Oloron Jazz Festival

Jazz à Oloron: thirty years of music at the foot of the Pyrenees

For over thirty years, the Oloron Jazz Festival has enlivened the beginning of summer in Oloron-Sainte-Marie, a sub-prefecture of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques nestled at the confluence of the Aspe and Ossau rivers. This popular and demanding festival, supported by the association Jazz à Oloron, has built a solid reputation in the French jazz scene thanks to its eclectic programming and warm atmosphere.

A human-sized festival

The Oloron Jazz Festival is distinguished by its intimate and friendly format. For about ten days, concerts take place in several emblematic venues in the town: the modern performance hall, Espace Jéliote, hosts the paid concerts of the "In" festival, while the public garden and the Centre Social La Haüt offer free concerts as part of the "Off" festival and the festival village.

An eclectic program

Each edition brings together established artists from the French and international jazz scene and promising discoveries. The 31st edition in 2025 notably featured Stefano Di Battista, a world-renowned saxophonist, Naïssam Jalal, a Franco-Syrian flutist and composer, the Pierre Fabre Trio, Glass Museum, and Fellas. Jazz is explored in all its variations: classic jazz, contemporary jazz, fusion jazz, gypsy jazz, world jazz, and improvised music.

Activities beyond concerts

The festival is not limited to concerts. Jazz-themed film screenings, music practice workshops, a jazz competition for young musicians, and a young jazz orchestra complete the program. The festival village, set up under a marquee in the public garden, offers free activities, quality catering, and a convivial space throughout the event.

A commitment to sustainable development

The Jazz à Oloron association carries out actions in favor of sustainable development in the organization of the festival: waste sorting, reusable tableware, short supply chains for catering, and public awareness of environmental issues. This commitment helps make the festival a responsible and exemplary event.

Oloron-Sainte-Marie, a city of art and history

Oloron-Sainte-Marie, classified as a City of Art and History, offers an exceptional setting for the festival. The Sainte-Marie Cathedral, whose Romanesque portal is a UNESCO World Heritage site on the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route, the medieval old town, and the banks of the rivers form a remarkable heritage and natural environment.