The Artistic Director of the Société des Bains de Mer, Alfonso Ciulla, recently unveiled an electrifying program for the 20th anniversary of the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival. Taking place from 18–29 November 2026 at the Salle Garnier in the Monte-Carlo Opera House, the special program stays true to the original spirit of the festival: “generous, bold, and open to the world”.

This special edition will open on 18 November with the traditional free concert by young musicians from the Rainier III Academy.

Next, renowned contemporary jazz vocalist, Youn Sun Nah, will perform on 20 November at the Salle Garnier. Accompanied by a new band, the South Korean artist blends gentleness and intensity, moving from tranquility to the powerful vibrations that have characterized her 25-year career. The performance will be followed by international superstar, Gregory Porter, two-time Grammy Award winner for Best Jazz Vocal Album.

The South African Thanda Choir, made up of fifteen artists, will take to the stage in Monaco during their first international tour. They will open for American singer Melody Gardot, and her mysterious hushed voice on 21 November.

The Man with the Golden Arm, directed by Otto Preminger in 1955 will be screened on 22 November, in partnership with the Audiovisual Institute of Monaco. The film features Frank Sinatra’s character, who is determined to become a jazz drummer despite his troubled past.

Haitian-American singing prodigy Tyreek McDole will be performing on 25 November. Discovered on the New York scene, the artist captivates audiences with his intense Caribbean-infused jazz, which earned him the Best Singer award at the 2018 Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival. He will be opening for Belgian soul-pop queen Selah Sue, accompanied by the father-son duo The Gallands, with a vibrant, radiant, and liberating performance that will invite the audience to let go and keep moving.

Manchester trio, Gogo Penguin, will present their latest album Necessary Fictions, a fusion of jazz and electronic music, with special guest British-Ugandan singer-songwriter Daudi Matsiko on 26 November. They will open for British group The Brand New Heavies, pioneers of acid jazz for over 40 years with their blend of jazz, soul, funk, and hip-hop.

Pioneers of British rock, Marillion, will push the boundaries of creativity with a performance combining musical virtuosity, emotion, and spontaneity on 27 November.

Rising French star Lila-May will showcase her fresh and remarkably mature voice on 28 November. Determined to connect Gen Z with jazz by introducing it to contemporary musical styles, this self-taught artist has garnered millions of views on TikTok with her EP Out of Time, released in 2025. She will open for renowned singer and guitarist Thomas Dutronc, who celebrates jazz legends. In his new show, created in 2026, he extends the cool jazz universe of Chet Baker, pays homage to Django Reinhardt and Gypsy jazz, and elegantly reinterprets classics from the Great American Songbook.

The festival will close with a performance of JOY by the Soweto Gospel Choir, three-time Grammy Award winners, on 29 November. They celebrate the spirit of South Africa through music, dance, and faith.