Jazz à Vienne 2026 runs from 25 June to 11 July at the Théâtre Antique de Vienne, 30 km south of Lyon in south-east France. The 45th edition features 167 concerts over 17 days, with three-quarters free of charge, across a 7,500-seat Roman amphitheatre. Tickets cost €40–€65 per evening (€30 for 15–25 year olds); the 7-Night Pass at €205 covers the two sold-out evenings (Deluxe on 26 June, Vulfpeck on 11 July). From London, take the Eurostar to Paris, then a direct TGV to Lyon — total journey around 5 hours. From Lyon Part-Dieu, the TER regional train reaches Vienne in 20–25 minutes for just €2 return thanks to the festival’s special « Train + Concert » offer.
A Roman theatre built in the 1st century AD, 7,500 seats, 167 concerts, Marcus Miller paying tribute to Miles Davis on the centenary of his birth, Jon Batiste’s first French festival date outside Paris, and Beirut’s only French summer date in 10 years: Jazz à Vienne 2026 is one of the cultural highlights of the summer in Europe. For British visitors, the logistics have never been simpler: Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris, then a direct TGV to Lyon in under 2 hours, and a 20-minute regional train to Vienne for €2. This guide covers everything you need to know before booking your evening at the Théâtre Antique. For other summer music highlights, our guide to the Fête de la Musique 2026 in 10 European Cities lists free concerts on 21 June — including several in Lyon itself, the week before the festival opens.
1. The Théâtre Antique de Vienne: two thousand years of history for a jazz festival
Théâtre Antique de Vienne
Built between 40 and 50 AD under the Roman Empire, the Théâtre Antique de Vienne is the 3rd largest theatre in Roman Gaul, listed as a Historic Monument since 1840. According to the official festival website, its cavea carved into the Pipet hill now holds 7,500 spectators across 46 rows of modern seating laid on top of the original Roman stonework. The natural semi-circular acoustics amplify every instrument without additional electronic systems — a sound quality that festival-goers consistently praise.
There are no numbered seats: placement is free-standing within your chosen tier. Gates open two hours before the concert starts. The mid-to-upper rows offer superior acoustics and a full panorama of the stage; the lower rows bring you closer to the artists.
Highlights
- Unique architectural setting in Europe: jazz on a 1st-century Roman stage
- Natural semi-circular acoustics — no electronic amplification required
- Free water fountains, picnics allowed, reusable bottles welcomed
2. Evening-by-evening programme at the Théâtre Antique
The 17 evenings of the 45th edition
According to the official Jazz à Vienne programme, the paid evenings at the Théâtre Antique are:
| Date | Artists | Style | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 June | Erik Truffaz & Stefano Di Battista + Orchestre des Alpes | Contemporary jazz / world premiere | Available |
| 26 June | Deluxe + Too Many Zooz | Funk / Brass house | SOLD OUT |
| 27 June | Samantha Fish + Fantastic Negrito + Chicago Blues Summer | American blues | Available |
| 29 June | Jeff Mills (feat. Jean-Phi Dary) + Sun Ra Arkestra + VERB | Electro-jazz / Afrofuturism | Available |
| 30 June | Groundation + Kokoroko | Reggae-jazz / Afrobeat | Available |
| 1 July | Imany + Molly Johnson | Soul / Jazz | Available |
| 2 July | Beirut + Vincent Peirani | Folk / Jazz — only French date this summer | Available |
| 3 July | Cerrone Disco Symphonic + Kyoto Jazz Massive | Symphonic disco | Available |
| 4 July | Marcus Miller « We Want Miles! » + Terence Blanchard & Ravi Coltrane | Miles Davis centenary / Coltrane tribute | Available |
| 6 July | Angélique Kidjo + Fatoumata Diawara | Africa / Soul — Africa Night | Available |
| 7 July | De La Soul + Lakecia Benjamin | Hip-hop jazz | Available |
| 8 July | Jon Batiste + Big Freedia | New generation jazz — 1st French festival date outside Paris | Available |
| 9 July | Buena Vista All Stars + The Getdown | Cuba / Caribbean | Available |
| 10 July | Samara Joy + Maria Schneider & Clasijazz Big Band + Melissa Aldana | Jazz voices / Big Band | Available |
| 11 July | Vulfpeck + The Fearless Flyers + Ludivine Issambourg + Souleance | Funk / All Night — white night | SOLD OUT (individual tickets) |
Highlights
- Beirut on 2 July: only French summer date, back after 10 years, new album « A Study of Losses »
- Marcus Miller on 4 July: « We Want Miles! » — reunion of Miles Davis’s 1981 band for his centenary
- Jon Batiste on 8 July: 8 Grammy Awards, Oscar for « Soul » (Pixar) — first French festival outside Paris
3. Three-quarters of concerts are free: Cybèle garden, Club de Minuit and Super Sundays
167 concerts, around 125 of them free
According to the official programme, the Jardins de Cybèle hosts free concerts every day from noon to 7 pm, no booking required. The Club de Minuit, set in the Théâtre François Ponsard, holds 14 concerts after 11:30 pm — also free, subject to capacity. The two Super Sundays (28 June and 5 July) transform the whole town into a stage: 21 events across 12 venues, including a sunrise concert at 6:30 am on the Pipet hill and aquatic percussion on the Rhône.
If you want to extend the summer jazz experience, the Montreal Jazz Festival 2026 opens on the very same evening as Vienne — 25 June — with a complementary 11-day programme. The Tremplin Rezzo showcase, spotlighting emerging French jazz talent, holds its public final on 29 and 30 June at the Cybèle stage — also free. The seven 2026 finalists (Aâma, Jérémie Lucchese, MARSAVRIL, Moustik Haterz, Namas, NUBU, TREK) compete for a year-long mentorship including an album release and a slot on the Théâtre Antique stage in 2027.
Highlights
- Jardins de Cybèle: free jazz concerts every day noon–7 pm, no booking, no ticket
- Club de Minuit: 14 free late-night concerts after 11:30 pm — sessions until dawn on closing nights
- Super Sundays 28 June and 5 July: full free day across the city, sunrise concert at 6:30 am on the Pipet hill
4. Miles Davis centenary: the historic tribute of the 2026 edition
Miles Davis 1926–2026: a centenary at the heart of the festival
Miles Davis was born on 26 May 1926 in Alton, Illinois. Jazz à Vienne devotes a cross-cutting programme to his centenary. According to the official « We Want Miles! » tour website, Marcus Miller reunites the original members of Miles Davis’s 1981 band for the 4 July concert: Bill Evans, Mike Stern, Mino Cinelu, joined by Russell Gunn, Bret Williams and Anwar Marshall. The Vienne date is part of a worldwide tour that also takes in the Montreal Jazz Festival (25 June), Gent Jazz (10 July) and the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg.
The same evening features Terence Blanchard on trumpet and Ravi Coltrane on saxophone in « Miles/Coltrane Legacy » — a tribute to two giants born in the same year, 1926. Alongside the concerts, the Musée d’Histoire de Vienne (church of Saint-Pierre) hosts the exhibition « Miles Davis, 100 ans d’influence » from 25 June to 11 July 2026, 2 pm–7 pm, with an immersive journey through press archives, graphic novels, vinyl records and photographs.
Highlights
- Exceptional reunion of Miles Davis’s original 1981 band — unique in Europe in 2026
- Free immersive exhibition « Miles Davis, 100 ans d’influence » at the Musée d’Histoire de Vienne
- Double tribute to Miles Davis and Coltrane in a single evening on 4 July
5. Getting to Jazz à Vienne from London: Eurostar, TGV and local trains
Transport: Eurostar + TGV, or fly into Lyon
The recommended route from London is via Eurostar from London St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord (2 hrs 15 min), then an SNCF TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to Lyon Part-Dieu (2 hrs), for a total of around 5 hours door-to-station. Alternatively, you can connect via Lille Europe to avoid changing stations in Paris. Fares start from around £85 one-way if booked well in advance.
From Lyon Part-Dieu, a special festival offer applies: the TER « Train + Concert » ticket costs just €2 return to Vienne throughout the festival (25 June–11 July 2026), confirmed by TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The journey takes 20–25 minutes, with 35 daily trains and special late-night services to bring audiences back to Lyon after each concert. Vienne station is 15 minutes on foot from the Théâtre Antique.
For those who prefer to fly, Lyon-Saint-Exupéry airport (LYS) is served by direct flights from London Heathrow (British Airways), London Gatwick (easyJet) and Bristol (Ryanair). From the airport, the Rhônexpress tram reaches Lyon Part-Dieu in 30 minutes. For festival-goers arriving by car from the UK, three free park-and-ride sites are served by free shuttle buses operated by L’va Mobilité: Relais Nord (Parking Leclerc Estressin), Relais Sud (Stade Jean Etcheberry) and Relais Est (Intermarché Malissol). Shuttles run from 6:15 pm to 8:15 pm on arrival and continue until 1 hour after the concert ends. The Vienne town centre is closed to traffic during the festival.
Highlights
- Eurostar from London St Pancras: city-centre to city-centre, no airport stress, check in 30 minutes before departure
- €2 return TER « Train + Concert » offer Lyon–Vienne: the cheapest festival transport in Europe
- Late-night trains: no need to worry about getting back even after the Vulfpeck all-nighter on 11 July
6. Tickets, passes and booking: everything you need to know
Théâtre Antique 2026 ticketing
According to the official Jazz à Vienne ticketing page, the 2026 prices at the Théâtre Antique are:
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard | €40 to €65 depending on evening |
| Concession (job-seekers, works council) | €37 to €62 |
| Young people 15–25 years | €30 all evenings |
| Children 4–14 years | €6 |
| Trio Pack (3 evenings of your choice) | €114 |
| 7-Night Pass | €205 (€195 concession) |
| Full Pass (all evenings) | €355 |
The 7-Night Pass is the most flexible option: it gives access to the sold-out evenings (Deluxe on 26 June, Vulfpeck on 11 July) without needing individual tickets. The Full Pass is not personalised — it can be passed on to friends or family on evenings you cannot attend, and includes an invitation to the 2027 edition launch event.
Highlights
- Official ticket outlets: jazzavienne.com, See Tickets (UK), FnacSpectacles, France Billet, Ticketmaster, E.Leclerc
- €30 under-25 rate on every single evening — one of the most generous youth pricing policies of any major European festival
- Non-personalised passes: shareable with family or friends
7. Food, wine and Roman heritage: planning your full day in Vienne
Vienne: an open-air museum of Roman Gaul
Vienne rewards a full day of exploration before the concert. The Temple of Augustus and Livia (1st century BC) is one of only two Roman temples preserved in France — it owes its survival to its conversion into a church in the Middle Ages. Five hundred metres away, the Musée Gallo-Romain de Saint-Romain-en-Gal (€6, free under 18) opens across 7 hectares of excavations on Wednesdays to Sundays, 10 am–7 pm during the festival, featuring the 2025 discovery of a circular 1st-century mausoleum inspired by the Mausoleum of Augustus in Rome.
For wine lovers, the Côte-Rôtie AOC (Syrah, age-worthy red) and Condrieu AOC (100% Viognier, floral white) are the two flagship appellations of the terraced hillsides above the Rhône just south of Vienne. According to Vienne Condrieu Tourisme, wineries run open-day events throughout the summer as part of the « Rendez-Wine » series. Both appellations are served at the festival wine bar in the Jardins de Cybèle.
The Saturday morning market (7 am–1 pm) is the 2nd largest in France, with 400 stalls stretching over 6 km: Rigotte de Condrieu goat’s cheese (AOP), artisan charcuterie and organic produce. La Pyramide — Maison Henriroux ★★ Michelin (founded 1822, two stars since 1992, chef Patrick Henriroux) remains the reference table for a gastronomic lunch before an evening at the Théâtre Antique.
Highlights
- Temple of Augustus and Livia: one of only two Roman temples preserved in France, right in the town centre
- Côte-Rôtie and Condrieu: two exceptional appellations to try at the Cybèle wine bar during the festival
- Saturday market: ideal for a picnic before the evening concert at the Théâtre Antique
Practical information for Jazz à Vienne 2026
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From $56 / 4 weeksFrequently asked questions about Jazz à Vienne 2026
What are the exact dates of Jazz à Vienne 2026?
Jazz à Vienne 2026 runs from 25 June to 11 July 2026 — 17 days in total. The opening night on 25 June features Erik Truffaz and Stefano Di Battista with the Orchestre des Alpes & du Léman. The closing night on 11 July is the Vulfpeck all-nighter with The Fearless Flyers and Ludivine Issambourg. This is the 45th edition of the festival. Sources: official website, Jazzwise UK & Europe Festival Guide 2026.
How do I get to Jazz à Vienne from London?
Take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord (approx. 2 hrs 15 min), then an SNCF TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to Lyon Part-Dieu (approx. 2 hrs). Total journey time is around 5 hours. From Lyon Part-Dieu, a special festival TER train runs to Vienne in 20–25 minutes for just €2 return (festival « Train + Concert » offer). You can alternatively connect via Lille Europe to avoid changing stations in Paris. Flights from London Heathrow, Gatwick or Bristol to Lyon-Saint-Exupéry (LYS) are also an option. Sources: Eurostar, TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
How much does an evening at the Théâtre Antique cost?
Tickets cost between €40 and €65 per evening (standard rate). Young people aged 15–25 pay €30 on every evening. Children aged 4–14: €6. The Trio Pack (3 evenings) is €114. The 7-Night Pass at €205 gives access to the sold-out evenings (Deluxe on 26 June, Vulfpeck on 11 July). The Full Pass (all evenings) is €355. Source: official ticketing.
Are there free concerts at Jazz à Vienne 2026?
Yes, roughly three-quarters of the 167 concerts are free of charge. The Jardins de Cybèle hosts free concerts noon–7 pm every day, no booking needed. The Club de Minuit (Théâtre François Ponsard) holds 14 concerts after 11:30 pm, free subject to capacity. The Super Sundays on 28 June and 5 July are full free days across the whole town, including a sunrise concert at 6:30 am on the Pipet hill. Source: jazzavienne.com.
Which evenings are already sold out at Jazz à Vienne 2026?
As of 24 May 2026, two evenings are sold out for individual tickets: 26 June (Deluxe + Too Many Zooz) and 11 July (Vulfpeck All Night). Both remain accessible via the 7-Night Pass (€205) and the Full Pass (€355). Source: Vivre Villes.
Is Jazz à Vienne 2026 family-friendly?
Yes, the festival is very family-friendly. A « Jazz for Kids » programme (ages 4–14) offers free workshops (screen printing, music games) from 4 pm to 7:30 pm, Wednesday to Sunday. Children aged 4–14 have a €6 ticket for the Théâtre Antique. Free noise-reduction headphones are provided for under-8s. Children under 4 are not recommended at the Théâtre Antique (high sound levels, up to 102 dB). Source: official festival FAQ.
Is Beirut only playing Jazz à Vienne in France this summer?
Yes. Beirut, returning after 10 years away from France with their new album « A Study of Losses », plays their only French date of summer 2026 at Jazz à Vienne on 2 July. This makes it the most exclusive date of the edition for fans of the American folk-inflected band. Source: Jazzwise — Jazz Festival Guide 2026.
Sources
- Jazz à Vienne — Line-up 2026 — complete official programme
- Jazz à Vienne — Tickets & Pricing — 2026 ticket prices and passes
- Jazz à Vienne — Getting Here — transport and access
- Eurostar — London to Lyon — route and booking
- Trainline — London to Lyon — fares and connections
- TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes — Train + Concert €2 offer
- L’va Mobilité — free festival shuttles
- Vivre Villes — sold-out evenings Deluxe and Vulfpeck
- We Want Miles Tour — Marcus Miller centenary world tour
- Vienne Condrieu Tourisme — Côte-Rôtie and Condrieu vineyards
- Jazzwise — Jazz Festival Guide 2026: UK & Europe — UK editorial coverage
- La Pyramide — Maison Henriroux — 2-Michelin-star restaurant in Vienne
Research conducted on 24 May 2026. Please verify information directly with official sources before travelling to the festival.
Plan your jazz trip around Vienne
Between the festival, the northern Rhône Valley AOC wines and the Gallo-Roman heritage, Vienne deserves a full day of exploration. Discover our itineraries to explore the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and plan your cultural summer escape.
Explore the region