Saint-Omer Jaaz Festival
The jazz festival of Saint-Omer, between concerts in heritage sites and discovery of the French-speaking jazz scene
About Jaaz Festival
Saint-Omer Jaaz Festival: Jazz in Exceptional Venues
The Saint-Omer Jaaz Festival is a jazz festival created in 2015 by La Barcarolle, the contemporary music venue in Saint-Omer, in partnership with the City of Saint-Omer and the Communauté d'agglomération du Pays de Saint-Omer. The festival was conceived by Laurent Cugny, founder of the Maison du Jazz, with the aim of democratizing jazz and offering a rich artistic experience, especially to young audiences.
The Double A of the Aa
The name "Jaaz" with its double A is a territorial brand: it evokes the Aa, the small river that flows through Saint-Omer before joining the North Sea. The black and white stripes of the zebra, the festival's emblem, recall the piano keys.
Concerts in Heritage Sites
One of the festival's unique features is its concerts held in remarkable heritage sites in Saint-Omer: the Motte Castrale, the gardens of the Tourist Office, the churches (Immaculée Conception, Notre-Dame Cathedral), the Italian-style theater of La Barcarolle (Le Moulin à Café), the Place Victor Hugo, and the ruins of the Saint-Bertin Abbey.
An Open-Minded Program
Under the artistic direction of Laurent Cugny, the festival particularly highlights the French-speaking jazz scene and emerging young artists. The program is both sophisticated and accessible, covering the full diversity of contemporary jazz. Training workshops are offered to students from regional conservatories.
A Mostly Free Festival
The Jaaz Festival is distinguished by its free access: the vast majority of concerts are free, allowing everyone to discover jazz in an exceptional setting.
Jaaz Festival — edition 2026
The Saint-Omer Jaaz Festival returns from July 2 to 5, 2026, in Saint-Omer (Pas-de-Calais), with around forty concerts and nearly 100 artists spread across several stages in exceptional heritage sites. Under the artistic direction of Laurent Cugny, the 2026 edition highlights the Francophone jazz scene and young talents, with a large majority of free concerts.
Saint-Omer Jaaz Festival 2026
From July 2 to 5, 2026, the Saint-Omer Jaaz Festival takes over the heritage sites of Saint-Omer for four days of jazz. Presented as the largest jazz festival in the region, it features nearly 100 artists on several stages: the Motte Castrale, the gardens of the Tourist Office, the churches (Immaculée Conception, Cathédrale Notre-Dame), the Italian-style theatre of La Barcarolle (Le Moulin à Café), Place Victor Hugo, and the ruins of Abbaye Saint-Bertin.
Under the artistic direction of Laurent Cugny, the 2026 edition particularly highlights the Francophone jazz scene and emerging young artists. The vast majority of concerts are free, with a few indoor or heritage site concerts offered at a reduced rate (starting from 5 €). Preludes to the festival are organized beforehand (late June and July 1st), before the main event from July 2 to 5.
Programme Jaaz Festival 2026
Headliners and announced artists (2026 edition)
- Sixun
- NoJazz
- Léa Maria Fries
- Nana Rashid
- Laurence Saltiel
- Aâma quintet
- Malo Mazurié quartet
- Django 70th — Samuel Strouk & Angelo Debarre
- Ellinoa (opening concert)
- Emmanuel Bex with the Orchestre d'Harmonie (repertoire dedicated to Eddy Louiss, Ruines Saint-Bertin)
- Dessislava Quartet (family concert, Disney repertoire)
- Simon Chivallon Trio (closing concert)
Nearly 100 artists in total throughout the festival. The day-by-day details (times and stages) are published on the official festival website.
Highlights Jaaz Festival 2026
- Four days of jazz from July 2 to 5, 2026
- Large majority of free concerts in heritage sites
- Nearly 100 artists on multiple stages
- Headliners: Sixun, NoJazz, Léa Maria Fries, Nana Rashid
- Artistic direction by Laurent Cugny
- Highlighting the Francophone jazz scene and young talents
Prices Jaaz Festival 2026
Practical information — Jaaz Festival
Access to the Festival
By Car
Saint-Omer is accessible via the A26 (Saint-Omer exit). Parking is available in the city center near the concert venues.
By Train
The Saint-Omer station is served by TER trains from Lille (50 min), Calais (30 min), and Boulogne-sur-Mer. The city center is within walking distance of the station.
Concert Venues
- Motte Castrale
- Gardens of the Tourist Office
- Notre-Dame Cathedral
- Church of the Immaculée Conception
- La Barcarolle - Le Moulin à Café (Italian-style theater)
- Place Victor Hugo
- Ruins of the Saint-Bertin Abbey
Prices
The vast majority of concerts are free. Some indoor concerts may be ticketed.
Contact
La Barcarolle: www.labarcarolle.org
Saint-Omer Tourist Office: tourisme-saintomer.com
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Where does it take place — Jaaz Festival
Divers lieux patrimoniaux de Saint-Omer