The Montreux Jazz Festival is a two-week event held annually in early July in Montreux, Switzerland. It was created in 1967 by Claude Nobs and has since become an essential event, generating fantastic stories and legendary performances. The main objective of the festival has always been competition, with the Montreux Jazz Festival Foundation organizing three international competitions and one local competition. The international competitions are held on solo piano, guitar and voice, with a jury composed of professionals and chaired by a world-famous musician awarding the three main prizes.
The local competition, the Tremplin Lémanique, is held to present jazz bands from the French departments of Ain and Haute-Savoie and the Swiss cantons of Geneva, Vaud and Valais. In addition to the competitions, the festival also offers plenty of free events and entertainment opportunities for visitors. These include artists' workshops, archival screenings, exhibitions and free concerts in the park. This allows visitors to explore new artists and genres, as well as providing a warm welcome for musicians.
The 1977 Montreux Jazz Festival set the record for duration, lasting 23 days due to its impressively eclectic program. This 55th Montreux Jazz Festival was the opportunity for both artists and the public to finally come together in the name of music. If you're a fan of jazz music, there might be no better festival to attend than The Montreux Jazz Festival. With its ambitious programming options, musical diversity and warm welcome, it offers a privileged experience for musicians and the public alike.
