The 21st edition of the festival C’est pas Classique will take place in 14 municipalities in the Alpes-Maritimes, with over 25 free concerts. In Nice, Yuri Buenaventura, Élodie Frégé and several other artists will perform in November. Tickets have been available since October 19.
The C’est pas Classique festival returns to the Alpes-Maritimes for a new edition dedicated to classical music and its encounters with other musical worlds. Supported by the department, the event brings together renowned artists, young talents and orchestral formations. From the coast to the hinterland, 14 municipalities will host more than 25 free concerts.
Antibes, Berre-les-Alpes, Cap-d’Ail, Grasse, La Trinité, Mandelieu-La Napoule, Menton, Nice, Puget-Théniers, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Saint-Martin-Vésubie, Tende, Tourrette-Levens and Vence are among the participating cities.
The programme notably features Yuri Buenaventura, Camille Berthollet, Vanessa Wagner, Arthur H and Élodie Frégé. The Nice Philharmonic Orchestra and the Cannes National Orchestra will also participate in several events.
Four concerts to discover in November in Nice
The Nice opening will kick off on Saturday, November 7, 2026 at the Palais Nikaïa, at 8:30 PM. Yuri Buenaventura will share the stage with the Nice Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Victor Jacob. The Colombian singer will revisit his iconic titles in a symphonic formation, with arrangements blending salsa, brass, percussion, piano and singers. The concert, lasting 1 hour 30 minutes, is available by online reservation.
On Wednesday, November 18, at 8:30 PM, the Nice Opera will welcome Locura, a show that combines baroque music and hip-hop dance. The Hostel Dieu and the Käfig company, under the artistic direction of choreographer Mourad Merzouki and conductor Franck-Emmanuel Comte, will offer an encounter between two worlds. The performance will last 1 hour 10 minutes.
American pianist and composer Joachim Horsley will then take over on Saturday, November 21, at 8:30 PM, at the Nice Opera. With Superfusion, the artist nominated for Latin Grammy Awards will blend classical music and Afro-Caribbean rhythms. Violinist Charlie Siem will also participate in this 1 hour 10 minute concert.
Finally, Élodie Frégé will perform on Sunday, November 22, at 6 PM, at the Palais de la Méditerranée. With Night Bird, the singer will explore the worlds of jazz, cabaret, cinema and French chanson. The show will also feature several titles from her own repertoire.
Where to see free concerts in the Alpes-Maritimes?
The programme will continue in other municipalities in the department. In Menton, on Tuesday, November 10, accordionist Théo Ould will perform with the Cannes National Orchestra for Cara Italia!, a programme dedicated to Italian opera and cinema repertoires. The concert will take place at 8 PM, at the Francis-Palmero Theater of the Palais de l’Europe.
In Mandelieu-La Napoule, the duo formed by double bassist Marc André and guitarist Gabriel Bianco will perform on Thursday, November 12, at 8 PM, at the Léonard de Vinci space. Their programme will bring together works by Schubert, Fauré, Ravel, Piazzolla and Falla.
On Friday, November 13, the theater in Grasse will host Vanessa Wagner and Arthur H for a recital blending music and poetry. The two artists will notably associate compositions by Philip Glass and Meredith Monk with texts by René Char, Jacques Prévert and Arthur Rimbaud.
In Antibes, Camille Berthollet will present Legends on Friday, November 20, at 8 PM, in the Jacques-Audiberti hall of the Anthéa Theater. Accompanied by three musicians, the violinist will offer a programme blending classical music, Celtic influences, film soundtracks and pop songs.
How to book your tickets for C’est pas Classique 2026?
The ticket office for this edition opened on Monday, October 19 at 12:30 PM. Reservations are made online, from the page dedicated to each concert on the festival website. All events are free, subject to availability.
Reservations are limited to two tickets per person and per concert. For shows aimed at young audiences, the quota increases to four tickets, with the mandatory presence of an accompanying adult. The ticket office for these performances should open on Monday, November 2 at 12:30 PM.
Some events will also be accessible without reservation, subject to availability. In Nice, connected vests will be made available free of charge to deaf and hard of hearing people for the opening concert, by reservation with the Alpes-Maritimes department.
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