Montréal Jazz Festival

BIOGRAPHY

The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal is a non-profit organization founded in 1980 by Alain Simard in association with André Ménard, Denyse McCann and Alain de Grosbois to bring the world's best musicians to the public.

Recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest jazz festival on the planet, the Festival has been synonymous with musical passion and memorable moments for over 40 years. It's where living legends rub shoulders with the finest up-and-coming artists, and jazz explodes at the crossroads of genres and influences.

Located in the heart of downtown Montreal, closed to traffic and opened until midnight, the Festival site becomes the meeting place for jazz lovers worldwide for ten days. Together, they enjoy close to 150 indoor concerts and the famous outdoor component, consisting of more than 350 free, open-air shows, presented on the Place des Festivals, which has been specially redesigned and set up for the event.

With its larger-than-life communion, the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal reflects Montreal's nightlife through its movement, its intensity and, of course, its community.