Nice Jazz Festival (NJF), various venues, Nice, France.
Dates: Thursday, July 23, 2026 - Saturday, July 25, 2026
Featuring: Various Artists
More details
Guest contributor Colin May has provided the following information;
Nice Jazz Fest final line-up announced
After a delay due to a change in administration and a subsequent budget cut of 800,000 euros ( see https://www.thejazzmann.com/news/article/nice-jazz-festival-facing-cuts) the full line up for the Nice Jazz Fest ( NJF), as it is now branded, has been announced. The festival which last year was four days with twenty-seven acts this year is three days, 23rd -25th July, with 18 acts.
Despite the reduced budget, international stars Sting and multi Grammy nominated hip hop artist Busta Rhymes will headline the all standing main Masséna arena , capacity 6500, on successive nights. The headliner on the third and final night will be south London singer-songwriter Lola Young who already is a Grammy winner.
Much respected saxophonist James Carter will bring his quintet to the seated Théâtre Verdure the long-time home for jazz at the NJF. His discography ranges from a recording inspired by Gipsy jazz to an electric and effects album, and he’s earned a reputation for encompassing the history of jazz in a single set, but for the NJF will be focusing specifically on John Coltrane the100th anniversary of whose birth is in September, with a performance sub-titled “A Centennial Supreme”.
Jazz and French Caribbean influences will feature with The Mario Canonge Trio who have roots in Martinique while the seven strong Getdown ensemble draw inspiration from music from Guadeloupe and the wider Caribbean. Their line-up promises three keyboard players - organ, piano, fender Rhodes - which is an intriguing prospect.
The NJF frequently gives a platform to youngish American based artists on the rise. This year it’s vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa who is out on her own following her contribution to Joshua Redmond’s 2023 album ’ Where We Are’ which led to DownBeat labelling her *a star in the making”, though I wasn’t convinced by her when seeing the album performed live. (My review is part of `https://www.thejazzmann.com/features/article/63rd-jazz-a- juan-juan-les-pins-france-8th-18th-july-2024)
Kassa Overall who has impressive sideman credentials : Geri Allen, Steve Coleman, V.J Iyer, Gary Bartz and others, offers his take on thecoming together of jazz and hip hop.
There usually is at least one act in the tradition of Django Reinhardt and Gipsy jazz and this year it is former child prodigy Biréli Lagrène who is credited with helping to
modernise that tradition.
Ticket prices for the NJF always have a history of being good value and this year the top price for the opportunity to see six bands ( it was seven bands last year) on the
24th or 25th of June is 45 euros.
However on the 23rd of June when Sting plays people will have to pay double that amount, and it remains to be seen how many will be willing to do so.
For the full line up see https://www.nicejazzfest.fr/en/programmation/2026