Megève Jazz Contest
International traditional and New Orleans jazz competition in Megève
About Megève Jazz
Megève Jazz Contest: thirty years of traditional jazz in the heart of the Alps
The history of the Megève Jazz Contest began in 1994, when Gérard Morand, then mayor of Megève, and Alain Bompard, president of the tourist office, called on Poumy Arnaud to create a musical event to mark the start of the summer season. Poumy Arnaud, a regular visitor to Megève since 1939, was an exceptional musician: he was Sidney Bechet's last drummer, a New Orleans jazz legend. It is this lineage with early jazz that gives the Megève Jazz Contest its unique identity.
Since its creation, the competition has grown to become a must-attend event for traditional jazz in Europe. Every summer, amateur orchestras faithful to the New Orleans jazz, swing, and be-bop repertoire gather in Megève for three days of music, dance, and conviviality.
A village transformed into a jazz stage
The unique feature of the Megève Jazz Contest is that it takes over the entire village. The competing orchestras perform in the four corners of Megève: on the Place du Village, on the terraces of partner restaurants, in the pedestrian streets, and at the Mageva Sports Palace hall for the gala evening and awards ceremony. This total musical immersion transforms Megève into an open-air jazz village, where you can move from one concert to another while strolling through the alleys.
The competition: tradition and emulation
The heart of the event remains the competition itself. The orchestras, selected for their faithfulness to the traditional jazz repertoire, perform before a panel of professionals who evaluate the musical quality, interpretation, and spirit of jazz. The gala evening, the highlight of the festival, brings together the best orchestras for a final concert followed by the awards ceremony. The winner is invited back the following year for an opening concert.
A living heritage of New Orleans jazz
The Megève Jazz Contest perpetuates a living musical tradition. New Orleans jazz, with its brass bands, collective improvisations, and infectious energy, finds a perfect setting in Megève. Be-bop dance demonstrations, dance classes open to all, and spontaneous jam sessions extend the jazz spirit in a festive and relaxed atmosphere. The event is free and open to all, true to the popular philosophy of early jazz.
An intergenerational gathering
The Megève Jazz Contest attracts an intergenerational audience, from long-time jazz enthusiasts to families and the curious. The good-natured atmosphere, the quality of the musicians, and the beauty of the Megève setting make this competition a unique event in the French festival landscape.
Megève Jazz — edition 2026
The 30th edition of the Megève Jazz Contest takes place from July 10 to 12, 2026 in the village of Megève. For this anniversary edition, eight traditional jazz orchestras that have previously been on the competition podium will compete on stages scattered throughout the village, punctuated by be-bop dance demonstrations, jam sessions, and concerts in partner restaurants. The Sunday gala evening, dedicated to Glenn Miller, closes the festival at Palais Mageva.
30th Edition — Megève Jazz Contest 2026
The Megève Jazz Contest celebrates its 30th edition from July 10 to 12, 2026. For this anniversary, eight traditional jazz orchestras (New Orleans, Dixieland, swing), all former winners or regulars of the competition, return to compete on several stages set up in the streets and squares of the village of Megève. The public votes to designate the winners.
A Jazz Weekend Throughout the Village
For three days, the competition alternates with be-bop dance classes and demonstrations, jam sessions, parades in the streets, and off-program concerts in partner restaurants. The winning orchestra of the 2025 edition, the Happy Six Warmers, animates the festival as the opening act.
30th Anniversary Gala Evening
On Sunday, July 12 at 8 PM, the gala evening at Palais Mageva closes the festival with a "Tribute to Glenn Miller" show performed by The Glenn Orchestral Big Band (about twenty artists: singers, dancers, and musicians), followed by the awards ceremony.
Most of the activities in the streets and squares are free to access. The gala evening and be-bop classes are subject to a fee.
Programme Megève Jazz 2026
Friday, July 10, 2026
- 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM — Happy Six Warmers (2025 winners) · Place du Village
- 5:00 PM — Orchestra welcome and cocktail · Megève Tourisme Amphitheater
- 5:30 PM — Be-bop dance demonstration · Amphitheater
- 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM — Happy Six Warmers · Place du Village
- 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM — Off-program concerts in partner restaurants
Saturday, July 11, 2026
- 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM — Be-bop dance class · Place du Village
- 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM — Happy Six Warmers · Place du Village
- 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM — Concerts in partner restaurants
- 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM — Be-bop dance class · Place du Village
- 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM — Happy Six Warmers · Place du Village
- 4:30 PM – 8:30 PM — Competition: the 8 competing orchestras on several stages in the village, with public voting
- 8:30 PM – 10:30 PM — Concerts in partner restaurants
Sunday, July 12, 2026
- 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM — Parade jam session in the village streets
- 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM — Be-bop dance class · Place du Village
- 3:00 PM – 6:30 PM — Competition final (8 orchestras, 4 stages)
- 8:00 PM — 30th Anniversary Gala Evening: "Tribute to Glenn Miller" by The Glenn Orchestral Big Band, followed by the awards ceremony · Palais Mageva
The 8 Competing Orchestras
- Anthracite Jazz Band (France)
- Captain Flapscat (France)
- Debrecen Dixieland Jazz Band (Hungary)
- Five in the Mood (France)
- Geneva Boogie & Blues Quartet (Switzerland)
- New Chocolate Dandies (France)
- Rive Droite Rive Gauche Swingband (France)
- Shreveport Rhythm (Germany)
Highlights Megève Jazz 2026
- 30th anniversary edition of the Megève Jazz Contest
- 8 traditional jazz orchestras, former competition winners, in competition
- Free access concerts throughout the village, public voting
- Gala evening "Tribute to Glenn Miller" by The Glenn Orchestral Big Band
- Be-bop dance classes and demonstrations, jam sessions and parades
Prices Megève Jazz 2026
Practical information — Megève Jazz
Practical Information
Access
By car: Megève is accessible from the A40 motorway (Sallanches exit). From Geneva: approx. 1h15. From Lyon: approx. 2h30. From Annecy: approx. 1h.
By train: Sallanches-Combloux-Megève station. Regular shuttle buses to Megève.
Prices
Access to concerts in the village is free. The gala evening at the Mageva Sports Palace may be ticketed (prices available on the tourist office website).
Venues
- Place du Village: open-air concerts
- Terraces of partner restaurants: concerts and jam sessions
- Mageva Sports Palace: gala evening and awards ceremony
- Streets of Megève: brass bands and parades
Contact
Megève Tourisme
70 rue Monseigneur Conseil, 74120 Megève
Website: megeve-tourisme.fr
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Where does it take place — Megève Jazz
Place du Village et Palais des Sports Mageva
70 rue Monseigneur Conseil, 74120 Megève, 74120 Megève