Porrentruy-Delle Jazz Festival

A jazz festival at the heart of the Franco-Swiss border

The Porrentruy-Delle Jazz Festival is one of the few cultural festivals that transcends national borders to create a shared event between France and Switzerland. Rooted in the town of Delle (90100) on the French side and the town of Porrentruy on the Swiss side (Canton of Jura), it embodies the vitality of cross-border cultural exchanges in this region where human and economic ties cross the border daily.

Delle Animation: a cultural player committed since 1991

The festival is supported by the association Delle Animation, founded in 1991 under the 1901 law. With over thirty years of existence, Delle Animation has become a key cultural player in the Territoire de Belfort and the Franco-Swiss living area of the Delle-Porrentruy region. The association organizes more than 40 cultural events each year, including about ten jazz concerts at the Caveau des Remparts in Delle and the summer festival that radiates across both sides of the border.

Jazz as a universal language

Jazz has been at the heart of Delle Animation's project since its origins. The association has been running a jazz workshop since October 2001, welcoming instrumental musicians wishing to improve their skills in this demanding musical language. The regional jazz workshops, held at the Caveau des Remparts, allow young musicians from Bourgogne-Franche-Comté to meet and perform. The stated goal: to make Delle a small jazz capital in the cross-border urban area.

Concert venues steeped in history

The festival takes place in several emblematic venues in both cities. On the French side, the Halle des Cinq Fontaines in Delle, a charming multi-purpose hall, and the Caveau des Remparts, an intimate space conducive to jazz concerts, host the artists. On the Swiss side, Porrentruy and its old medieval buildings offer a choice setting for open-air concerts or performances in the cultural venues of the Jura city.

A program open to the world of jazz

The festival features artists from the national and international jazz scene: from traditional ensembles to contemporary groups, from gypsy jazz to electric jazz, from big bands to intimate quartets. The diversity of styles reflects the richness and vitality of a constantly evolving music. Regional musicians perform alongside national or international guest artists, creating sometimes unexpected artistic encounters.