“Culture is meant to be shared, not to be billed”: political cacophony around the ticket office of the Nice Jazz Festival

Revision of prices. There réévaluation des prix practiced both at Nikaïa and at the Nice Jazz festival, this Friday June 5, 2026 in the municipal council, broke the camel’s back of exasperation on the side of the opposition.

“It’s simple, you offer increases everywhere”résume Anthony Borré. « Même the club poulet à la buvette de Nikaïa n’a pas échappé au regard de l’adjoint aux finances. Il passe de 5 Â¬ à 6,50 Â¬Â et le paquet de chips passe de 2,50 à 3 euros »quips Christian Estrosi’s former first deputy.

« Plus sérieusement » c’est l’avenir du Nice Jazz Fest qui l’inquiète. An event not quite like the others, the first edition of which dates back to 1948 and which brought Nice into the world history of Jazz. What’s left? “Three evenings instead of four this year, one less artist per evening, fewer opening hours… And at the same time prices which double on certain evenings”says the opposition municipal councilor.

20 euros in taxes per Nice taxpayer

It will cost 90 euros to go see Sting this summer. For Anthony Borré, « surely the party is over »especially for “Less more modest” deplores the elected official who believes that “Yes, culture can have a cost”.

However, it is not up to taxpayers to assume it, retorts Finance Deputy Olivier Breuilly. He did the calculation: « le Nice Jazz Fest coûte 20 euros à chacun d’entre eux ».

Each Niçois thus pays for “half a festival ticket without even entering”. Car en réalité, « à l’exception de l’année denière »the municipality was “Loin de remplir la gauge” malgré « des milliers d’invitations distribuées ».

Up to 4,000 unbilled seats on certain evenings, says the new assistant in charge of events, Denis Del Rio.

For him, this low attendance explains the chronic deficit of the event which would make nearly 3 million euros in losses per edition.

“Culture is meant to be shared, not to be charged for,” strikes the elected representative of the majority. At least not to taxpayers.

It’s up to those who go to the show to assume the price, believes Éric Ciotti. The mayor promises to reduce the Jazz deficit to 1 million euros. Because “yes, the party is over… Especially for you”, the mayor attacks his opponent.