Jazz en Tête
The international jazz festival of Clermont-Ferrand, autumn meeting for jazz lovers
2026
About Jazz en Tête
Jazz en Tête — edition 2026
The 39th edition of Jazz en Tête brings together Kenny Garrett, Nduduzo Makhathini, Marquis Hill, Vincent Peirani, François Salque, and Lucy-Anne Daniels at the Maison de la Culture in Clermont-Ferrand from October 20 to 24, 2026. A photo exhibition celebrates the Miles Davis centenary, and jam sessions continue the evenings at the Hôtel Oceania.
For its 39th edition, Jazz en Tête presents five evenings in the Jean Cocteau Hall at the Maison de la Culture, from October 20 to 24, 2026. 2026 marks the centenary of Miles Davis's birth, honored by a photo exhibition in the lobby.
Beyond the concerts: apéro jams at Brasserie La Place, jam sessions at the Hôtel Oceania, meet-and-greets at Librairie Les Volcans, and off-site concerts in the Puy-de-Dôme region (Ambert, Issoire, Lezoux). On November 10, Tyreek McDole extends the festival at La Coopérative de Mai.
Highlights Jazz en Tête 2026
- Tuesday, October 20: Kenny Garrett "Sounds From The Ancestors"
- Wednesday, October 21: Nduduzo Makhathini Trio and Marquis Hill Blacktet
- Thursday, October 22: Joanne Dolly Quartet and Sachal Vasandani invites Soweto Kinch
- Friday, October 23: Danny Grissett solo, Vincent Peirani and François Salque performing Bach
- Saturday, October 24: Lucy-Anne Daniels and Baptiste Herbin – Minino Garay
- "Miles Davis, 100 Years of Influence" exhibition and nightly jam sessions
Programme Jazz en Tête 2026
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
- From 6:00 PM — Apéro Jam with the Jazz Club Clermontois Project (until 7:30 PM) · Brasserie La Place, 69 bis boulevard François-Mitterrand
- From 7:00 PM — Photo exhibitions: "Miles Davis, 100 Years of Influence" and Michel Vasset (official festival photographer) · Maison de la Culture Lobby
- 8:00 PM — Kenny Garrett "Sounds From The Ancestors": Kenny Garrett (alto sax, keyboards), Keith Brown (piano, keyboards), Eric Wheeler (double bass), Ronald Bruner Jr. (drums), Rudy Bird (percussion) · Maison de la Culture, Jean Cocteau Hall
- From 10:30 PM — Jam session, free admission · "Le Festival" Bar, Hôtel Oceania
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
- 3:00 PM–4:30 PM — Meet and greet with Nduduzo Makhathini (album "The Myth We Choose", Blue Note) · Librairie Les Volcans, 80 boulevard François-Mitterrand
- 6:00 PM–7:30 PM — Apéro Jam with the Jazz Club Clermontois Project · Brasserie La Place
- From 7:00 PM — Photo exhibitions · Maison de la Culture Lobby
- 8:00 PM — Double bill concert evening · Maison de la Culture, Jean Cocteau Hall: Nduduzo Makhathini Trio (Nduduzo Makhathini piano and vocals, Dalisu Ndlazi double bass, Lukmil Perez drums); Marquis Hill Blacktet (Marquis Hill trumpet, Emmanuel Michael guitar, Junius Paul bass, Jonathan Pinson drums)
- From 10:30 PM — Jam session, free admission · "Le Festival" Bar, Hôtel Oceania
Thursday, October 22, 2026
- 5:00 PM–7:00 PM — Jazz and Literature with Jérôme Schmidt, featuring his book "Une prière pour John Coltrane" (Noir sur Blanc) · Librairie Les Volcans
- 6:00 PM–7:30 PM — Apéro Jam with the Jazz Club Clermontois Project · Brasserie La Place
- From 7:00 PM — Photo exhibitions · Maison de la Culture Lobby
- 8:00 PM — Double bill concert evening · Maison de la Culture, Jean Cocteau Hall: Joanne Dolly Quartet (Joanne Dolly double bass and vocals, Charlotte Isenmann flute, Carl Henri Morisset piano, Dylan Choisi drums); Sachal Vasandani invites Soweto Kinch (Sachal Vasandani vocals, John Ellis saxophones, Femi Temowo guitar, Reggie Washington double bass, E.J. Strickland drums, Soweto Kinch alto sax and spoken word)
- From 10:30 PM — Jam session, free admission · "Le Festival" Bar, Hôtel Oceania
Friday, October 23, 2026
- 6:00 PM–7:30 PM — Apéro Jam with the Jazz Club Clermontois Project · Brasserie La Place
- From 7:00 PM — Photo exhibitions · Maison de la Culture Lobby
- 8:00 PM — Double bill concert evening · Maison de la Culture, Jean Cocteau Hall: Danny Grissett solo (piano); Vincent Peirani (accordion) and François Salque (cello), performing Bach
- From 10:30 PM — Jam session, free admission · "Le Festival" Bar, Hôtel Oceania
Saturday, October 24, 2026
- 6:00 PM–7:30 PM — Apéro Jam with the Jazz Club Clermontois Project · Brasserie La Place
- From 7:00 PM — Photo exhibitions · Maison de la Culture Lobby
- 8:00 PM — Double bill concert evening, in partnership with Jazz à Vienne · Maison de la Culture, Jean Cocteau Hall: Lucy-Anne Daniels (Lucy-Anne Daniels vocals, Bastien Brison piano, Darryl Hall double bass, Leon Parker drums); Baptiste Herbin – Minino Garay "Los Arregladores" (Baptiste Herbin saxophones, Minino Garay percussion and vocals, Leo Montana piano, Felipe Cabrera double bass)
- From 10:30 PM — Jam session, free admission · "Le Festival" Bar, Hôtel Oceania
Around the festival
- Wednesday, October 14, 2:30 PM — Graines de Jazz concert: Big Band of the Clermont-Ferrand Conservatory (conducted by Michele Gori), "The Giants of Jazz" · Le Lieu-Dit, 10 rue Fontgiève, open to all, tickets available at the Librairie Les Volcans help desk
- Friday, October 16, 8:30 PM — Raynald Colom Quartet, tribute to Miles Davis · Ambert, Moulin de Nouara
- Saturday, October 17, 8:30 PM — Raynald Colom Quartet · Issoire, Auditorium Christian-Merniz
- Sunday, October 18, 5:30 PM — Raynald Colom Quartet · Lezoux, Médiathèque Entre Dore et Allier
- Tuesday, November 10, 8:00 PM — Extension at La Coopérative de Mai: Tyreek McDole
Program published by the organizer. Only the start time for the evening concerts (8:00 PM) is provided; the start time for the second concert of each evening is not specified.
Prices Jazz en Tête 2026
Practical information — Jazz en Tête
Festival Access
By Car
The Maison de la Culture is located on Boulevard François Mitterrand in Clermont-Ferrand. Parking nearby. Access via highways A71, A75, and A89.
By Train
Clermont-Ferrand station served by Intercités and TER. The Maison de la Culture is accessible by tram (Universités stop) or on foot (20 min from the station).
By Tram
Universités or Maison de la Culture stop on line A.
Prices
Individual tickets and festival passes available. Reduced rates for students, job seekers, and Maison de la Culture subscribers. Online ticketing on the official website and on-site.
Contact
Phone: 07 63 72 69 73
Jazz en Tête: the autumn jazz event in Clermont-Ferrand
The Jazz en Tête festival was born in 1988 from the passion of a group of Clermont jazz enthusiasts. For over 35 years, it has established itself as one of the major jazz festivals in France, attracting the biggest names in the international jazz scene to the Maison de la Culture de Clermont-Ferrand every autumn.
An excellent program
Jazz en Tête stands out for its program that finely blends jazz legends and emerging talents. The festival covers all jazz styles: from bebop to free jazz, from fusion jazz to contemporary jazz, including blues and improvised music. Each edition offers five evenings of exceptional concerts in the remarkable acoustic setting of the Maison de la Culture.
World-renowned artists
Over the years, the festival has hosted artists of international stature, confirming its ambition to offer a top-level program. Jazz lovers from all over France and Europe gather every October in Clermont-Ferrand to experience these unique musical moments.
A festival rooted in its territory
Beyond the concerts, Jazz en Tête develops music awareness and education activities for school audiences and local residents. Masterclasses, artist meet-and-greets, and concerts in unusual venues complement the main program.
The Maison de la Culture: an ideal setting
The Maison de la Culture de Clermont-Ferrand, with its exceptional acoustics and intimate capacity, offers ideal listening conditions to appreciate the richness and nuances of jazz. This emblematic venue of Clermont's cultural life has become inseparable from the festival.
Where does it take place — Jazz en Tête
Jazz en Tête in brief
History of Jazz en Tête
Edition 2025 Oct 2025Other festivals near Clermont-Ferrand
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Published by Valentin Contard, festival listings writer. Reviewed, corrected and approved by Christophe Contard, editor-in-chief. .
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