Give your performers the experience of a lifetime on a Jazz Festival Tour in Europe! Jazz Festival Tours offer a unique opportunity to promote learning and engagement—not only in music, but also in history, culture, foreign language, art, architecture, and more.

Most European jazz festivals take place during the summer months, primarily in July, and feature non-professional jazz groups (student or other) on their “Fringe Festival” stages to shine a spotlight on burgeoning talent and emerging artists. Attendance is high, and audiences are large and enthusiastic. Big Bands, Ensembles, and Combos – both vocal and instrumental – are eligible to participate.

Some popular European Jazz Festivals include:

  • Jazz à Juan (French Riviera)
  • Jazz in Marciac (France)
  • Jazz à Vienne (near Lyon, France)
  • Umbria Jazz (Italy)
  • North Sea (The Netherlands)
  • Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain)
  • Jazzaldia (Spain)
  • Istanbul (Turkey)

The festivals will provide the stage and backline. Some may offer additional benefits, such as:

  • free tickets to main-stage concerts
  • official festival T-shirts
  • workshops / jam sessions with major artists
  • inclusion in all official festival publications and on festival websites

We’ll design a customized tour package and itinerary to suit your performance goals, timeline, and budget. Choose to participate in just one festival or combine 2-4 festivals into a Grand European Tour (7+ days). The possibilities are endless! Witte Performance Tours will handle all the arrangements, including application to festivals.

Meet Nancy Mettlen!

Witte Travel & Tours has partnered with Nancy Mettlen to introduce our newest performance tour specialty: Jazz Festival Tours. As a former co-owner of Cultural Tour Consultants for more than 15 years, Nancy developed the Jazz Festival Tour concept for students and community ensembles who wish to perform at the major European Jazz Festivals. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team and is eager to share her passion for all things jazz!

Application Process for Jazz Festivals

We’ll provide you with a full checklist of the materials required for your application, which includes audition recordings (.mp3 or CDs), a press package, and your tour deposit. Once we’ve received the necessary items, we’ll submit your application to your desired festival(s) on behalf of your group. The deadline for applications is October 1 of the year preceding the festival. Festivals generally announce acceptance less than 30 days after submission. (Umbria Jazz does not announce before February.)

Minimum Group Size

There is a minimum enrollment of 20 people to put together a multi-festival tour, although smaller groups may be considered for one-festival tours. Should your performing group be comprised of fewer than 20 people, we encourage you to recruit from your fan base to meet the minimum group size. All members of the traveling group (performers and non-performers) can enjoy most of the festival benefits, like free or discounted tickets to major performances, etc.

For more information about European Jazz Festival Tours and to receive a customized tour proposal, please fill out Proposal Request form!