The Centre national de la musique (CNM) and the Institut français welcomed a delegation of international music professionals as part of the Jazz à Vienne Festival, with a particular focus on the first edition of the International Jazz Forum. This initiative built on an initial professional presence in 2024 and extended a Franco-Brazilian cross-residency project launched in 2023.
From July 1 to 3, 2025, the first International Jazz Forum took place in Vienne during the Jazz à Vienne Festival, marking a major new event for global jazz networking and artistic exchange. Organized by JAZZ(s)RA and Jazz à Vienne, the Forum brought together professionals from across the world and featured workshops, conferences, showcases and networking sessions, and more than 400 targeted speed meetings involving over 50 speakers.
The artistic program highlighted today’s vibrant jazz landscape: nine export-ready projects from the Auvergne–Rhône-Alpes region, a special spotlight on Luxembourg (guest country 2025), artists from the ReZZo Jazz à Vienne program, and international talents performing at the Théâtre Antique.
As part of the event, the CNM and the Institut français coordinated the welcome of a delegation of professionals from Brazil, Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Europe, and organized dedicated sessions designed to foster connections between French and international professionals, including pitch sessions, speed meetings, and market presentations. Thanks to these meetings, several touring projects and artist exchange initiatives were launched and are currently being developed.
A key moment of the week was the France–Brazil artistic residency, launched in 2023 by Sesc São Paulo, Jazz à Vienne Festival, Consulate General of France in São Paulo, Institut français and the Centre national de la musique (CNM). After Irmandade Ensemble (2023) and Sampaienne (2024), the 2025 edition introduced a new transatlantic group: Diáspora Lyannaj, uniting musicians from Brazil, France, and the Caribbean: Boris Reine-Adélaïde (percussion), Fábio Leandro (piano), and Vanessa Ferreira (double bass) Ysaura Merino (violin, trumpet)/Samy Thiébault.
By bringing together professional exchanges, artistic showcases, and international partnerships, the first International Jazz Forum positioned itself as a key meeting point for the global jazz community. rance’s role in fostering creative international connections.