The 60th edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival came to a close yesterday after sixteen days of celebration, bridging its history with a look toward the future. As the first event held at the Congress Centre since its renovation, this anniversary edition has set the stage for years to come.
On one hand, looking to the future, the 60th edition opened a new chapter in the Festival’s history: a renovated Congress Centre, reimagined free stages, an extended route along the quays, and a lineup largely dedicated to the new generation of artists. On the other hand, rooted in its heritage, this edition was marked by a constant dialogue with the Festival’s history: tribute concerts, museum exhibitions, archive screenings, and references to the great moments that have shaped its legend.
The opening night perfectly symbolized this balance between heritage and reinvention. In a breathtaking scenography co-created by Audemars Piguet, RAYE traversed six decades of the Festival’s history, paying tribute to performances by Nina Simone, Prince, and Ray Charles. And of course, there was the wild finale with the appearance of surprise guests, Mark Ronson and Alicia Keys, who did us the immense honor of accepting this exceptional invitation for the 60th edition.
Following in RAYE’s footsteps, many artists of the new generation testified to their deep attachment to the Festival. Sienna Spiro, Liniker, Loyle Carner, Joy Crookes, Vulfpeck, Ezra Collective, and Noga Erez all spoke of the legendary Festival concerts that nurtured their own artistic journey. The exceptional setting of Montreux continues to inspire wonder in artists as well, with Zara Larsson even nicknaming the region “European Hawaii.”
“Montreux Jazz is one of the last places left in culture that really cares about music. So many legends have stood on this stage. It is like heaven for someone like me who’s obsessed with music”
– RAYE
“We performed at the iconic Montreux Jazz Festival on the same night Nina Simone performed there 50 years ago. There was magic in the air. My sis Raye absolutely slayed. You all welcomed me with open arms. The love is unreal! I’m so excited to be here, it’s one of the most special places to be”
– Alicia Keys
“I’ve been dreaming of this moment since I was 16 years old. I’ve always watched the performances from the Brazilian artists who represented us here at the Festival. Ten years later I’m here, celebrating 60 years of Montreux Jazz Festival with Brazilian music!”
– Liniker
“This is my dream festival to play. Jazz is such an important part of my life, it raised me and it inspired me to make music. This festival specifically has some of my favorite performances of all time”
– Sienna Spiro
2026 FIGURES
- +250,000 attendees
- 91% average occupancy rate for ticketed stages
- Over 700 concerts & activities
- 51 concerts streamed live
- 9.5 million views for concert recordings on YouTube and social media
SAVE THE DATES
- September 5 – 27: Elegance of Time exhibition at Images Vevey
- October 2-3, 9-10: MJF Spotlight Sessions in Villars
- July 2 – 17: 61st edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival
♥︎ THANK YOU ♥︎
See you next year!