La Rentrée Grands Formats returns from 18 September to 20 November 2026!
This year, the Rentrée is thinking big: two months of concerts and an XXL highlight!
This autumn the federation will celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Rentrée Grands Formats showcasing the full vitality of the jazz and improvised music scene through a large program of concerts in France, across Europe and beyond.
For its highlight event, Rentrée Grands Formats 2026 invites you to Bourg-en-Bresse from 17 to 20 November and is partnering with several organisations: Spedidam, the Scène Nationale de Bourg-en-Bresse, JAZZ(s)RA, La Ferme à Jazz, the MJC de Bourg-en-Bresse, the Domaine de la Garde, the Conservatoire à rayonnement départemental de Grand Bourg Agglomération, La Tannerie and the Puzzle collective.
CONCERTS FROM 18.09 TO 20.11
18/09 – Sointi Jazz Orchestra : Agatha Malmitalo / Helsinki (Finland)
18/09 – Leïla Olivesi Octet : African Rhapsody New Morning / Paris (75)
18/09 – Les Vibrants Défricheurs : Il n’est sagesse que d’aventure – Un hommage à Anita Conti – Vol.2 / Sortie de résidence L’étincelle – Chapelle Saint-Louis / Rouen (76)
19/09 – Pierre Bertrand & la Caja Negra : European Jazz Companions Théâtre du Briançonnais / Briançon (05)
19/09 – La Fanfare du Contrevent : Apparition Acoustique Le Cèdre / Chenôve (21)
19/09 – Les Vibrants Défricheurs : Ouate ! – Antoine Berland Moulin d’Andé / Andé (27)
20/09 – Pierre Bertrand & la Caja Negra : European Jazz Companions Cité Vauban de Mont-Dauphin (05)
20/09 – Les Vibrants Défricheurs : Ouate ! – Antoine Berland Moulin d’Andé / Andé (27)
20/09 – Les Vibrants Défricheurs : Jacaranda ! Centre Hospitalier du Rouvray / Sotteville-lès-Rouen (76)
21/09 – Les Vibrants Défricheurs : Reder Nouhaj – Cavalcade en Cocazie Espace Marc-Sangnier / Mont-Saint-Aignan (76)
22/09 – Pierre Bertrand & la Caja Negra : European Jazz Companions Théâtre Armand de Salon-de-Provence (13)
24/09 – Jean Marie Machado Orchestre Danzas : Cantos Brujos Scène nationale Le Théâtre / Saint-Nazaire (44)
25/09 – Potsa Lotsa XL Jazzherbst, Bessunger Knabenschule / Darmstadt (Allemagne)
25/09 – Dal Sasso & Shekinah Rodz Octet – Spirit of 3 Le Baisé Salé / Paris (75)
26/09 –Dal Sasso & Shekinah Rodz Octet – Spirit of 3 Le Baisé Salé / Paris (75)
26/09 – Skokiaan Brass Band Le Cri des Papillons / Jujurieux (01)
26/09 – ARFI : Mille Pô Théâtre de la Renaissance (plein air) / Oullins-Pierre-Bénite (69)
26/09 – Fred Pallem & Le Sacre du Tympan : Hommage à François de Roubaix Théâtre Georges Simenon / Rosny-sous-Bois (93)
27/09 –Dal Sasso & Shekinah Rodz Octet – Spirit of 3 Hot Club / Lyon (69)
27/09 – Fónica • TM : TASIS « Milongo » The Wrong Side / Paris (75)
02/10 – Pégazz Festival : Ellinoa ‘Eurydice’ + Big Fish Espace culturel Gérard Philippe / Fontenay-Sous-Bois (94)
02/10 – Leïla Olivesi African Rhapsody Octet Angra Jazz Festival / Portugal
02/10 – Skokiaan Brass Band Salle Équinoxe/ La Tour-du-Pin (38)
02/10 – Les Vibrants Défricheurs : Tu Danses Tu ? Maison de l’Université de Rouen / Mont-Saint-Aignan (76)
03/10 – Pégazz Festival : Concert d’élèves avec Ellinoa + Nefertiti Quartet + Raw Material Espace culturel Gérard Philippe / Fontenay-Sous-Bois (94)
03/10 – Les Vibrants Défricheurs : Perce Plafond Micro-Folie de Thiers / Médiathèque de Thiers (63)
03/10 – Les Vibrants Défricheurs : Tous les mondes qu’il y a dans le monde Biblis en folie – Bibliothèque / Fécamp (76)
04/10 – Pégazz Festival : Méli-Méliès + Schwab Soro Symphonique & Orchestre Ondes Plurielles Théâtre Jean-François Voguet / Fontenay-Sous-Bois (94)
05/10 – Les Vibrants Défricheurs : Tu Danses Tu ? Petite formule Place Saint-Marc, dans le cadre de la « Semaine Bleue »/ Rouen (76)
06/10 – Le Gros Cube : Verdi Remix Auditorium Albert Roussel / Tourcoing (59)
08/10 – Pierre Bertrand (Paris-Montréal Sextet) Dièse-Onze / Montréal (Canada)
09/10 – Leïla Olivesi Octet : African Rhapsody Jazz en Bièvre / Primarette (38)
10/10 – Dal Sasso Big Band : Africa Brass Festival de Villiers-sur-Marne / Villiers-sur-Marne (94)
10/10 – Potsa Lotsa XL Jazzwoche @ Rampe / Hannover (Allemagne)
11/10 – Tricollectif : Bonbon Flamme Le Vauban, Plages Magnétiques / Brest (29)
11/10 – Pierre Bertrand (Paris-Montréal Sextet) Magog / Québec (Canada)
11/10 – Leïla Olivesi Octet : African Rhapsody Noyon Jazz Festival / Noyon (60)
13/10 – The Very Big Experimental Toubifri Orchestra : Le Lac Théâtre de la Renaissance / Oullins Pierre Bénite (69)
14/10 – Tricollectif : Bonbon Flamme Le Périscope / Lyon (69)
14/10 – The Very Big Experimental Toubifri Orchestra : Le Lac Théâtre de la Renaissance / Oullins Pierre Bénite (69)
15/10 – Collision Collective : NaïNo Production + Onze Heures Onze : Abhra / Montagne Sauvage Studio de l’Ermitage / Paris (75)
15/10 – Tricollectif : Bonbon Flamme Le Scarron, Superforma / Le Mans (72)
15/10 – The Very Big Experimental Toubifri Orchestra : Le Lac Théâtre de la Renaissance / Oullins Pierre Bénite (69)
16/10 – The Very Big Experimental Toubifri Orchestra : Le Lac Théâtre de la Renaissance / Oullins Pierre Bénite (69)
16/10 – Orquestra Jazz de Matosinhos : Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música & OJM: Jazz Sinfónico Casa da Música / Porto (Portugal)
16/10 – Les Vibrants Défricheurs : Ouate Watt ! – Duo clavicorde et acousmonium L’étincelle – Salle Louis Jouvet / Rouen (76)
17/10 – ARFI : 20 000 Lieues Sous Les Mers Espace Ninon Vallin / Montalieu-Vercieu (38)
22/10 – Les Vibrants Défricheurs : Papanosh – Yes I Are ! / Création anniversaire Le Pannonica / Nantes (44)
23/10 – Dal Sasso Big Band : Africa Brass Théâtre Denis / Hyères (83)
24/10 – Dal Sasso Big Band : Love Supreme Théâtre Denis / Hyères (83)
24/10 – Pierre Bertrand & la Caja Negra : European Jazz Companions Nuejazz Festival / Nuremberg (Allemagne)
24/10 – Kami Octet & Karim Ziad – « Echoes from Morocco » Le Petit Faucheux / Tours (37)
27/10 – Potsa Lotsa XL : Pizza Lotsa Kulturbrauerei, Maschinenhaus / Berlin (Allemagne)
31/10 – Dal Sasso Big Band : Africa Brass Maquiz’art Jazz / Eymet (24)
31/10 – Discobole Cie & Label : STABILE/MOBILE : Théo Girard et l’orchestre Pensées Rotatives Théâtre Berthelot / Montreuil (93)
04/11 – Pierre Bertrand & La Caja Negra Le Son de la Terre / Paris (75)
07/11 – Jean Marie Machado Orchestre Danzas : Cantos Brujos Opéra de Rennes / Rennes (35)
07/11 – Hassan Maikal & Sointi Jazz Orchestra Fuuga / Turku (Finlande)
07/11 – Les Vibrants Défricheurs : Papanosh In the Sky – concert exceptionnel Cité de la musique et de la danse – Jazzdor – Marathon Miles / Strasbourg (67)
12/11 – Tricollectif : Hélène Duret Brut Ensemble D’Jazz Nevers Festival / Nevers (58)
12/11 – Les Vibrants Défricheurs : T.I.M. L’Etincelle – Chapelle Saint-Olaf (Chapelle des marins) / Dans le cadre du festival Chants d’Elles / Rouen (76)
13/11 – La Fanfare du Contrevent Festival D’Jazz Nevers / Nevers (58)
14/11 – La Fanfare du Contrevent Festival D’Jazz Nevers / Nevers (58)
14/11 – Les Vibrants Défricheurs : Perce Plafond Médiathèque Roland Barthes / Urt (64)
15/11 – Discobole Orchestra feat. Christine Salem Opéra de Lyon – Opéra Underground / Lyon (69)
15/11 – Les Vibrants Défricheurs : Reder Nouhaj – Cavalcade en Cocazie Muziekcentrum De Bijloke – Big Bang Festival / Gand (Belgique)
16/11 – Kami Octet & Karim Ziad – « Echoes from Morocco » Théâtre du Bois de l’Aune / Aix-en-Provence (13)
17/11 – Kami Octet & Karim Ziad – « Echoes from Morocco » Théâtre de Grasse / Grasse (06)
17/11 – Tricollectif : Hélène Duret Brut Ensemble Le Petit Faucheux / Tours (37)
18/11 – Kami Octet & Karim Ziad – « Echoes from Morocco » La Dynamo – Banlieues Bleues / Pantin (93)
18/11 – Temps fort de la Rentrée Grands Formats : The Very Big Experimental Toubifri Orchestra : Le Lac Théâtre de Bourg en Bresse SN / Bourg en Bresse (01)
19/11 – Temps fort de la Rentrée Grands Formats : OJKOS x L’Autre Collectif Théâtre de Bourg en Bresse SN / Bourg en Bresse (01)
19/11 – ARFI : La Marmite Infernale – Or Mathilde La Baie des Singes / Cournon-d’Auvergne (63)
19/11 – Fred Pallem & Le Sacre du Tympan : Country Roads – an american songbook by Fred Pallem Studio de l’Ermitage / Paris (75)
20/11 – Fonica · TM : TASIS « Milongo » Château de Morsang / Morsang (91)
20/11 – Tricollectif : Hélène Duret Brut Ensemble Le Moulin à Jazz, Charlie Free / Vitrolles (13)
20/11 – Temps fort de la Rentrée Grands Formats : Collision Collective La Ferme à Jazz / Bourg en Bresse (01)
HIGHLIGHT FROM 17 TO 20 NOVEMBER
IN BOURG-EN-BRESSE
Tuesday 17 November 2026
6.30 pm – 7.30 pm / Écurie – Domaine de la Garde
Opening cocktail reception organised by Grands Formats, JAZZ(s)RA and Spedidam
For federation members, invited professionals and partners
8.30 pm – 9.30 pm / Écurie – Domaine de la Garde
CONCERT : INCANDESCENTE
Six incandescent stars come together to form a jazz sextet.
These six effervescent musicians will merge to create a rich and explosive sound. Elodie Mamisou, Ophélie Dècle, Becky Pendlebury, Valentine Guittard, Pauline Alla and Alizée Planque master the art of joy as much as the art of resistance, and will leave a trail of ashen notes in their wake! Far from being otherworldly, they are firmly rooted on stage, hoping to convey a message of light for a more harmonious life on earth.
Elodie Mamisou (vocals, piano)
Ophélie Dècle (flutes)
Alizée Planque (flute, vocals)
Becky Pendlebury (doublebass)
Valentine Guittard (drums)
Pauline Alla (saxophone)
Co-production: This production, led by JAZZ(s)RA and the Incandescente collective, is supported by the CNM, Spedidam and Adami, and with the assistance of partner organisations: Parfum de Jazz, L’APEJS, La Baie des Singes and the Centre International des Musiques Nomades. Co-hosted by Domaine/Amis de la Garde and La Tannerie.
9.30 – 10.30 / Écurie – Domaine de la Garde
Jam Session
Hosted by the musicians of the Incandescente sextet.
Open to all – bring your instruments!
Wednesday 18 November 2026
6.30 pm – 7.30 pm / Amphitorium – Conservatoire, Bourg-en-Bresse
Round-table discussion: ‘Artistic creation in jazz and improvised music as a cultural vehicle for a new conception of identity’
Whilst the theme of identity is now employed or exploited in numerous public discourses – including some of the most repugnant and anti-social – it seems to us that we should not cede a monopoly on it to conservative positions on the one hand, and that artistic creation can be a means of challenging it on the other. Jazz and improvised music have, at various points in their history, emerged as an aesthetic phenomenon of rupture – and thus inevitably one of resistance – or as a fertile ground for creolisation; they are therefore a prime subject for this study. These observations should enable us, first and foremost – mirroring the multiple hybridisations that define them – to construct an alternative discourse on identity, one that interprets civilisations and the modes of production underlying their practices as open spaces for encounter and interpenetration, and as a confrontation with otherness as a source of enrichment and sophistication.
8.30 pm – 10 pm / Main Hall – Scène Nationale de Bourg-en-Bresse
CONCERT : THE VERY BIG EXPERIMENTAL TOUBIFRI ORCHESTRA « LE LAC »
An operatic musical? A peaceful lake at the heart of a village brings the locals together to swim and socialise, until the day the mayor bans swimming for no apparent reason. This arbitrary decision sends shockwaves through the community, and everyone responds in their own way — through struggle, dialogue, cunning, poetry or magic. The show then takes on the air of a collective tragedy, in which the relationships between the villagers become entangled and then unravelled, against the backdrop of a love story between two opposing camps. The story weaves together scenes of tension, a spectacular metamorphosis, an episode of infiltration and visual illusions.
Script, Libretto and Composition: Maud Chapoutier, Lucas Hercberg, Aloïs Benoît
Directed by: Céline Champinot, associate artist at the CDN in Montpellier
Lou Rivaille (soprano)
Fanny Lhéritier (soprano)
Majdouline Zerari (mezzo-soprano)
Anne Davienne (mezzo-soprano)
Remy Poulakis (tenor)
Pierre Barret-Mémy (baritone)
Etienne Chevallier (bass)
Mathilde Bouillot (flutes)
Laurent Vichard (clarinets)
Damien Sabatier (alto saxophone, sopranino saxophone)
Benjamin Nid (alto saxophone)
Thibaut Fontana (tenor saxophone)
Yannick Narejos (tenor saxophone)
Stéphanie Aurières (baritone saxophone)
Félicien Bouchot (trumpet, flugelhorn)
Emmanuelle Legros (trumpet, flugelhorn)
Yannick Pirri (trumpet, flugelhorn)
Aloïs Benoit (trombone, euphonium)
Grégory Julliard (trombone, tuba)
François Mignot (guitars)
Mélissa Achiardi (vibraphone)
Matthieu Naulleau (keyboards)
Lucas Hercberg (bass, doublebass)
Corentin Quemener (drums, percussion)
Lionel Aubernon (percussion, synthesisers)
Thursday 19 November 2026
10.15 pm
Jam session
Hosted by Grands Formats’ musicians
Open to all – bring your instruments!
9.30 am – 12.30 pm / Salle Jean Vilar – Scène Nationale de Bourg-en-Bresse
Grands Formats’ members General Meeting
For Grands Formats / Think Big members only
4.00 pm – 6.00 pm / Salle Jean Vilar – Scène Nationale de Bourg-en-Bresse
Spedidam round-table discussion : « Artificial intelligence and copyright »
More information soon
6.30 pm – 7.15 pm / Amphitorium – CRD
Concert : CONSERVATORY BIG BAND
8.30 pm – 10.00 pm / Main Hall – Scène Nationale de Bourg-en-Bresse
CONCERT : OJKOS X L’AUTRE COLLECTIF
L’Autre Collectif has conceived a collaboration between the collective’s musicians – brought together under the name L’Autre Ensemble – and the Norwegian ensemble Ojkos. These two orchestras share the same passion for composition, improvisation and experimentation in large ensembles. Two ensembles rooted in jazz, yet open to other forms of musical expression, whose collaboration promises to be fruitful and off the beaten track. For the occasion, the musicians of L’Autre Collectif have composed a new programme, which premiered in Oslo in September 2025.
Sol Léna-Schroll (alto saxophone)
Andrea Silvia Giordano (flute/vocals)
Olga Amelchenko (alto saxophone)
Sigrid Aftret (tenor saxophone/flutes)
Hector Léna-Schroll (trumpets)
Peter Wallem Anundsen (trumpet)
Andrine Dyblie Erdal (cello)
Jørgen Bjelkerud (trombone)
Martin Thomson (euphonium)
Åsmund Person Ødegaard (guitar)
Clément Mérienne (piano)
Gard Kronborg (bass)
Trym Saugstad Karlsen (drums)
Friday 20 November 2026
6.30 pm – 7.30 pm / Main Hall – MJC
Round table discussion: ‘Is the world of jazz (at last) opening up to women?’
More information soon
Speakers: Marie Buscatto (lecturer in sociology at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and researcher at IDHES), Mélissa Acchiardi (vibraphonist with the Very Big Experimental Toubifri Orchestra), Nora Roger (General Secretary of the FNEIJMA)
Moderator: Raphaëlle Tchamitchian (journalist)
8.30 pm – 11.00 pm / La Ferme à Jazz
Concert Collision Collective
More information soon
AND ALSO…
La Discothèque féministe presented by la Tannerie taking place at Vinyle Social Klub throughout the highlight event
The children concert « Les Colporteurs d’Histoires Sonores » presented by Puzzle collective at the Centre Culturel Louis Janel in Montrevel-en-Bresse
Partners of Rentrée Grands Formats 2026


