Montjoux Festival

ℹ️ 2026 Edition cancelled. The Montjoux Festival will not take place in 2026 in Thonon-les-Bains. The cancellation was announced on October 27, 2025, by the town hall, which cited the priority given to hosting a stage of the Tour de France in summer 2026 and a budgetary disagreement with the company Porte Quinze, organizer of the 2025 edition. The City of Thonon-les-Bains has indicated that it is working on the festival's return in 2027.

From the Castle Courtyard to the Shores of Lake Geneva

The history of the Montjoux Festival began in 1997, when a small event named Estivalpe was created in the courtyard of Ripaille Castle in Thonon-les-Bains. In its early days, about a hundred standing spectators attended a few concerts on a single stage. The event quickly grew and moved to the Domaine de Montjoux, a wooded park on the lakeside that gave it its current name and offers an exceptional natural setting between the waters of Lake Geneva and the Alpine peaks.

Over nearly three decades, the festival has established itself as an unmissable musical event of the Haute-Savoie summer, attracting a family and intergenerational audience thanks to an eclectic program that combines national headliners and new discoveries.

A French-Language and Eclectic Program

The artistic direction of the Montjoux Festival gives pride of place to French chanson, pop, rock, and variety music, with an openness to rap, soul, and world music. Over the years, the festival has hosted artists such as Bigflo et Oli, SCH, Kendji Girac, Emma Peters, Tiakola, and Julien Granel. Two stages allow for alternating genres and discovering young talents as opening acts for headliners.

Each evening began in the late afternoon and extended into the summer night, with Lake Geneva as a backdrop, creating a friendly and festive atmosphere that is the event's signature.

An Exceptional Natural Setting

The Domaine de Montjoux, located on the edge of Lake Geneva, offers a remarkable green setting for an open-air festival. Spectators enjoy the shaded lawns, the proximity to the water, and a panorama of the Chablais mountains and the Swiss shore of the lake. This unique landscape contributes greatly to the festival's identity and the experience of festival-goers, who can combine concerts and lakeside strolls.

15,000 Spectators and Strong Local Roots

With a capacity of up to 15,000 people per evening, the Montjoux Festival has become a major cultural and economic player for Thonon-les-Bains and the Chablais region. The event mobilizes numerous volunteers and local partners, and contributes to the tourist appeal of the spa town during the summer period. Accessible via the Pass Culture when it takes place, the festival strives to remain open to the widest possible audience with a controlled pricing policy.

Break in 2026, Return Aimed for 2027

After the 2025 edition, the Montjoux Festival is taking a break in 2026. Two main reasons led to this decision: the priority given by the municipality to organizing a stage of the Tour de France in Thonon-les-Bains in summer 2026, and a budgetary disagreement with the company Porte Quinze, organizer of the 2025 edition, which requested an increased budget and more guarantees from the town hall to continue. The City of Thonon-les-Bains has indicated that it is working on a return of the festival in 2027.