Jazz à Toulon

Jazz à Toulon: thirty-five years of free jazz in the heart of the city

Born in 1991 on the initiative of the City of Toulon and the association Toulon Événements, Jazz à Toulon has established itself over three decades as one of the most popular jazz events on the Mediterranean coast. Its secret? A first-rate artistic standard combined with completely free access, allowing all Toulon residents and summer visitors to enjoy world-renowned concerts without spending a cent.

The festival is based on an original and generous concept: rather than concentrating concerts in a single hall or venue, Jazz à Toulon takes over the city's squares and neighborhoods — Place de la Liberté, Place de l'Équerre, Place Bouzigues, Place Raspail, the Mourillon Beaches, and many others — transforming Toulon into a true jazz village for two weeks.

A high-flying international program

Over the years, Jazz à Toulon has hosted dozens of world jazz legends. The 35th edition in 2025 is a shining example with a lineup featuring some of the most respected names on the international jazz scene:

• Bireli Lagrene, Martin Taylor & Ulf Wakenius — three legendary guitars to kick things off at Place de la Liberté
• Roberto Fonseca — Cuban pianist at the crossroads of jazz, rumba, and afrobeat
• Avishai Cohen — Israeli double bassist and composer, one of the major figures of contemporary jazz
• Joshua Redman — American saxophonist, son of Dewey Redman, master of neo-classical jazz
• The Amazing Keystone Big Band — France's most popular big band to close at the Mourillon Beaches

The "Off" format: neighborhood jazz

In addition to the evening concerts at 9:30 PM, the festival has for several years offered an "Off" program with concerts at 7:30 PM in less frequented neighborhood squares, highlighting local and regional bands, young talents, and cross-genre projects. This Off segment allows for the discovery of jazz in all its diversity, from the roots of blues and swing to the most contemporary experiments.

Toulon, a city of jazz

The festival's presence in the popular neighborhoods of Toulon — Mourillon, the old town, Cours Lafayette — creates improbable and wonderful encounters between jazz music and the daily life of the city. Neighborhood residents become spectators and participants in their festival, setting up their chairs in a street corner or spontaneously joining the crowd gathered around a fountain.

This approach to cultural democratization is the DNA of Jazz à Toulon. The festival rejects any financial or symbolic barriers: no VIPs, no premium seating, no prohibitively expensive tickets. Just the music, the stars, and the warmth of a Provençal night.

35 years of history: the major milestones

Since its modest beginnings in 1991 with a few concerts at Place de la Liberté, Jazz à Toulon has continued to grow. In the 2000s, the festival expanded its presence to the Mourillon beaches, creating unforgettable evenings between the sea and music. The 2010s saw the introduction of the Off program and the multiplication of venues, reaching sixteen different squares. In 2025, the 35th edition confirms the festival's status as a major cultural event for the Toulon metropolitan area and the entire Var region.

A festival supported by the city and its partners

Jazz à Toulon benefits from the support of the City of Toulon, the Toulon Provence Méditerranée Metropolis, the Var Departmental Council, and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region. This strong public support guarantees the festival's free access and allows it to attract international artists every year under conditions worthy of their talent.