz accessible to all audiences. Free concerts, workshops for children, masterclasses, and artist meet-and-greets complement the program. The festival also offers reduced prices for young people, students, and Philharmonie subscribers, encouraging new generations to discover jazz.

A Festival Rooted in the 19th Arrondissement

Located in the heart of the Parc de la Villette, one of Paris's largest cultural spaces, Jazz à la Villette contributes to the cultural influence of the 19th arrondissement and the northeast of Paris. The festival leverages the site's rich facilities—Philharmonie, Cité de la Musique, Grande Halle, Le Trabendo—to offer a dense and varied program in an urban and green setting.