Cover image: Joshua Redman at Paris Jazz Festival (detail)
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Photographer: Comptoirduson
CC-BY-SA 4.0

Paris' two most popular jazz festivals take place during the summer.

Paris Jazz Festival

The 2025 edition of the Paris Jazz Festival opened on June 25, 2025 and runs through September 7, 2025.   

Originally called À Fleur de Jazz (From Flower to Jazz) in reference the botanical garden in which it takes place, the festival has operated at the Parc Floral de Paris in the Bois de Vincennes in the 12th arrondissement since 1994. 

It was re-baptized Paris Jazz Festival in 1998 and began to flourish when a dedicated performance space called l'Espace Delta was opened in 1999.

L'espace Delta at Parc Floral in the Parc Floral de Paris
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Photographer: DiscoA340
CC-BY-SA 4.0

For several years, the festival was devoted to showcasing only French jazz artists. 

Now, musicians from around the world who perform jazz, blues, and world music are invited to take the stage each summer.

For the festival's 20th anniversary in 2014, the Joshua Redman Quartet gave the final performance on the evening of July 27.

Joshua Redman
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Photographer: Comptoirduson
CC-BY-SA 4.0

Paris Jazz Festival performances take place on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. 

The remaining line up for this year's festival is as follows:

August 16 at 4 PM - Monsieur MÂLÂ

August 24 at 4 PM - Tania Giannouli Trio

August 30 at 4 PM - Dafné Kritharas

September 7 at 4 PM - Nubiyan Twist

The park is open from 9:30 AM until 8:00 PM.  

You must pay a nominal fee to enter (full price - 2.70 €; reduced price - 1.55 €; free for children up to 7 years old), but the concerts themselves are free.

Click here to purchase tickets on line (site in French).

Jazz à la Villette

This is the 23rd year that La Villette has hosted its summer jazz festival under the name Jazz à la Villette.

Metro ad for 2025 Jazz à La Villette festival
© Entrée to Black Paris

The history of the festival began in 1986, when it was organized under the name "Halle That Jazz" at the Grande Halle de la Villette.

Grande halle de la Villette - Paris XIX
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Photographer: Mbzt
CC-BY-SA 3.0

It solidified its reputation in 1991, when Miles Davis was the star attraction.

Click here to see an image of the promotional flier for the 1991 Halle That Jazz Festival.

An intermediary rendition of the event called La Villette Jazz Festival launched during the summer of 1996, following the merger between the Grande Halle and Parc de la Villette and the subsequent opening of the Cité de la Musique.  It expanded the concept of Halle That Jazz to include outdoor concerts, a combination of free and paid events, and masterclasses for amateur musicians and young professionals.

But competition from the Paris Jazz Festival in the Parc Floral was fierce, and by 2001, the La Villette Jazz Festival was on the brink of demise.   

Concerted effort by jazz musicians and public authorities brought new life to the festival, which was renamed Jazz à la Villette in 2002.

To minimize competition with the Paris Jazz Festival, Jazz à la Villette was scheduled to open during late summer.  It offered fewer concerts, improved the acoustics at the venues where concerts were offered, and maintained educational activities as a focus of the festival. 

In 2005, the festival expanded its programming even more, incorporating forums, discussions, and interviews into its offerings.

In 2007, it adopted the motto “Jazz is not dead" from Frank Zappa.

"Jazz is not dead" - detail of ad from 2023 Jazz à la Villette Festival 
© Entrée to Black Paris

"Jazz is not dead" - detail of ad from 2025 Jazz à la Villette Festival 
© Entrée to Black Paris

In 2009, it launched "Jazz à la Villette for Kids" to offer musical and creative adventures for children (adults enjoy these as well).

In 2014, it launched "Under the Radar"—programming that highlights unknown artists and special or experimental projects. 

And in 2016, it launched its free "After Party" events in La Petite Halle de la Villette that prolong the excitement of the festival's evening concerts.

Today, Jazz à la Villette surpasses Paris Jazz Festival with regard to the number and variety of offerings available. 

There is still little to no overlap in scheduling, which makes both festivals largely accessible for music aficionados.

Concerts and other activities take place at multiple venues at Parc de la Villette, including the Cité de la Musique and the Philharmonie de Paris.

This year's festival opens on August 28 and runs through September 7.

Click here to see the line-up in English and to purchase tickets.