From May 13th to 17th, the three-hundred-year-old city of Saint-Louis will resonate with the rhythms of the 34th International Jazz Festival, an event that has become a must-see on the African and international music scenes. A true crossroads of cultures and sounds, the event confirms, year after year, its influence and its role as a showcase for Senegal's cultural dynamism.

Driven by a vision that blends memory, creation, and dialogue, the festival will showcase artists from Africa, Europe, and the Americas. For the organizers, it is above all a celebration of the deep connection between jazz and the African continent. "Jazz is a music born from cross-pollination, memories, and resistance. And this memory always leads us back to Africa," emphasized Idriss Bengeloun, president of the Saint-Louis Jazz Association, speaking to the press this Saturday.

For more than three decades, the festival has constantly reinvented itself to make Saint-Louis a meeting place for cultures, generations, and imaginations. "Here, jazz is not simply played. It is lived, shared, and passed on," he insists, referring to a 2026 edition resolutely focused on showcasing a creative and influential Africa.

A rich and symbolic program

For four days, festival-goers will be treated to an eclectic program featuring major figures and emerging talents. Among the expected artists are Kuba Stankiewicz, the Baobab Orchestra, Greg Lamy, Momi Maïga, Leïla Olivesi, the band Avalanche, and Abate and the Addis Ken Project.

One of the highlights of this year's festival will undoubtedly be the performance by Henry Corey's band from New Orleans. Their presence is highly symbolic, illustrating the historic twinning between St. Louis and this American city, two port cities united by a shared history marked by cultural exchange and the African-Atlantic legacy. More than just a concert, this encounter aims to be a true bridge between two shores, two heritages, and a single, evolving culture.

Beyond the main stage, the festival will take over several iconic venues in the city. The French Institute of Saint-Louis will host a second stage dedicated to more intimate performances, while labeled events will unfold in various cultural spaces, notably the Habib Faye Cultural Center and Jankom.

Showcases and jam sessions are also planned at the Keur Thiane Hangar, helping to broaden the festival's reach and attract new audiences. This approach aims to bring the event closer to local residents and strengthen the local roots of jazz.

Promoting local talent and passing on knowledge

True to its commitment, the festival will showcase local talent and Saint-Louisian traditions. Drum Major Khadim Niang, local artists, and fanal singers will be featured, illustrating the richness of a living cultural heritage. This dialogue between jazz and tradition is one of the event's defining characteristics.

In parallel, workshops, masterclasses, forums and professional meetings will enrich the program, making Saint-Louis a true open-air cultural laboratory.

A strong international ambition

In a global context marked by tensions, the organizers intend to make the festival a space for dialogue and rapprochement between peoples. Jazz, by its very nature, is considered a universal language capable of creating connections.

In this context, Saint-Louis is bidding to host International Jazz Day 2027, supported by UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz. This is a legitimate ambition for a city where, according to Idriss Bengeloun, "jazz is not a guest, it is at home."

Beyond its cultural impact, the festival contributes significantly to the local economy, tourism and the promotion of young talent, while strengthening Senegal's international profile.

Considered a "common good," the Saint Louis International Jazz Festival positions itself as a structuring project for cultural and economic development. The organizers are therefore appealing to institutions, businesses, and international partners to support this momentum.

“Supporting the festival means investing in culture, youth and the image of a continent in motion,” concludes Idriss Bengeloun.

More than just an event, the Saint-Louis jazz festival stands out as a story, a memory and above all a collective ambition turned towards the future.