A few days before its launch, the Nice Jazz Festival unveils its behind-the-scenes activities. Scenic novelties, artistic ambitions, and technical logistics: this Tuesday, July 22nd, a preview visit took place at Place Masséna, in the presence of Graig Monetti, deputy mayor.
The setting of the Nice Jazz Festival is almost ready. Under the azure sky and summer heat, the technical teams are finalizing the installations on the two main stages of the festival: the Masséna stage and the Théâtre de Verdure stage. Graig Monetti, deputy mayor and delegate for Events, Youth, and Equal Opportunities, opened the press visit by presenting one of the major changes of this 2025 edition: “the Masséna stage is a real innovation. It will host a resident DJ, DJ Grenaille, a former understudy for Cut Killer, who will entertain before the evening and during intermissions. It’s a stage where there will also be many surprises, emotion, and an unprecedented dynamic between the two spaces. A true musical ping-pong.“
The idea is to maintain a constant intensity between the stages, so that the last spectator of one concert immediately becomes the first of another.
An ambitious capacity, encouraging figures
With a capacity of 11,466 festival-goers per day, the Nice Jazz Festival is thinking big. And the numbers already set the tone. “We are approaching 75 to 80% of capacity, which is excellent, much higher than last year. Our goal is to reach sold out at least three out of four nights,” says the official enthusiastically.
Each day, the program starts at 5:30 PM with “La Merenda”, a concept entrusted to JoeyStarr and Life Soldeur, with DJ Naütig for rap atmospheres. Then, from 7:15 PM, concerts follow one another at the Théâtre de Verdure, with four jazz groups per night, a record for the festival. The main Masséna stage will take over at 7:30 PM, until 12:30 AM. Finally, the night will continue with a jam session until 3 AM in the Miranda space: “these will be magical moments of rare musicality, in the pure jazz tradition,” promises Graig Monetti.
An impressive technical setup
Thomas Liberman, technical director of the festival, detailed the behind-the-scenes setup: “We started setting up three weeks ago. The Masséna stage can accommodate 8,000 people. The Théâtre de Verdure has been fully set up, with a 14 by 12-meter platform on a protected ground. It consists of 40 tons of aluminum structures, installed by 60 specialized technicians.“
The teams are also finalizing the three giant screens – two on the sides and one central – which will allow for spectacular concert broadcasts.
A festival also for families
This year, the Kids Club “Ramène ta fraise”, aimed at children aged 4 to 10, makes its return. Parents can entrust their children during the concerts, provided they register at the welcome desk and present an ID or passport when picking up their little ones. A service offered from 5:30 PM until 12:30 AM. Children can discover instruments and get introduced to music in a fun environment. The capacity is for 50 children.
From the stage to the backstage, from the cables to the sheet music, everything is almost ready, to welcome the public. The Nice Jazz Festival, the oldest jazz festival in the world, continues its legacy born in the post-war era, with a 2025 edition that promises to be filled with discoveries, sounds, and emotions.
