Jazz à Toulon

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

Born in 1991 at the initiative of the City of Toulon, Jazz à Toulon has established itself over three decades as one of the most popular jazz events on the Mediterranean coast. Its secret? A commitment to top-tier artistic quality combined with completely free access, allowing both locals and summer visitors to enjoy world-renowned performances without spending a penny.

The festival is built on an original and generous concept: rather than concentrating concerts in a single venue, Jazz à Toulon spreads out across the city's squares and neighborhoods—Place de la Liberté, Place de l'Équerre, Place Bouzigues, Place Raspail, Place Martin Bidouré, the Plages du Mourillon, and many others—turning Toulon into a vibrant jazz village for two weeks.

A cosmopolitan 36th edition, from July 26th to August 8th, 2026

The 2026 program highlights world sounds and brass, featuring ten evening concerts at 9:30 PM:

• Spanish Harlem Orchestra — the legendary New York salsa dura orchestra opens the festival at Place de la Liberté
• Orquesta Akokán — old-school mambo and Cuban son at Place de la Liberté
• Alfredo Rodríguez — the Cuban pianist brings a refined touch to his Latin roots at Place Raspail
• Fabiola Méndez — Puerto Rican cuatro music meets poetic jazz at Place Martin Bidouré
• Cory Henry — the mystical groove of the American organist and keyboardist at the Plages du Mourillon
• New Sketches of Spain — Erik Truffaz and Antonio Lizana unite for a bold fusion of jazz and flamenco at the Plages du Mourillon
• El Comité — the Afro-Cuban collective closes the festival at the Plages du Mourillon

Alongside them, mohs. at Place Bouzigues, Solaxis at Place de l'Équerre, and the Thomas Galliano Quartet at Place Saint-Jean complete the evening lineup.

"Le Off": intimate jazz at aperitif hour

In addition to the evening shows, the festival hosts a "Le Off" concert every evening from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM in a neighborhood square, perfect for aperitif time. This segment highlights local and regional groups as well as emerging talent: Hors Champ, GMG Trio, Cristiano Nascimento & Wim Welker, Alf & Half, Christine Lutz Quartet, Lionel Dandine 7tet, Tiffany & the Nightbirds, Chants Swings, Nina Papa 4tet, and the Pernille Aidt Quintet will perform at Place Puget, Place Victor Hugo, Place Dame Sibille, and in the Dardennes, La Rode, La Serinette, Vert Coteau, and Mourillon districts.

Toulon, a jazz city

The festival's integration into Toulon’s neighborhoods—Le Mourillon, the old town, Cours Lafayette—creates wonderful, unexpected encounters between jazz music and the city's daily life. Residents become both spectators and participants, setting up their chairs on 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 all financial or symbolic barriers: no VIP areas, no premium sections, no expensive tickets. Just the music, the stars, and the warmth of a Provençal night.

A festival supported by the city and its partners

Jazz à Toulon is organized by Toulon Métropole Événements et Congrès, with the support of the City of Toulon and the Toulon Provence Méditerranée Metropolis. This solid public backing guarantees the festival remains entirely free and allows for the hosting of world-class artists every year.