Jazz sous les Pommiers
The essential jazz festival of Normandy
About Jazz sous les Pommiers
Jazz sous les Pommiers: over 40 years of jazz in Coutances
Since 1982, Jazz sous les Pommiers has established itself as an unmissable event in the French and European jazz scene. Born from the passion of Gérard Houssin, then director of the Coutances municipal theater, and Denise and Thierry Giard, a jazz enthusiast teacher, the festival has grown while retaining its soul: a demanding and generous program, strong territorial roots, and legendary conviviality.
A rich and eclectic program
Jazz sous les Pommiers is not limited to jazz in the strict sense. The festival explores all the branches of improvised and mixed music: contemporary jazz, blues, soul, funk, world music, electronic music. Each edition offers about sixty concerts spread over eight days, in about ten emblematic venues in Coutances: the Théâtre municipal, the Caves des Unelles, the Esplanade des Unelles, the Magic Mirrors, the Marcel-Hélie hall, and numerous outdoor stages.
Legendary artists
Over the decades, the festival has hosted the biggest names in world jazz: Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Pat Metheny, Richard Galliano, Salif Keïta, Hiromi, Caravan Palace, and many others. The program skillfully blends international headliners and discoveries, offering the public a complete panorama of current and improvised music.
A festival rooted in its territory
Jazz sous les Pommiers is much more than just a music festival. It is an event that transforms Coutances for an entire week, mobilizing over 800 volunteers and attracting around 40,000 spectators each year. The festival is also committed to eco-responsibility, with free parking on the outskirts, free shuttle buses, and partnerships with SNCF to encourage public transport.
Beyond the concerts
The festival also offers music practice workshops, art exhibitions, film screenings, artist meet-and-greets, and activities in the city streets. The free outdoor stages allow everyone to enjoy the festive and musical atmosphere that takes over Coutances during Ascension week.
National and international reach
The third largest jazz festival in France by attendance, Jazz sous les Pommiers enjoys strong institutional recognition and considerable media coverage. The festival is supported by the Ministry of Culture, the Normandy Region, the Department of Manche, and the City of Coutances, testifying to its major cultural importance for the Norman territory.
Jazz sous les Pommiers — edition 2026
45th edition of Jazz sous les Pommiers, from May 8 to 16, 2026 in Coutances (Manche), with an additional day on Friday, May 8, a public holiday. More than 60 concerts spread over 9 days and a dozen emblematic venues (Théâtre municipal, salle Marcel-Hélie, Magic Mirrors, Cathédrale, Cinéma Le Long-courT, Chapelle du lycée Lebrun, free open-air stages…). Headliners 2026: Monty Alexander, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Roberto Fonseca & Vincent Segal, China Moses, Bill Laurance & Michael League, Fatoumata Diawara, Shai Maestro, Marc Ribot, Joshua Redman, Paolo Fresu, Anat Cohen, Anne Paceo, Keziah Jones and Shemekia Copeland.
45th edition — May 8 to 16, 2026
For its 45th anniversary, Jazz sous les Pommiers offers itself an additional day starting on Friday, May 8, 2026, a public holiday, to present more than 60 concerts spread over nine days in Coutances. The festival, as usual, unfolds in about ten venues in the city center: the Théâtre municipal, the salle Marcel-Hélie (SMH), the Magic Mirrors, the Cathédrale, the Caves des Unelles, the Esplanade des Unelles, the Cinéma Le Long-courT, the Chapelle du lycée Lebrun, the square de l'Évêché and numerous free open-air stages.
The 2026 Headliners
The edition brings together some of the biggest names in contemporary jazz and improvised music:
- Monty Alexander Trio (Jamaica/USA) — one of the great pianists in jazz history, for the festive closing on Friday, May 15
- Cécile McLorin Salvant (USA/France) — the golden voice of contemporary jazz, Thursday, May 14
- Roberto Fonseca & Vincent Segal (Cuba/France) — exceptional piano-cello duo, Friday, May 15
- China Moses & It's Complicated (USA/France) — the great African-American voice, Friday, May 8 as opening act
- Bill Laurance & Michael League (UK/USA) — the pillars of Snarky Puppy in an intimate duo, Thursday, May 14
- Fatoumata Diawara — Massa (Mali) — exceptional finale on Saturday, May 16
- Joshua Redman Quartet — Words Fall Short (USA) — Saturday, May 9
- Marc Ribot Quartet — Hurry Red Telephone (USA) — Saturday, May 9
- Shai Maestro Quartet — The Guesthouse (Israel/UK) — Friday, May 8
- Paolo Fresu Trio — Tempo di Chet (Italy) — Tuesday, May 12
- Anat Cohen Quartetinho (Israel/Portugal/USA) — Wednesday, May 13
- Anne Paceo — Atlantis (France) — Wednesday, May 13
- Keziah Jones (Nigeria) — Friday, May 8
- Shemekia Copeland (USA) — blues night on Tuesday, May 12
Creations and Residencies
The 2026 edition highlights several exclusive creations: Albin de la Simone re-dressed by Jozef Dumoulin and Fabrice Moreau (Saturday, May 9), Emmanuel Bex — Eddy m'a dit, a tribute to Eddy Louiss accompanied by the Orchestre d'Harmonie de Coutances and La Grande Soufflerie de Saint-Denis (Sunday, May 10), Hélène Duret's Synestet with Nils Wogram (Friday, May 15), the meeting of Melissa Aldana / Levi Harvey trio from the Talents Adami Jazz program (Tuesday, May 12), as well as the final creations of this year's residents Marion Rampal — Le soir de la Grande Ourse (Friday, May 15) and Robinson Khoury — Aria, a 360° creation in the heart of the audience (Saturday, May 16).
Sunday with Brass Bands
The traditional Sunday with Brass Bands (May 10) offers, in partnership with the Normandy Region, six groups in four venues for a single ticket at 11 € (free for children under 6). On the program: Emmanuel Bex (creation Eddy m'a dit), Barrut (Occitan polyphonies), La BOA — Tony Allen Meets La BOA (Colombian afrobeat), La Fanfare Saugrenue, La Confizerie and Sitala Band System. Car-free day with bike parades and free Transdev Normandie shuttles.
Discovery Stage, Regional Jazz Showcase and Young Audience
The Discovery Stage on Saturday, May 16, features three emerging young groups: Franges (Jazz Migration AJC), Ninanda and Naïram. The Regional Jazz Showcase on Wednesday, May 13, presents Bodies, Rouge and the Damien Groleau trio, in partnership with Le Pannonica (Pays de la Loire) and D'Jazz Nevers (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté). For young audiences: Secrets de Beatmaker (from 5 years old, Tuesday, May 12) and Tèmpi Tèmtoa by Barbara Glet and Louis Galliot (6 months - 5 years old, Tuesday, May 12 and Wednesday, May 13).
Free Offerings
Numerous free activities enliven the city during the festival: the Amateur Stage in the square de l'Évêché (May 8 to 16), street performances (companies Paris Bénarès, Carna, Les Barjes Virils, Tout En Vrac, Les P'tits Bras, Le Guichet Caillasse, Leandre, Lady Cocktail), the CMB Tour of the Fanfare Saugrenue in the Coutances region (Blainville-sur-Mer, Tourneville-sur-Mer, Courcy, Roncey), the Jazz in bars initiative (4th edition, programming Django at Brazero, Culture Pub and the theater bar on May 8), batucadas in the streets of Coutances on May 25 echoing the A Carnival Love Story concerts, as well as numerous animations, musical readings, exhibitions and live radio broadcasts.
Monday, May 11 — off day
Monday, May 11 is a day without concerts allowing festival-goers to relax (and the info point as well as the ticket office to close).
Programme Jazz sous les Pommiers 2026
Friday, May 8, 2026
- 4:00 PM — David Linx 5tet · Real Men Cry (Belgium/Brazil/Canada/France/USA) · Théâtre
- 6:00 PM — China Moses · It's Complicated (USA/France) · Salle Marcel-Hélie
- 8:30 PM — Shai Maestro Quartet · The Guesthouse (Israel/UK) · Théâtre
- 9:30 PM — Keziah Jones (Nigeria) · Salle Marcel-Hélie
- 11:00 PM — Bulles de Swing (gypsy jazz, Caen trio) · Bar du Théâtre · free within the limit of available seats
- 5:00 PM-10:00 PM — Scène Avis aux amateurs · square de l'Évêché · free
- 4:30 PM then 7:00 PM — Cie Paris Bénarès — Chevàl (wandering then fixed Cour Jean-Paul II) · free street performance
Saturday, May 9, 2026
- 12:30 PM — Lucie Jahier — Javotte (jazz-rock, Brazilian choro) · Magic Mirrors
- 3:30 PM — Jozef Dumoulin & Fabrice Moreau re-dress Albin de la Simone (creation) · Théâtre
- 5:30 PM — Thanda Choir (South African choir, discovered by Melody Gardot) · Salle Marcel-Hélie
- 7:30 PM — Marc Ribot Quartet · Hurry Red Telephone (USA) · Théâtre
- 9:45 PM — Joshua Redman Quartet · Words Fall Short (USA) · Salle Marcel-Hélie
- 11:30 PM — The Bongo Hop (France/Cuba/Cameroon/Senegal/Benin — latino, hip-hop, afrobeat) · Magic Mirrors
- 2:30 PM-midnight — Scène Avis aux amateurs · square de l'Évêché · free
- 3:00 PM + 5:30 PM — Cie Carna — Les Cœurs rouges (pole dance circus) · Jardin public · free
- 4:00 PM — Cie Lady Cocktail — De la mort qui tue · Cour du lycée Lebrun · free
Sunday, May 10, 2026 — Sunday with Brass Bands
Four venues, six groups, one ticket (11 €, free -6 years old) — car-free day with free Transdev Normandie shuttles. Picnic 12:00 PM-2:30 PM at the public garden.
- 2:30 PM & 4:30 PM — Emmanuel Bex · Eddy m'a dit (creation with La Grande Soufflerie de Saint-Denis & the Orchestre d'Harmonie de Coutances) · Salle Marcel-Hélie
- 2:30 PM & 4:30 PM — Barrut · Contra-fuòcs (Occitan polyphonies — Génération Spedidam Laureate) · Magic Mirrors
- 3:00 PM — La BOA (Bogotá Orquesta Afrobeat) · Tony Allen Meets La BOA (Colombia/Mexico/Peru/Panama) · Esplanade des Unelles
- 3:00 PM & 5:00 PM — La Confizerie (Latin jazz / New Orleans street brass band) · square de l'Évêché
- 3:45 PM & 5:45 PM — La Fanfare Saugrenue · square de l'Évêché
- 5:00 PM — Sitala Band System (France/Burkina Faso — balafon) · Esplanade des Unelles
- 2:30 PM + 5:00 PM — Cie Carna — Les Cœurs rouges · Place Saint-Nicolas · free
- 4:00 PM — Cie Lady Cocktail — De la mort qui tue · Cour du lycée Lebrun · free
Monday, May 11, 2026 — OFF Day (no concerts)
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
- 10:30 AM — Photégraph · Secrets de Beatmaker (young audience from 5 years old) · Théâtre · school session open to the public
- 6:00 PM — Barbara Glet & Louis Galliot · Tèmpi Tèmtoa (young audience 6 months - 5 years old) · salle Barbey d'Aurevilly (Les Unelles)
- 8:30 PM — Levi Harvey trio with Melissa Aldana (creation — Talents Jazz Adami) · Théâtre
- 8:30 PM — Paolo Fresu Trio · Tempo di Chet (Italy, tribute to Chet Baker) · Théâtre
- 8:30 PM — Blues Night: Delanie Pickering & Mojo Wax Band then Shemekia Copeland (USA) · Salle Marcel-Hélie
- 11:30 PM — Jonas Charles Quartet + jam session from 12:15 AM · Bar du Théâtre · free within the limit of available seats
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
- 10:00 AM — Barbara Glet & Louis Galliot · Tèmpi Tèmtoa (young audience 6 months - 5 years old) · salle Barbey d'Aurevilly
- 2:30 PM — Regional Jazz Showcase : Bodies (Anti Dancing League — Pays de la Loire), Rouge (Pays de la Loire), Damien Groleau trio — Inner Ways (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté) · Magic Mirrors
- 6:00 PM — Anat Cohen Quartetinho (Israel/Portugal/USA — virtuoso clarinet) · Théâtre
- 8:00 PM — Anne Paceo · Atlantis + guests (Robinson Khoury, Laura Cahen) · Salle Marcel-Hélie
- 8:00 PM — João Selva (France/Brazil) · Magic Mirrors
- 10:00 PM — Clément Janinet · Garden of Silences (creation — European quartet with Arve Henriksen) · Théâtre
- 12:00 AM — Electro under the Apple Trees Night : Ultimatom then Fakear DJ set + guests · Salle Marcel-Hélie
- 2:30 PM-midnight — Scène Avis aux amateurs · square de l'Évêché · free
Thursday, May 14, 2026
- 12:30 PM — Mathias Levy · Chant Song (jazz, classical, folk, sung poetry) · Magic Mirrors
- 3:00 PM — Stochelo Rosenberg / William Brunard / Rocky Gresset · Django Celebration (Netherlands/France — gypsy jazz) · Salle Marcel-Hélie
- 3:00 PM & 9:30 PM — Ellinoa · Mejiro (jazz, chamber, song) · Cinéma Le Long-courT
- 5:00 PM — Orchestre National de Jazz (O.N.J.) · With Carla, tribute to Carla Bley under the direction of Sylvaine Hélary · Théâtre
- 5:00 PM & 7:30 PM — Stéphane Norbert / So Loops · (In)time (immersive concert with headphones, in small group) · Chapelle du lycée Lebrun
- 7:30 PM — Cécile McLorin Salvant (France/USA) · Salle Marcel-Hélie
- 9:15 PM — Lagon Nwar (France/Burkina Faso — Reunion, cross-cultural) · Magic Mirrors
- 9:30 PM — Bill Laurance & Michael League (UK/USA — Snarky Puppy duo) · Théâtre
- 10:00 PM — La Caravane Passe + guests (France/Morocco — gypsy atmosphere) · Salle Marcel-Hélie
- 12:30 AM — Sonic Interventions (Germany — Revelation 2025 at Deutscher Jazzpreis) · Magic Mirrors
- 2:30 PM-midnight — Scène Avis aux amateurs · square de l'Évêché · free
- 3:00 PM + 6:30 PM — Cie Les Barjes Virils · Esplanade des Unelles · free
- 4:30 PM — Cie Tout En Vrac — La cuisinière · école Jean-Paul II · free
Friday, May 15, 2026
- 9:45 AM — The Promenade Concert : La Mòssa (Italy/France — voice & percussion) then Leïla Martial & Valentin Ceccaldi · Le Jardin des délices (Meeting point in Saussey, walking tour between the two gardens)
- 12:30 PM, 4:00 PM & 8:00 PM — So Loops · (In)time · Chapelle du lycée Lebrun
- 2:15 PM — Hélène Duret Synestet with Nils Wogram (creation — France/Germany/Belgium) · Magic Mirrors
- 3:00 PM — Nomades : Jaklin Baghdasaryan, Éléonore Fourniau, Dafné Kritharas, Emma Prat (Armenia/Greece/France/Morocco/Turkey) · Salle Marcel-Hélie
- 5:30 PM — Roberto Fonseca & Vincent Segal (Cuba/France — piano & cello) · Théâtre
- 6:00 PM & 9:00 PM — Marion Rampal · Le soir de la Grande Ourse (creation — standing audience) · Magic Mirrors
- 7:15 PM & 9:45 PM — L'Antidote (France/Iran/Albania/Lebanon — Bijan Chemirani, Redi Hasa, Rami Khalifé) · Cinéma Le Long-courT
- 7:30 PM — Jean-Pierre Como & Javier Girotto · Parfum d'Azur (France/Argentina) · Cathédrale
- 8:00 PM — Monty Alexander Trio (Jamaica/Canada/USA) · Salle Marcel-Hélie
- 10:00 PM — Andy Emler Onztet · Le temps est parti pour rester (clarinet festival — Sclavis, Pasquier, Fargeix, Delaunay, Brunat, Pujuila, Dehors, Savy…) · Théâtre
- 12:30 AM — BËL (France — electronic, trances) · Magic Mirrors
- 2:30 PM-midnight — Scène Avis aux amateurs · square de l'Évêché · free
- 3:30 PM — Cie Les P'tits Bras — Vent d'Ouest (aerial circus) · Esplanade des Unelles · free
- 5:30 PM — Cie Le Guichet Caillasse · école Jules-Verne · free
Saturday, May 16, 2026
- 11:00 AM, 5:30 PM & 7:30 PM — So Loops · (In)time · Chapelle du lycée Lebrun
- 12:15 PM — Discovery Stage: Franges (Jazz Migration AJC) · Magic Mirrors
- 1:15 PM — Discovery Stage: Ninanda (Israel/France) · Magic Mirrors
- 2:15 PM — Discovery Stage: Naïram (Franco-British quintet, jazz/afrobeat) · Magic Mirrors
- 3:30 PM — Robinson Khoury · Aria (360° creation — musicians in the heart of the audience) · Salle Marcel-Hélie
- 5:30 PM — Édouard Ferlet · Köln Variations (AI-assisted reinterpretation of Keith Jarrett's Köln Concert) · Théâtre
- 5:30 PM — KNOBIL (France/Switzerland — jazz, punk, French song) · Cinéma Le Long-courT
- 7:30 PM — Renaud Garcia-Fons & Claire Antonini · Farangi (jazz, baroque, Oriental music) · Cathédrale
- 7:30 PM — Chris Jennings solo (Canada — double bass) · Caves des Unelles
- 7:45 PM — Bando · Shape of the Land (South Korea — Jarasum jazz festival coproduction) · Cinéma Le Long-courT
- 8:30 PM — Fatoumata Diawara · Massa (Mali/Argentina/Brazil/Spain/Cameroon — 45th edition finale, standing floor) · Salle Marcel-Hélie
- 9:15 PM — Trygve Seim Ensemble (Norway — 25 years of Different Rivers, ECM label) · Théâtre
- 9:30 PM — Jô Drü · Poems for Dance (France — flute, trance, jazz) · Magic Mirrors
- 12:15 AM — BIM — Benin International Musical (Benin — traditional, rock, hip-hop) · Magic Mirrors
- 2:30 PM-midnight — Scène Avis aux amateurs · square de l'Évêché · free
- 3:00 PM — Cie Le Guichet Caillasse · école Jules-Verne · free
- 4:30 PM — Cie Les P'tits Bras — Vent d'Ouest · Esplanade des Unelles · free
- 6:00 PM — Cie Leandre — Fly Me to the Moon (Spain — clown) · école Jean-Paul II · free
Highlights Jazz sous les Pommiers 2026
- 45th anniversary edition — May 8 to 16, 2026 (9 days with an additional day on May 8, a public holiday)
- More than 60 concerts in about ten venues in Coutances
- Headliners: Monty Alexander, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Roberto Fonseca & Vincent Segal, Fatoumata Diawara, Joshua Redman, Marc Ribot, Bill Laurance & Michael League
- Exclusive creations: Albin de la Simone re-dressed, Emmanuel Bex — Eddy m'a dit, Hélène Duret Synestet, Marion Rampal — Le soir de la Grande Ourse, Robinson Khoury — Aria (360° creation), Clément Janinet — Garden of Silences
- Sunday with Brass Bands (May 10): 4 venues, 6 groups, 1 ticket at 11 €
- Free open-air stages: square de l'Évêché, street performances, Jazz in bars, CMB Tour in the Coutances region
- Electro under the Apple Trees Night with Fakear DJ set (Wednesday, May 13)
- Clarinet Festival: Andy Emler Onztet with Louis Sclavis (Friday, May 15)
- Promenade concert between two gardens of Coutances (Friday, May 15)
- Tribute to Carla Bley by the Orchestre National de Jazz (Thursday, May 14)
Prices Jazz sous les Pommiers 2026
Practical information — Jazz sous les Pommiers
Practical information
Access and transport
By car: Coutances is accessible via the A84 motorway (exit Villedieu-les-Poêles) then the D972, or via the RN174 from Caen and Saint-Lô. Free parking lots are available on the outskirts of the city with a free shuttle service to the center.
By train: Coutances station is served by TER Normandie from Paris (via Caen), Cherbourg, and Rennes. Special TER festival offers are available each year.
Ticketing
Season tickets (€21) offer a €6 discount per ticket purchased. Ticketing opens in March for season ticket holders and mid-March for the general public. Bookings online on the official website or at the Les Unelles cultural space in Coutances.
Accommodation
It is strongly advised to book accommodation well in advance. Hotels, B&Bs, gîtes, and campsites are available in Coutances and the surrounding area.
Food
Numerous food stalls are set up at the festival sites, offering local specialties and world cuisines.
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Vous avez repéré une erreur ou une information manquante ?
Aidez-nous à garder cette fiche à jour. Toute proposition est relue par notre équipe avant publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No review yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Where does it take place — Jazz sous les Pommiers
Théâtre municipal et divers lieux de Coutances
Centre culturel Les Unelles, 50200 Coutances