Nice Jazz Fest
Posted by Josh on 23rd Jul 2025 in the blog in the french culture, french cities category
Did you know that Nice is home to the oldest jazz festival in the world? Founded in 1948, the Nice Jazz Festival (renamed 'Nice Jazz Fest' in 2024) has been host to some of the very best jazz musicians of all time, from Louis Armstrong to Ella Fitzgerald. It's back this year from the 24th to the 27th of July and the lineup promises to be electric.
Who is playing at Nice Jazz Fest?
The Jazz Fest takes place over four nights across a range of venues around Nice. You can see some of the highlights below:
Thursday 24th July
- Place Masséna: Polo & Pan, RAYE, Earthgang,
- Théâtre de Verdure: Sullivan Fortner Trio, China Moses, John Scofield Long Days Quartet
Friday 25 July
- Place Masséna: Freddie Gibbs & El Michels Affair, ‑M‑ Lamomali, Mustard
- Théâtre de Verdure: Jalen Ngonda, Oscar Peterson Celebration feat. Sullivan Fortner, John Clayton & Jeff Hamilton
Saturday 26 July
- Place Masséna: Masego, Jorja Smith, GoldLink
- Théâtre de Verdure: Tyreek McDole, Nubya Garcia, The Cookers
Sunday 27 July
- Place Masséna: MRCY, Feu! Chatterton, Santa
- Théâtre de Verdure: Monsieur Mālă, Ekep Nkwelle, Avishai Cohen Quintet
The festival will close with a jazz ensemble 'featuring Hugh Coltman, China Moses, Robin McKelle, and Jowee Omicil, among others, bringing jazz standards back to life and taking you on a journey through the very best of jazz.'
All in all, over the four days there will be twenty-eight concerts taking place, featuring a range of genres - not just jazz! From the synthy sounds of Polo & Pan to the mellow melodies of Masego, there's something for everyone, which is why the festival attracts up to 40,000 attendees in a given year. It helps, of course, that Nice is a truly wonderful city to visit, with a gorgeous old town and a stunning beach.
A warning, though: Nice is one of the hottest cities in France, so during July it's not uncommon for festival-goers to experience a canicule.
About the venues
The Place Masséna is the city's main square, and is conveniently located near all the city's central attractions, including the Promenade des Anglais and the Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain (MAMAC).
Only a short walk from the Place Masséna is the Théâtre de Verdure. Like the Place Masséna, the Théâtre is also an outdoor venue. Built eighty years ago, it has been the site of concerts for Edith Piaf, Serge Gainsbourg, Iron Maiden and Sting - among many others.
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