Venues and Festivals

Paris maintains Europe's densest concentration of jazz venues:

Le Duc des Lombards: Intimate club showcasing established and emerging artists

New Morning: Larger venue hosting international stars and adventurous programming

Sunset/Sunside: Twin clubs offering traditional and modern jazz

La Petite Halle: Focuses on contemporary and experimental jazz

France hosts numerous world-class jazz festivals:

Nice Jazz Festival (1948-present): Among the world's oldest, hosting every major jazz figure

Montreux Jazz Festival: Though Swiss, heavily involves French artists and audiences

Jazz à Juan (Antibes): Outdoor festival in a Roman amphitheater

Jazz in Marciac: Rural festival drawing 250,000 visitors to a town of 1,200

Banlieues Bleues: Suburban Paris festival emphasizing diversity and accessibility

Nancy Jazz Pulsations: Focuses on contemporary jazz and crossover

These festivals prove jazz's continued vitality in French cultural life.