The jazz, blues and soul festival of the Lille metropolis, since 2001
Founded in 2001 in Marcq-en-Barœul, Jazz en Nord is a traveling jazz, blues, and soul festival that enriches the Lille metropolis from January to May. Over 300 artists perform each season in venues in Marcq-en-Barœul, Comines, Loos, and Roncq. In 2026, the festival celebrates its 25th anniversary with a special edition including Blues en Nord and the Golden Jazz Trophy.
Jazz en Nord was born in 2001 in Marcq-en-Barœul, driven by the association Jazz en Nord Renaissance. The original idea for the festival dates back to the mid-1980s, when three jazz-loving friends created the association Jazz en Direct in Tourcoing, before expanding their activities to the Lille metropolis in the early 2000s.
Unlike festivals concentrated in a single location and on a single date, Jazz en Nord unfolds over several months, from January to May, with concerts spread across numerous towns in the Lille metropolis. The Théâtre Charcot in Marcq-en-Barœul is the main venue, but the festival also visits the Open Music Jazz Club in Comines, La Fileuse in Loos, La Source in Roncq, and other venues in the area.
The programming of Jazz en Nord covers a wide spectrum of jazz and its related music genres: contemporary jazz, bebop, swing, blues, soul, funk, and improvised music. Each season features over 300 artists, blending established national and international musicians with young regional talents.
Beyond the main festival, Jazz en Nord develops several programs: Blues en Nord, dedicated to blues, Détours So'Nord, exploring soul and R&B music, and the Golden Jazz Trophy, a springboard for young jazz musicians.
The year 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of Jazz en Nord, an occasion to celebrate a quarter-century of jazz in the Lille metropolis with an exceptional edition.
Beyond jazz, the festival develops complementary programs that enrich the musical offering: Blues en Nord features concerts dedicated to authentic blues, while Détours So'Nord explores soul, R&B, and Black American music. These programs aim to reach a wider audience and highlight the diversity of African-American music.
The Golden Jazz Trophy is a competition dedicated to young jazz musicians from the region. This contest offers the winners national visibility and opportunities to perform as part of the festival, thus contributing to the renewal of the local jazz scene.
Jazz en Nord celebrates its 25th anniversary with an edition from January to May 2026. The opening night is scheduled for January 20th at the Théâtre Charcot. Mathis Uraï 5tet, Blue Benders, and many other artists are on the program.
Jazz en Nord celebrates its 25th anniversary with a special edition from January to May 2026. The opening night is scheduled for January 20, 2026, at the Théâtre Charcot in Marcq-en-Barœul. Among the announced artists are Mathis Uraï 5tet (February 21) and Blue Benders (April 9) at the Théâtre Charcot.
This anniversary edition promises an exceptional program, celebrating a quarter-century of jazz, blues, and soul in the Lille metropolis.
72 rue Nationale, 59700 Marcq-en-Barœul. Accessible by Ilévia bus from Lille (lines to Marcq-en-Barœul). Parking available.
Fives station (line 1) then bus to Marcq-en-Barœul, or Croisé Laroche station (line 2).
Marcq-en-Barœul is 10 minutes from the center of Lille. Parking near the Théâtre Charcot.
Online booking at Utick ticketing and on the official festival website.
Phone: 03 28 04 77 68
Address: 72 rue Nationale, 59700 Marcq-en-Barœul
Official website: jazzenord.com
Marcq-en-Barœul and Lille offer a wide choice of accommodation. The Ilévia bus easily connects the two cities.
The Théâtre Charcot and the main festival venues are accessible to people with reduced mobility. Contact the association for specific needs.
Jazz en Nord is committed to a responsible approach by favoring regional artists to limit travel, encouraging public transport, and implementing sustainable practices in the festival's various concert venues.
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Théâtre Charcot et lieux divers dans la métropole
72 rue Nationale, 59700 Marcq-en-Barœul