The 59th MJF came to a close yesterday, after sixteen days of musical euphoria shared by over 250,000 people in a festive, friendly and serene atmosphere. The closing of this edition also marks the last year of the Lake Stage, a parenthesis forever engraved in the history of the Montreux Jazz Festival.
As we bid farewell to the Lake Stage, we’re convinced that its ephemeral nature has added to the magic of the experience – like a concert you only experience once and remember forever. These two years have proved that the Festival can reinvent itself while remaining true to its soul and values. In Montreux, there will always be that rare alchemy between a place, a history, an audience and its artists. An alchemy that gives rise to exceptional performances every summer.
A page is being turned, but a new one is already being written. In 2026, the Festival will celebrate its 60th edition in a transformed Convention Centre, with a new playground to explore. In the Auditorium Stravinski, we’ll rediscover the sound excellence and listening comfort that are an integral part of our DNA. Outside, on the quays, everything remains to be imagined. On the strength of our recent experience – from the Lake House to the Spotlight Stage, not forgetting the extension to the Place du Marché – we face this challenge with the desire to amaze and surprise you once again.
A huge thank you to the artists, the public, our staff, the people and authorities of Montreux, and our service providers and partners, without whom this extraordinary two-year adventure outside the walls of the Convention Centre would never have been possible.
“For those who know me, you will know how much this stage means to me. We printed a vinyl [from last year’s show] – that’s how obsessed I am with this stage!”
RAYE
“Mark my words: in the next 10 years I am going to live in Montreux. This place is magical. Thank you for having me.”
Benson Boone
” Montreux is the high watermark. If you can headline here, you made it globally. This festival careers a lot of weight.”
Joe Bonamassa
“This is a really big deal for us to be back. The first time we played here, this was the most terrifying thing. Everyone said to me ‘They are a very arty crowd. Your performance really matters’. It is one of these shows that is burnt into my memory.”
Hannah Reid, London Grammar