The 43rd edition of the Cully Jazz Festival is set to take place in the idyllic Swiss lakeside town of Cully from April 10th to 18th, 2026, promising a diverse program of 34 ticketed concerts. this year’s festival emphasizes both established names adn emerging talent within the jazz world, reflecting the genre’s continued evolution and global influences. From post-Balkan brass bands to intimate solo performances, organizers are aiming for a broad appeal, with performances scheduled across multiple venues in the Vaud canton.
The Cully Jazz Festival has announced its lineup for the 43rd edition, featuring 34 ticketed concerts scheduled from April 10th to April 18th. Headlining the event are Melody Gardot, Richard Galliano, Fatoumata Diawara, Tony Ann, Anouar Brahem, Theo Croker, and Emily Loizeau.
Festival co-director Jean-Yves Cavin described the program as “a good mix of tradition and modernity, in a very wide range of jazz, bringing together several musical style communities. It’s a program that is both acoustic, instrumental, vocal, groovy and danceable.” The festival’s diverse programming reflects jazz’s ongoing evolution and its ability to absorb influences from around the globe.
The 2026 festival will kick off on the evening of Friday, April 10th, with a performance by Traktorkestar, a post-Balkan brass band from Bern, Switzerland. They will be joined by three Swiss musical figures: Stephan Eicher, Erika Stucky, and Elina Duni. Cavin hinted at additional surprises during the opening concert.
The following day, on the main Chapiteau stage, American trio The Bad Plus will collaborate with fellow Americans Chris Potter (saxophone and clarinet) and Craig Taborn (piano and composer) to reinterpret the work of Keith Jarrett and his American Quartet. They will then make way for Mammal Hands, a British trio highlighted as a favorite by the festival’s co-director.
Intimate Atmosphere
Sunday, April 12th, will offer a more intimate setting with Melody Gardot, the featured artist of the 43rd Cully Jazz Festival. The American singer-songwriter and musician will perform two concerts on the same day, at 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM.
Other artists scheduled to perform on the main stage include French accordionist Richard Galliano and his New Viaggio Trio, who will present “a nostalgic dive” into the atmosphere of his iconic album “Viaggio,” re-released in 2025. Tunisian oud master Anouar Brahem will perform with three instrumentalists in a suite of chamber pieces titled “After the Last Sky.”
French singer-songwriter and guitarist Gabi Hartmann will take audiences on a musical journey with “La femme aux yeux de sel,” a project infused with Latin American influences and elements of folk, jazz, and pop.
Piano Takes Center Stage
The grand chapiteau will also showcase the piano, with two young pianists offering “an innovative approach to neoclassical and pop” on Thursday evening. Jamie Duffy will create “intimate and cinematic atmospheres” with compositions inspired by the folklore of his native Ireland. Later, Canadian artist Tony Ann will immerse the audience in “intense melodies and dizzying harmonies.”
Two Swiss pianists will also be featured: Colin Vallon from Vaud and Manon Mueller from Fribourg, along with her jazz quintet. Finally, students from the HEMU Jazz Orchestra will perform “Brazilian Moods” in a particularly colorful creation on the main stage.
This article was published automatically. Source : ats
