FAQ
FAQ What is the history of the Montreux Jazz Festival?
The Montreux Jazz Festival is renowned for its rich history and stunning venue on the shores of Lake Geneva, attracting nearly 250,000 music lovers each year. For almost 60 years, this legendary event has brought its unparalleled ambiance and line-up to cities around the globe, from Miami, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro. Over the decades, it has hosted legendary performances from artists like Nina Simone and Miles Davis and has a significant archive of recordings recognized by UNESCO.
Now, Franschhoek proudly joins this prestigious list, marking a monumental moment as the festival’s first-ever African venue celebrating the synergy and unique blend of stunning natural landscapes and warm hospitality that exists between Montreux and Franschhoek.
In true Montreux tradition, it’s as much about artistry as it is about atmosphere – bringing global voices to Franschhoek, an intimate stage as one of South Africa’s most beautiful valleys. It’s a celebration of musicianship, spontaneity, and the joy of live performance.
FAQ When and where will it take place?
The inaugural festival will take place in Franschhoek, South Africa. The festivities can be enjoyed from Friday 27th March to Sunday 29th March – a weekend of entertainment, exceptional food, wine, and an immersive cultural experience with Franschhoek as the stage.
FAQ Where exactly is it?
FAQ When will the full line-up be released?
The full and final programme is expected to be revealed in early March.
FAQ How many stages will there be?
Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek will feature two stages, creating a festival journey across the town. The Arches Stage will serve as the main festival stage located at the Huguenot Monument at the top of Franschhoek, while The Jazz Village will offer a more intimate setting focused on jazz-forward performances and spontaneous collaborations and is located at the NG Kerk.
FAQ Where can I buy tickets?
Tickets are available on Ticketmaster. Please click here to view first available ticketing options.
FAQ Is there an age restriction for this event?
No persons under the age of 18 years of age will be served at our bars.
The Arches stage – designed as a focused concert experience with a combination of casual seating, reserved areas and premium production.
Standard ticket pricing applies to all guests attending performances at The Arches.
The Jazz Village stage – for guests aged 12 years and older.
Thank you for helping us preserve a quiet, immersive listening environment where artists and audiences can fully engage with the music.
Families are warmly invited to enjoy the broader festival atmosphere.
The Montreux Mile offers a vibrant way to experience the spirit of the festival, even if younger children are not attending the seated concert spaces.
FAQ What kind of music can we expect?
While inspired by jazz, Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek will present a broad musical palette from across the globe, true to Montreux’s heritage. Expect genre-blending performances and rare live moments that showcase musicianship, artistry, and storytelling.
FAQ When will the artists be announced?
Programming for a Montreux event involves international co-ordination, artist availability, and curatorial precision – and with over 30 confirmed acts, the process takes time. The first 6 artists were announced at the end of January with another 14 announced on 19 February. The final complete programme is expected to drop in the first weeks of March.
FAQ Do you need an Arches ticket to access the Jazz Village?
No. The Arches and Jazz Village stages are ticketed separately.
FAQ What is the price of tickets?
Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek offers a spectrum of experiences – from single-day passes to all-inclusive premium hospitality (The Arches stage) and individual shows (at Jazz Village only). Prices are aligned with the festival’s global reputation for quality and the exceptional settings in which each performance unfolds. Please click here to view available ticket options.
FAQ When will tickets go on sale?
Tickets went on sale at the end of January 2026. Different ticket tiers are available for the various stages. From day passes to weekend passes at The Arches stage, to performances in the Jazz Village that are ticketed per show with reserved seating. Hospitality packages such as the Heineken Crescendo Lounge are also on sale and available for booking through Ticketmaster now. For premium hospitality enquiries in the Adagio Terrace, please email hospitality@mjfsa.com.
FAQ How does Ticketmaster work for this event?
Tickets/passes are sold exclusively via Ticketmaster.
The Arches:
Prelude – General access day passes only (all Acts on the Arches are accessible on the day you choose)
Heineken Crescendo Lounge – Hospitality offering that has day pass or weekend pass options
Premium hospitality enquiries via email: hospitality@mjfsa.com
Jazz Village:
Each performance is ticketed individually due to limited seating capacity
On Ticketmaster, click on each show and it will pop-up and show you who is playing at that time in the event info section. Alternatively, click on the seating map and then on best available and a poster for that act will appear.
You can buy as many shows as you like before checking out.
FAQ Is there seating at The Arches stage?
Yes. The Arches offers a combination of casual seating in Prelude, and a choice of premium seating options in the Heineken Crescendo Lounge or Adagio Terrace.
FAQ Why is there a seat number on my Prelude pass when there is no dedicated seating?
Each Prelude ticket has a number so we can keep a record and to ensure these tickets remain unique.
Prelude is General admission with a combination of casual seating and seating on the lawn.
FAQ Which artists are playing on which stage?
Artist allocations by stage are published on the MJFSA website and Ticketmaster event pages and updated as programming is confirmed.
FAQ How many tickets are available?
Each of the stages will be ticketed.
- The Arches – 7 000 in total, comprising 5000 general access and 2000 hospitality (hospitality packages are tiered)
- The Jazz Village – this is anticipated to be the most intimate of the performance venues and will be a seated arrangement. Approximately 450 hot tickets per performance. This stage will be jazz-centric.
FAQ Are there weekend passes available
Weekend Passes are available for The Arches Stage only, either in the Heineken Crescendo Lounge or the Adagio Terrace.
Please email hospitality @mjfsa.com to enquire about premium hosting in Adagio.
Jazz Village stage acts are ticketed per show only.
FAQ Are there hospitality options?
FAQ Will there be parking?
FAQ Accessibility & Parking
We’re committed to ensuring all guests can enjoy the festival comfortably. Reserved parking and access support are available for visitors with mobility needs — please get in touch to arrange assistance.
FAQ Will there be transport between the stages?
FAQ Should I book accommodation now?
Yes, absolutely. Franschhoek is a small town with limited accommodation – and this event is towards the end of peak tourism. Booking early ensures the best options and allows you to stay within walking distance of the main festival venues. Partner hotels and guesthouses along with available hospitality packages will be announced closer to ticket launch, but visitors are encouraged to secure their preferred stay now. For accommodation suggestions please contact Franschhoek Wine Valley or click here: https://franschhoek.org.za/accommodation/
Alternatively, accommodation can be found in nearby towns of Simondium, Paarl and Stellenbosch. Announcements around other transport solutions from Cape Town will be made in due course.
FAQ I'm an artist who would like to perform at Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek
Please send an email to talent@mjfsa.com
FAQ Is seating reserved at the Jazz Village?
Yes. The Jazz Village shows are ticketed per show and per seat. A range of pricing options is on offer.
FAQ How do digital tickets work?
Please note for this specific event, all tickets will be digital – via registering a Ticketmaster account. After the successful purchase of tickets, fans can access their tickets by either accessing it in My Account or by downloading the Ticketmaster App via Apple or Google Play Store. Tickets will only be available 30 days before the event. All fans are required to transfer additional tickets to their friends/family attending with them making use of Ticket Transfer. Ticketholders need to provide photo ID at the event that matches the name on the ticket.
FAQ Can tickets be transferred?
Ticket Transfer lets you send tickets to friends before the event, straight from your Ticketmaster account to theirs. Ticket Transfer is convenient, simple and free and can be done on your desktop or mobile. Ticket Transfer will be active from 30 days before the event date. Ticket Transfer does however not apply to a family unit where attendees are underage, in which case the tickets do not have to be transferred.
FAQ Is there a general Jazz Village ticket?
The Jazz Village Stage in the historic church, is ticketed per show.
The Jazz Village precinct adjacent to the stage, is an un-ticketed area with food trucks, public bars, markets and more.
FAQ Why is this festival different from other South African festivals?
It’s a curated encounter between Africa and one of the world’s most iconic cultural institutions in existence for sixty years. Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek merges Swiss precision, South African creativity, Franschhoek’s warm hospitality and global artistry into one immersive experience. It’s about excellence, collaboration, and the idea that music can connect continents – When Montreux Meets Africa in Franschhoek – an intimate stage for global voices – magic happens.
FAQ Who is organising the festival?
The festival is presented by South African-based Montreux Jazz Franschhoek (Pty) Ltd under license and in collaboration with Montreux Jazz International (Switzerland). The local edition is produced to global Montreux standards, with creative direction and production overseen by South African and international teams.
FAQ Does Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek have a license agreement with Montreux Jazz Festival Switzerland?
Yes, the organisers of the festival have a license and can provide a letter of confirmation from the Fondation Du Festival De Jazz De Montreux on request.
FAQ Will the event be streamed or televised?
No. The Montreux experience is designed to be intimate and in-person. However, select highlights, interviews, and post-festival content may be released through official media partners and Montreux Jazz International channels.
FAQ Can we bring our own food and drink?
No. Outside food and beverages are not permitted. A curated selection of food and beverage vendors will be available across the festival.
FAQ Can people bring their own chairs?
No. For safety, sightline and comfort reasons, outside chairs are not permitted.
Picnic blankets are welcome.
FAQ Why Franschhoek?
Because it’s the perfect setting for an intimate, world-class cultural festival. The valley’s vineyards, art galleries, and architecture evoke the atmosphere of Montreux on Lake Geneva – but with a distinctly South African soul. It’s where heritage meets innovation, and where audiences can truly slow down and listen.
FAQ Why is there a festival poster?
Every edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival – from the shores of Lake Geneva to the vineyards of Franschhoek – has its own official poster each year. It’s a symbol of the year’s spirit, created by an artist whose work reflects the soul of the festival.
Since 1967, legendary artists including Keith Haring, Niki de Saint Phalle, David Bowie, Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst have designed Montreux posters. Now that tradition comes to Africa – a celebration of art, music, and creative legacy.
FAQ Is there a new poster every year?
Yes. Each Montreux edition commissions a new artist to create an original work that captures the theme and mood of that year’s festival. Every poster becomes a collectible – a piece of cultural history that connects the artist’s vision to the music and moment.
FAQ Who has been commissioned for the first Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek poster?
The inaugural Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek poster has been created by South African master artist Sam Nhlengethwa – one of the country’s most celebrated painters and a lifelong jazz lover. Sam’s work has been exhibited globally, and his 2026 Montreux Franschhoek poster reflects the meeting of cultures and rhythms that define ‘When Montreux Meets Africa’.
FAQ Can I buy the poster?
Yes – a limited number of signed prints will be available. Only 50 prints per size will be produced, each hand-signed by Sam Nhlengethwa during the festival. These are authentic Montreux collectibles and form part of the official global Montreux poster series.
Pre-orders will open soon on the MJFSA website, with collection or delivery options available during or after the festival. Keep an eye on www.mjfsa.com for orders and more information.
FAQ Are there any charitable partners the festival is supporting?
The festival will be partnering with FRANCO (the Franschhoek Resource and Network Co-Ordinating Organisation) that is the umbrella body for around 50 different organisations supporting a variety of needs across Franschhoek’s communities. Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek will also be supporting and working with Franschhoek’s Uncorked Music Academy, whose talented young artists and students will be involved in the festival throughout the town.
FAQ Does the festival have governmental support?
Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek works closely with the Franschhoek Wine Valley organisation, and has a signed letter of endorsement from the national Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture. We will work with destination and tourism marketing partners like Wesgro, South African Tourism and Tourism Business Council of South Africa to leverage and amplify destination marketing and global promotional opportunities.
FAQ Does the festival have any media partners to help promote the event?
Yes. SABC is the official SA broadcast partner and Sunday Times is the SA official print and digital partner. Further, the festival has a global outreach through its communication partners and in conjunction with Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.
FAQ Why are Nedbank tickets discounted?
Thank you for your enthusiastic response to our early access offer for the Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek 2026. We’re delighted that many of our clients moved quickly to take advantage of the special 30% discount. At this stage, the discounted ticket allocation has been fully redeemed. Tickets remain available at standard pricing, and we encourage you to secure your place soon to enjoy the festival experience.
FAQ Who is the presenting partner?
The presenting partner for the first-ever Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek is Nedbank.
FAQ How can I stay in the loop?
Sign up for the Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek newsletter on www.mjfsa.com for updates, early-bird offers, and behind-the-scenes content.
Follow us on social media:
- Instagram: @mjffranschhoek
- Twitter/X: @mjffranschhoek
- Facebook: @MontreuxJazzFestivalFranschhoek
- TikTok: @montreuxjazzfestivalsa
