In a statement released on Friday, April 17, 2026, the organizers of the “Jazz in Vauvert” festival announced the cancellation of the 2026 edition. They denounce a decision by the new mayor of the municipality, Nicolas Meizonnet. This is already the second cultural event to be canceled by the far-right elected official since taking office.
The 23rd edition of the “Jazz in Vauvert” festival will not take place as confirmed by its organizers in a press release on April 17, 2026. The cancellation is attributed to the new National Rally mayor, Nicolas Meizonnet. According to the organizers, the mayor and his municipal council, who are major funders of the event, have chosen not to continue the commitments made by previous majorities.
“For the past 12 years, Jazz in Vauvert has hosted the greatest national and international artists (Imany, Gregory Porter, Mike Stern, Paolo Fresu, Chucho Valdes, Didier Lockwood, Richard Galliano, Michel Portal etc…), while also providing a stage for many local artists living in the region and especially in Gard (Laurent Coulondre, Jean Charles Agou, Vauvert’s Big Band…),” lamented the organizers.
For this year, the association “Jazz in Junas”, which manages the festival, claims to have found an alternative location in Vergèze. The association explains that there has been immediate solidarity from local elected officials, volunteers, artists, and technicians in response to the “abrupt decision made by the new far-right majority.”
On the other hand, Nicolas Meizonnet regrets what he sees as a politicized move. He states that a meeting was held with the festival’s leaders last week, during which “all options were on the table” following “cordial and open discussions” resulting in the decision to stop the €65,000 grant. He added, “I acknowledged their understanding of this decision.” However, due to budget constraints “from the mismanagement of [his] predecessor,” he is choosing to prioritize more financially sustainable cultural events, including potentially more “mainstream” concerts in the arenas starting this summer.
Elected mayor of Vauvert in the first round of the last municipal elections, Nicolas Meizonnet had already attracted attention from cultural actors and the public a few days earlier. An exhibition of photos depicting the life of the municipality was canceled due to the presumed political beliefs of its creator, a “committed Mélenchonist” according to reports, who had shared an altered image mocking the National Rally logo on social media. The photographer and artist from the municipality defended himself against any political affiliation, decrying censorship.
