Geneva Blues Festival 2026 – Alhambra (2 Nights)

Geneva Blues Festival 2026: Two Nights of World-Class Blues at the Alhambra

Some festivals are good ideas. Some are great ideas that took a little time to prove themselves. The Geneva Blues Festival is firmly in the second category. Launched just two years ago by the BAG (Blues Association of Geneva), it sold out its first edition, grew to two nights in its second, and is now back for its 3rd edition on Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the magnificent Alhambra theatre in the heart of Geneva.

The 2026 lineup is, as the festival's own announcement put it, "almost too good to be true." Two nights, four artists — local, Swiss, British — spanning blues, soul, funk, rock, and jazz in a concert hall that gives this music the setting it genuinely deserves. If you love the blues and you're anywhere near Geneva in early May, mark both nights in your calendar now.

How the Geneva Blues Festival Came to Be

The Geneva Blues Festival grew out of the BAG — Blues Association of Geneva, a passionate community organisation dedicated to promoting blues music in Switzerland and connecting Geneva's local blues scene with international artists.

The concept was simple but bold: bring the blues to one of the finest concert halls in Geneva and give it the serious, respectful production that the genre deserves. The first edition, a single-night event, was a genuine success. The second edition in May 2025 expanded to two nights at the Alhambra and featured Henrik Freischlader (the acclaimed German guitarist-multi-instrumentalist) and Bex Marshall (the unique British guitarist blending blues and rock), alongside a full set from the Geneva Blues Band.

The growth in just two years has been remarkable, and the 2026 edition represents a clear step up in ambition, with an international headliner who regularly features in lists of the world's greatest living blues guitarists.

Night One: Friday, May 8, 2026 – Toby Lee and the Geneva Blues Band

Geneva Blues Band: The Local Soul of the Festival

Every edition of the Geneva Blues Festival opens with the Geneva Blues Band — and this is not a token warm-up act. The Geneva Blues Band was created by the Blues Association of Geneva specifically for the festival, bringing together, in the words of the organisers, the finest musicians on the Genevan blues scene to revisit the great standards of the genre.

Sixteen musicians strong, the Geneva Blues Band functions under artistic direction and presents an interpretation of blues classics that reflects both the depth of local musical talent and the community-driven spirit behind the whole festival. Hearing sixteen Genevan musicians collectively reimagining the music that built the entire rock and roll era is one of those experiences that makes a local festival feel genuinely special.

Toby Lee: Britain's Most Exciting Young Blues Guitarist

Following the Geneva Blues Band on Friday night is Toby Lee — one of the most exciting young guitarists in blues music today. Born in 2005, Toby Lee first gained national attention in the UK while still a child, playing with a technical facility and emotional maturity that left experienced musicians openly astonished. He has since developed into a genuinely formidable live performer, combining raw technical skill with a musical sensibility that goes well beyond what his age might suggest.

His appearance at the Geneva Blues Festival 2026 places him alongside the kind of international platform that his talent demands. Friday night at the Alhambra will be the perfect introduction to an artist whose career is clearly only just beginning.

Night Two: Saturday, May 9, 2026 – Larissa Baumann and Matt Schofield

Larissa Baumann: Switzerland's Most Exciting Blues and Soul Voice

Saturday opens with Larissa Baumann, a figure already well established on the Swiss blues and soul scene and a genuinely exceptional performer. Originally from Switzerland, she leads a band of professional musicians drawn from Switzerland, Italy, and the United States, and her music moves fluidly between soul, blues, funk, and rock'n'roll with a warmth and ease that immediately draws an audience in.

Her credentials speak for themselves: her 2024 album "Showtime" won the Blues Music Award for Best Blues Album. That was followed in 2025 by the Swiss Blues Award – Artist of the Year, cementing her position as the leading voice in contemporary Swiss blues. The city official programme describes her as someone who "seduces with a natural stage presence and a warm voice with irresistible groove." Audiences at the Alhambra on Saturday night will find that description accurate and understated.

Matt Schofield: A Member of the British Blues Hall of Fame

The Saturday headline act is the reason this festival's announcement was described as "almost too good to be true." Matt Schofield is a British guitarist of international renown, a member of the British Blues Hall of Fame, and a musician who the press has consistently ranked among the ten greatest British blues guitarists — a list that includes Eric Clapton and Peter Green.

Schofield's playing defies easy categorisation. He blends blues, jazz, soul, funk, and rock with a rare ease that reflects not just technical mastery but a genuine understanding of how all these genres connect at the root. He has toured globally, recorded extensively, and earned the kind of critical recognition that doesn't come from luck or timing but from playing that simply leaves other musicians and audiences speechless.

Seeing Matt Schofield live is one of those experiences that blues listeners talk about for years afterward. Geneva on Saturday, May 9 is your opportunity.

The Alhambra: A Concert Hall That Suits This Music Perfectly

The Alhambra at Rue de la Rôtisserie 10 in central Geneva is one of the finest mid-sized concert venues in Switzerland. Its history as a theatre and concert hall gives it a warmth and intimacy that larger arenas cannot replicate, and for blues music — which lives or dies on the relationship between musician and audience — the Alhambra is close to ideal.

The venue's central location makes it easy to reach on foot from most of Geneva's central hotels, and the surrounding area in the Vieille-Ville (Old Town) neighbourhood offers some of the city's best pre-concert dining options within a short walk.

Exploring Geneva on a Blues Weekend

The Geneva Blues Festival weekend gives you two full days in one of Europe's most beautiful and culturally rich cities. Geneva in May is genuinely lovely: the lake is brilliant blue, the Jet d'Eau is running in full force, and the temperature is warm enough to enjoy the city's outdoor culture comfortably.

The Best of Geneva Around Concert Weekend

• Jet d'Eau: The iconic water jet on Lac Léman shoots water 140 metres into the air and is one of Geneva's most beloved landmarks. It's particularly beautiful at dusk, making it a perfect stop between afternoon sightseeing and evening concert doors.
• The Old Town (Vieille-Ville): The neighbourhood surrounding the Alhambra is Geneva's historic heart, built on a hill above the lake. The 12th-century Saint-Pierre Cathedral (where John Calvin preached), the cobbled Grand-Rue, and the Maison Tavel (Geneva's oldest house, now a museum) are all within easy walking distance.
• Place du Bourg-de-Four: Geneva's oldest square, just behind the cathedral, is lined with cafe terraces and restaurants that fill up beautifully on May evenings. It's the ideal spot for a pre-show dinner.
• Parc des Bastions: Right beside the Old Town, this park contains the famous Reformation Wall — a 100-metre long monument to the key figures of the Protestant Reformation. Beautiful for an afternoon walk.
• The Quais and Lac Léman: A walk along the lakefront from the Quai du Mont-Blanc to the Jardin Anglais (with its famous Flower Clock) takes about 30 minutes and provides some of the most beautiful urban views in Switzerland, with the Alps visible on clear days across the lake.

Getting to the Alhambra

• By public transport: The Alhambra is easily reached by tram from Geneva Central Station (Cornavin), which is just over 1 km away and directly connected by trams 12 and 16. The city's public transport system is excellent and free with a Geneva hotel card.
• By foot: From Geneva's main train station, the walk through the old town to the Alhambra takes approximately 20 minutes through some of the most pleasant streets in the city.
• Address: Rue de la Rôtisserie 10, 1204 Geneva, Switzerland

Getting to Geneva

• By rail: Geneva is directly connected by train to Zurich (2.5 hours), Basel (2.75 hours), Bern (1.75 hours), Lyon (2 hours), and Paris (3 hours via TGV).
• By air: Geneva Airport (GVA) is one of Europe's best-connected airports, with direct flights from major cities across Europe, the Middle East, and North America.

Practical Information: Tickets and Times

• Friday, May 8: Doors open 6:45 PM; first concert at 7:45 PM
• Saturday, May 9: Doors open 6:45 PM; Larissa Baumann at 7:45 PM; Matt Schofield at approximately 9:30 PM
• Tickets: Available at billetterie-culture.geneve.ch, the Maison des Arts du Grutli, Espace Ville de Genève, Cité Séniors, and Geneva Tourisme

Two Nights That Geneva's Blues Scene Has Been Building Toward

In just three editions, the Geneva Blues Festival has become one of the most talked-about blues events in the French-speaking world. The combination of a genuinely exceptional venue, thoughtful programming that balances local talent with international headliners, and the backing of an organisation that genuinely loves this music makes it the kind of festival that gets better with every year.

Doors open at 6:45 PM on both nights. Tickets are available now. Geneva in May is beautiful, the Alhambra is magnificent, and the music on both nights will remind you exactly why the blues has been moving people for over a century.

Verified Information at a Glance