Montreux Jazz Festival reveals 2021 lineup

The world-famous festival has announced its 2021 lineup, including mainstays of the contemporary UK scene

Author: Alastair SteelPublished 2nd Jun 2021
Last updated 2nd Jun 2021

Now in its 55th year, the iconic Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland, has announced its 2021 line-up, with the Brit-award-winning Arlo Parks headlining as well as Rag'n'Bone Man.

Breakthrough Act at the BRITs 2021, Arlo Parks

Elsewhere, the internationally recognised saxophonist Nubya Garcia is flying the flag for the UK jazz scene, alongside pianist Alfa Mist, drummer Yussef Dayes with his trio as well as the energetic collectives Steam Down and Nuibyan Twist.

Saxophonist Nubya Garcia

Elsewhere, techno pioneer Jeff Mills will be playing alongside Tony Allen's collaborator Jean-Phi Dary as part of their new project - The Paradox - and trumpeter master Ibrahim Maalouf will also be appearing at the world-famous festival.

Trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf

This year's festival also sees the appearance of a brand-new stage - Scene Du Lac - a main stage which is built on Lake Geneva. Built 25 metres from the shore, the lake stage realises a long-held wish of the festival’s late founder, Claude Nobs, framed by the the lake and the Alps with a tiered terrace that can host an audience of up to 500. The Scene Du Lac stage will also be livestreamed free of charge, so anyone, wherever they are, can enjoy the performances.

Montreux Jazz Festival 2021 - full lineup

Stage: Scene Du Lac

Date Artists

Fri 2 Inhaler; Annie Taylor

Sat 3 Woodkid (two performances, 18:00 and 21:00)

Sun 4 Hermanos Gutiérrez, Delgres

Mon 5 Ibrahim Maalouf (two performances, 18:00 and 21:00)

Tue 6 Yseult (piano set); Oscar Anton

Wed 7 Sofiane Pamart; Oklou

Thu 8 Nathy Peluso; Priya Ragu

Fri 9 Brandão Faber Hunger (two performances, 18:00 and 21:00)

Sat 10 Sam Fischer

Sun 11 Rag'n'Bone Man (two performances, 18:00 and 21:00)

Mon 12 Zucchero

Tue 13 Zucchero

Wed 14 Altin Gün; Yet No Yokai

Thu 15 Arlo Parks; Arma Jackson

Fri 16 Fatoumata Diawara; Lass

Sat 17 Kid Francescoli; S+C+A+R+R

Stage: Petit Theatre

Date Artists

Fri 2 Raul Midón; Charlotte Grace

Sat 3 Christian Sands 100%; Gaidaa

Sun 4 Crystal Murray; YellowStraps

Mon 5 Nubya Garcia; Steam Down

Tue 6 Roberto Fonseca; Kali Trio

Wed 7 Forq; Sarah McCoy

Thu 8 Jeff Mills & Jean-Phi Dary - The Paradox; Kety Fusco

Fri 9 Ballaké Sissoko & Vincent Ségal; Sha

Sat 10 Alfa Mist; Louis Matute

Sun 11 Isfar Sarabski; Imelda Gabs

Mon 12 Fred Hersch; Afra Kane & Valentina Kaufman

Tue 13 Robben Ford & Bill Evans; Alina Amuri

Wed 14 Yussef Dayes Trio; Nnavy

Thu 15 Nubiyan Twist; Amine Mhraihi & Valentin Conus Duo

Fri 16 Macha Gharibian Trio; Hely

Sat 17 Jowee Omicil; Blaer

When is Montreux Jazz Festival 2021?

Montreux Jazz Festival 2021 will be taking place between the 2nd and 17th of July, set on the beautiful Lake Geneva.

About Montreux Jazz Festival:

Throughout its 55 year history, Montreux Jazz Festival has hosted many of the world’s greatest artists, from Miles Davis and Wu-Tang Clan to Nina Simone and Prince, as well as providing an invaluable global platform for exciting new talent and the hottest trends.

Nina Simone & Etta James - 'The Montreux Years'

It has been announced that new live albums from Nina Simone and Etta James performances are to be released, forming part of "The Montreux Years" series. You can find out more about the albums here.