The summer of 2025 on the Côte d’Azur promises to be rich in cultural, musical, cinematic, and gastronomic events. Below we present the key events of the summer 2025 season in the culture, music, sports, and film spheres on the French Riviera, with up-to-date dates and essential information.
Music Festivals
Jazz à Juan (Juan-les-Pins)
The Jazz à Juan festival will take place in the Pinède Gould from 10 to 20 July 2025. As one of the oldest and most prestigious jazz festivals in Europe, it attracts leading international performers and spotlights emerging talents. The 2025 lineup includes artists such as Emile Londonien, Air, Dianne Reeves, Jamie Cullum, AYỌ, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Gregory Porter, Ibrahim Maalouf, Herbie Hancock, and others. Tickets are available via the official ticket link.
Nice Jazz Festival (Nice)
The Nice Jazz Festival will be held in Nice from 24 to 27 July 2025 at Jardin Albert Ier and Théâtre de Verdure. As one of the world’s oldest jazz events, it gathers over 20 international artists. The program features live concerts, a “La Merenda” area offering culinary specialties, a “Kids Club” for children, and star-lit parties. Tickets can be reserved on the official site.
Menton Music Festival (Menton)
The classical music festival in Menton will take place from 22 July to 8 August 2025. Now in its 76th edition, it is renowned for performances by leading symphony orchestras, soloists, and chamber ensembles in scenic venues along the Mediterranean coast, including Parvis Saint-Michel. Tickets are available on the festival website.
La Crème Festival (Villefranche-sur-Mer)
La Crème Festival will be held from 20 to 22 June 2025 at the Citadel grounds and Marinières Beach. This festival combines live music (electropop, indie, alternative), gourmet experiences, and outdoor activities. Tickets can be purchased on the official site.
Gastronomic Events
Les Chefs à Saint-Tropez (Saint-Tropez, 3–5 May 2025)
A three-day festival marking the opening of the gastronomic season: a market featuring local producers, demonstrations by leading chefs, charity lunches, masterclasses, and competitions, including the renowned pastry duel “La Tropézienne.”
Atelier Cuisine Niçoise (Nice, weekly on Fridays and Saturdays in June–July 2025)
Practical masterclasses in Nice’s Old Town led by a chef: exploring classic regional dishes (such as socca, pissaladière, pan bagnat, and more) with hands-on preparation, tasting sessions, and the opportunity to take home prepared dishes.
Spanish Gastronomic Days (Monaco, 11–15 June 2025)
A focus on Spanish cuisine and wines at Café de Paris Monte-Carlo: special menus and themed dinners as part of the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer summer program. Early table reservations are recommended.
Festival des Étoilés Monte-Carlo (Monaco, 10 April to July 2025, including gala dinner on 20 June 2025)
The fifth anniversary of Festival des Étoilés: a series of “four-hands” dinners and exclusive menus from star chefs. Recognized as one of the most prestigious gastronomic events in the Principality.
Open-Air Cinema
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Nice: “Mon été cinéma”: free and ticketed screenings by the Cinémathèque on Wednesdays from 3 July until the end of August 2025; programs are announced and updated on the official city portal.
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Beaulieu-sur-Mer and surrounding coastal towns: regular screenings in July and August around 21:15–21:30 with sea views; precise dates are published closer to the season on municipal websites and at tourist offices.
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Cannes: traditionally hosts free “Ciné Quartier” screenings in July and August.
Exhibitions in Nice and Sculptures in Mougins
“Quand la mer nous parle” at Musée d’Archéologie de Nice
From 30 April to 26 September 2025, this exhibition focuses on the underwater archaeological heritage of the Mediterranean Sea, featuring contributions from scientific organizations and UNESCO materials.
“Matisse Méditerranée(s)” at Musée Matisse
From 7 May to 8 September 2025, this exhibition revisits Henri Matisse’s work through the lens of Mediterranean themes, demonstrating how the sea landscape and regional culture influenced his artistic language.
“Becoming Ocean” at Villa Arson
From 8 May to 24 August 2025, organized in collaboration with Villa Arson, Fondation Tara Océan, and international partners, this exhibition brings together works by contemporary artists and researchers addressing human interaction with the ocean.
“Des hommes préhistoriques à la plage” at Musée de Préhistoire Terra Amata
From 25 April to 28 September 2025, this exhibition explores how Paleolithic humans interacted with coastal environments approximately 400,000 years ago, combining archaeological finds with multimedia installations.
“Au temps du grand-maître Jean-Paul de Lascaris – Nice, Malta and the Mediterranean” at Palais Lascaris
From 6 May to 3 November 2025, this exhibition investigates the historical ties between Nice and the Order of St. John in Malta during the early modern period, combining historical documents, paintings, and artifacts.
Mougins Monumental 2025 in Mougins
From 5 April to 28 September 2025, the entire village transforms into an open-air venue featuring monumental sculptures by Emmanuel Michel and other contemporary artists. Guided walking tours through Mougins’s narrow streets allow visitors to appreciate works harmonizing with the landscape and architecture.
Galleries and Cultural Centers in Riviera Towns
Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul-de-Vence
In summer 2025, Fondation Maeght hosts exhibitions (for example, projects dedicated to Hélène Delprat and André Ostier) as well as a series of concerts in July: for instance, Karl Jenkins’s Requiem on 12 July 2025 and a jazz concert by Celia Kameni on 22 July 2025.
Soirées Estivales Alpes-Maritimes
From late June to early September 2025, the 30th edition features over 500 free performances across 158 communes: music (classical, jazz, folk), open-air theater, and dance. For example, in Nice: “Jazz Art Lympia” on Thursdays, “Pique-Nique des Frenchy aux Folies des Lacs,” and other programs.
Biot, Valbonne, and Other Riviera Towns
Temporary exhibitions by sculptors and artists (e.g., “Dance in Biot” on 14 June 2025), “Art au jardin des orangers” in Saint-Paul-de-Vence from 15 to 30 June 2025, and more. Information is conveniently tracked via regional portals and municipal websites.
Sports Events on the Côte d’Azur
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Ironman 70.3 Nice Half Marathon is scheduled for 29 June 2025. Each year it attracts athletes from around the world.
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Gran Fondo Nice: a mass cycling event with a mountainous profile, covering the surroundings of Nice and regional hills.
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Mercan’Tour Bonette Valberg: a road cycling race (192 km or 80 km) along mountainous roads of the Alpes-Maritimes, usually held in June 2025. This challenging ascent is popular among enthusiasts and specialized clubs.
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Regattas and Yacht Club Open Days: during summer, clubs in Nice, Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Antibes organize one-day regattas, boat and sailing demonstrations, and navigation masterclasses; announcements are published on port authority and yacht club websites closer to the season.
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Golf Tournaments and Competitions: the region offers premium golf courses (Saint-Donat, Royal Mougins, Terre Blanche), where corporate tournaments and private competitions for select participants take place in summer.
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Beach Yoga and SUP Yoga: morning and evening yoga sessions on the beach or on stand-up paddleboards, organized by studios in Nice and other resort towns.
In summer 2025 you can discover a wide range of experiences: from chamber concerts and festivals to open-air cinema screenings, exhibitions, and gastronomic tastings, as well as active pursuits along the coast.
Early planning is key for a comfortable stay: we recommend booking accommodation, tickets, and transfers well in advance, and monitoring announcements on official portals. ServiceAzur can assist you in selecting apartments or villas tailored to your individual requirements on the Côte d’Azur for a comfortable stay on the French Riviera.
