Pays de Gex Music Festival

The Pays de Gex Music Festival: nearly a century of musical tradition

Since 1929, the Festival des Musiques du Pays de Gex has upheld an exceptional musical tradition in the heart of the Ain department, on the French-Swiss border. One of the oldest wind orchestra gatherings in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, the festival brings together around ten music societies from Pays de Gex and neighbouring communes each year for a grand weekend of free open-air concerts.

A touring festival run by the Société Musicale de Ferney-Voltaire

The festival is organised by the Société Musicale de Ferney-Voltaire, founded in 1844 on the initiative of John Pingeon. Since its origins, this amateur musicians' association has established itself as a pillar of cultural life in Pays de Gex. Comprising over 60 musicians with an average age of around 25, the Société Musicale has been led since 2021 by Benoît Durand, a horn teacher at the conservatoire. The festival is held each year in a different Pays de Gex commune, offering a fresh setting and atmosphere with every edition.

A rich and varied programme

The festival runs over two to three days, usually on the last weekend of June. The programme showcases junior and senior wind orchestras, brass ensembles and brass bands from the participating music societies. Concerts feature an eclectic repertoire ranging from classical and symphonic works to film music, folk tunes and traditional melodies.

Among the regularly participating societies are the Orchestre d'Harmonie du Pays de Gex (OHPG), the Ensemble Harmonique de Bellegarde (EHB), l'Écho de la Valserine from Chézery, l'Écho du Crêt de la Neige from Sergy, l'Écho du Reculet from Thoiry, the Lyre Chalaisienne from Challex, the Lyre Musicale de Saint-Genis-Pouilly, La Bonne Humeur from Péron, as well as Swiss guests such as the Musique Municipale de Meyrin and the Sirène du Grand-Saconnex.

A popular cross-border event

Entirely free and open to all, the festival is a family-friendly and convivial event that attracts several hundred spectators. A local produce market and food trucks accompany the concerts, creating a festive atmosphere. The festival reflects the vitality of the music association network in Pays de Gex and illustrates the richness of cross-border cultural exchanges with neighbouring Switzerland, in the spirit of Greater Geneva.

A living musical heritage

With its 96th edition celebrated in 2025, the Festival des Musiques du Pays de Gex is a genuine living cultural heritage of the Ain department. It reflects the longevity and commitment of local music societies which, for nearly a century, have been passing on the passion for wind orchestra music from generation to generation. The festival is affiliated with the Fédération Musicale de l'Ain, founded in 1951, which brings together 86 music societies in the department.