Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival

The Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival marks its 20th anniversary in 2026, with ten dates running from 18 to 29 November at the Opéra Garnier Monte-Carlo. The headline names are Gregory Porter, Melody Gardot, Marillion, Thomas Dutronc and the Soweto Gospel Choir, and the whole run plays out in a single, opulent venue: the Salle Garnier at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, inside the Casino building.

When is the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival?

The 2026 edition runs from 18 to 29 November, confirmed directly on the festival’s official concert listings: the opening student showcase is dated 18 November and the closing evening, the Soweto Gospel Choir, is dated 29 November on its own official ticketing page. Founded in 2006, the festival marks its 20th anniversary this year, and the official site describes a programme of ten dates rather than a nightly run, with a few nights off between clusters of concerts.

The dates announced so far: 18 November (Académie Rainier III student concert), 20 November (Gregory Porter & Youn Sun Nah), 21 November (Melody Gardot & Thanda Choir), 22 November (jazz-and-cinema screening of The Man with the Golden Arm), 25 November (Selah Sue & The Gallands, with Tyreek McDole), 26 November (The Brand New Heavies & GoGo Penguin), 27 November (Marillion), 28 November (Thomas Dutronc, with Lila May opening), and 29 November (Soweto Gospel Choir).

What to expect

This is a boutique, indoor festival built around a single opera house rather than an open-air, multi-stage event — closer in spirit to a concert season than a street festival. The Salle Garnier’s gilded, horseshoe-shaped auditorium sets a formal tone that’s a world away from the Riviera’s summer jazz festivals, and the programme leans into that setting: alongside the marquee concerts, there’s an opening-night concert by students of the Académie Rainier III, and a jazz-and-cinema evening pairing a classic film with live musical accompaniment.

The 2026 line-up spans genres more widely than the “jazz festival” name suggests. Gregory Porter and Youn Sun Nah anchor a night of blues, gospel and soul; Melody Gardot appears with the Thanda Choir; Selah Sue brings soul-pop and funk; The Brand New Heavies (a long-running fixture of the acid-jazz scene) share a bill with the more electronic-leaning GoGo Penguin; Marillion bring progressive rock into the programme; and Thomas Dutronc closes out the gypsy-jazz strand with a set built around Django Reinhardt and Chet Baker, opened by singer-songwriter Lila May. The festival closes with the Soweto Gospel Choir, whose Sunday concert starts at 5pm rather than late in the evening.

Beyond the ticketed evenings, the festival runs “Before” and “After” events at the Café de la Rotonde inside the Casino de Monte-Carlo — a way to extend the evening with a drink before or after a concert without leaving the building.

Getting there

Every concert is held at the same venue, the Opéra Garnier Monte-Carlo, which sits inside the Casino de Monte-Carlo complex in the heart of Monte-Carlo — an easy walk from the Casino Square and the surrounding hotels. There’s no need to check individual venue addresses as you might for a festival spread across a city; once you know the way to the Casino, every concert on the programme is in the same room.

From Nice, the TER regional train reaches Monaco in around 20 to 25 minutes, with frequent departures throughout the day. From the Monaco-Monte-Carlo train station, it’s a walkable but hilly route up to the Casino district — allow more time than the flat distance suggests, or take a short taxi ride if you’re dressed for an evening concert. If you’re basing yourself in Nice for a late show, check the last train back before you book, since the return service thins out later in the evening.

Practical tips

Book headline concerts early. Gregory Porter and Melody Gardot are the highest-profile names on the 2026 bill, and evenings built around a single major artist in a relatively small opera house tend to sell out well before the festival opens.

Don’t skip the cheaper evenings. The jazz-and-cinema screening is priced well below the headline concerts and offers a different, more relaxed way to experience the festival’s programming.

Dress for the room. The Salle Garnier is a formal, gilded opera house rather than a casual festival ground — smart dress fits the setting better than festival-casual attire.

Confirm the current year’s calendar before booking travel. Because the festival spreads ten dates unevenly across nearly two weeks rather than running as a continuous run, check which specific evenings you want before arranging accommodation, so you’re not stuck booking a long stay in an expensive city to catch a handful of concerts.