Jazz sur les Places
The free open-air jazz festival of Vieux Lyon
2026
About Jazz sur les Places
Jazz sur les Places — edition 2026
The 16th edition of Jazz sur les Places takes place from September 16 to 19, 2026, at Place Benoît Crépu in the Saint-Georges district of Vieux Lyon. Enjoy nine free outdoor concerts featuring stride piano, Argentine tango, big band, Congolese rhythms, and contemporary jazz. New York pianist Joel Forrester, the only student of Thelonious Monk, performs a solo set on Saturday, September 19 at 6:30 PM. A jam session wraps up the weekend on Sunday, September 20, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
16th edition — September 16 to 19, 2026
Jazz sur les Places returns to Place Benoît Crépu from Wednesday, September 16 to Saturday, September 19, 2026, with nine free outdoor concerts: two each evening at 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM from Wednesday to Friday, and three on Saturday starting at 4:30 PM.
The program includes: stride piano with Cédric Granelle and Joel Forrester, Argentine tango with the Tango Jazz Quartet, big band music with the Musique O Parc school from Oullins, Congolese rhythms with the Moses Bayona Band Trad, and contemporary jazz with the Wilhelm Coppey – Bernard Jean duo, Cyril Drapé, Felipe Silva Mena, and Claire Michaël.
On Sunday, September 20, the association is hosting a jam session from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM: bring your own instrument.
Leading up to the event, a collectible record market will be held on Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6, 2026, in the same square. It is free to attend and includes a refreshment stand. Proceeds help fund the festival.
Highlights Jazz sur les Places 2026
- Joel Forrester solo on Saturday, September 19 at 6:30 PM: New York pianist, the only student of Thelonious Monk in the 1960s, and composer of the Fresh Air theme.
- Tango Jazz Quartet on Wednesday, September 16 at 8:30 PM: The Argentine group, currently on a European tour, will perform their only concert in the region here.
- Cyril Drapé Quartet on Friday, September 18 at 8:30 PM: The double bassist, winner of the David Ostromooukhov prize, presents his personal project for the first time.
- Claire Michaël Quintet on Saturday, September 19 at 8:30 PM, featuring tracks from the album "Mystical Way".
- Jam session on Sunday, September 20 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, open to musicians who bring their own instruments.
Programme Jazz sur les Places 2026
All concerts are free and held outdoors at Place Benoît Crépu (Saint-Georges district, Lyon 5th).
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
- 6:30 PM — Cédric Granelle invites Adrien Bernet · stride piano · Cédric Granelle (piano), Adrien Bernet (drums, percussion)
- 8:30 PM — Tango Jazz Quartet · tango · Gustavo Firmenich (sax, clarinet), Horacio Acosta (piano), Federico Hilal (bass), Alejandro Beelmann (percussion)
Thursday, September 17, 2026
- 6:30 PM — Big Band MOP d'Oullins · swing, fusion · directed by Carine Bianco; Nicolas Dufour, Franck Thierry, Thierry Barreyre, Jean-Vincent Bosse (trumpets), Marion Batard and Reançois Lucas (trombone), Chantal Eynaud-Lassalle and Francis Bourganel (alto sax), Armèle Perrier and Jean-Paul Rascle (tenor sax), Céline Carette-Castrichini (baritone sax), Régis Fol (flute), Jérôme Boucomont (clarinet), Sophie Himmerberger (accordion), Baptiste Poulain (piano), Michel Perrier (bass), Jean-Louis Blanchard (percussion)
- 8:30 PM — Moses Bayona Band Trad invites Julien Hucq · modern jazz · Courage Bakele (piano), Neige Diedi (guitar), Yves Kalubi (bass), Moses Bayonna (percussion), Julien Hucq (sax)
Friday, September 18, 2026
- 6:30 PM — Wilhelm Coppey – Bernard Jean Duo · contemporary jazz · Wilhelm Coppey (piano), Bernard Jean (vibraphone)
- 8:30 PM — Cyril Drapé Quartet · contemporary jazz · Cyril Drapé (double bass), Alexis Valet (vibraphone), Victor Maisonneuve (sax), Amanda Brandão (drums, percussion)
Saturday, September 19, 2026
- 4:30 PM — Felipe Silva Mena Trio invites Flora Antropius · contemporary jazz · Felipe Silva Mena (guitar, mandolin), Flora Antropius (harp), Michel Molines (double bass), Adrien Bernet (drums, percussion)
- 6:30 PM — Joel Forrester solo · stride, boogie-woogie, bebop · Joel Forrester (piano)
- 8:30 PM — Claire Michaël Quintet · modern jazz · Claire Michaël (sax, flute), Jean Michel Vallet (piano), Hermon Mehari (trumpet), Patrick Chartol (bass), Zaza Désiderio (drums)
Sunday, September 20, 2026 — bonus
- 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM — Jam session, bring your own instrument
Before the festival
- Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6, 2026 — Collectible record market, Place Benoît Crépu, outdoors, free admission. Refreshments available on-site. A few spots remain for exhibitors, including a free parking space: contact Philippe Dechèvre at 06 08 76 94 34. This market helps fund the festival.
Prices Jazz sur les Places 2026
Practical information — Jazz sur les Places
Access
Place Benoît Crépu, Saint-Georges district, 69005 Lyon.
By metro: Line D, stop Vieux Lyon – Cathédrale Saint-Jean, then a 5-minute walk.
By bus: Lines C20 and 31, stop Saint-Georges.
By car: Saint-Georges parking nearby. Traffic is limited in Vieux Lyon.
Prices
Free admission for all concerts during the September festival.
Contact
Association Jazz sur les Places
25 rue Tramassac, 69005 Lyon
Jazz sur les Places: Jazz in the Heart of Vieux Lyon
Created in 2009 by Philippe Dechèvre, Jazz sur les Places is a free open-air jazz festival that has become a must-attend event for the start of the season in Lyon. Every September, Place Benoît Crépu, in the historic Saint-Georges district in the heart of Vieux Lyon, transforms into an open-air concert stage hosting about ten jazz ensembles.
An Exceptional Heritage Setting
Place Benoît Crépu offers a unique setting for listening to jazz: bordered by Renaissance facades, at the foot of the Fourvière hill, and a stone's throw from the Palais de Justice footbridge, it forms a natural amphitheater in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage site. The open-air concerts benefit from remarkable acoustics and a warm atmosphere, between restaurant terraces and historic cobblestones.
A Varied and High-Quality Jazz Program
Jazz sur les Places offers an eclectic program exploring all facets of jazz: gypsy jazz, modern jazz, swing, tango, blues... The festival showcases both musicians from the Lyon scene and invited national artists. Each edition features about ten concerts spread over a long weekend in September.
A Unifying Neighborhood Festival
Jazz sur les Places was born from the desire to create a festive and unifying event in the Saint-Georges district, bringing together residents, shopkeepers, and visitors around music. Driven by the Jazz sur les Places association, based at 25 rue Tramassac in the 5th arrondissement, the festival operates thanks to the commitment of passionate volunteers and the support of local economic stakeholders.
A Committed Economic Model
To maintain free concerts in September, the association organizes paid concerts throughout the year in partner venues, contributing to the festival's financing. This model allows for continued free and popular access to jazz music, in a spirit of sharing and conviviality.
Where does it take place — Jazz sur les Places
Jazz sur les Places in brief
History of Jazz sur les Places
Edition 2025 Sep 2025Other festivals near Lyon
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