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The Music Festival, which featured classical music but not exclusively, came to an end on January 19. The 2026 edition delighted audiences with its variety and excellence. From the dancers of the Paris Opera Ballet to the virtuosos (musicians and singers) invited by the organizing association, everyone gave their best during the ten days of the festival. The event may have come to an end, but for president Corinne Hennequin, it's not yet time to rest. Because it's already time to start planning the 2027 edition.
"The dates for the next festival have not yet been set," explains the president. "It will depend on the availability of certain artists." For musicians, singers, and dancers, schedules are sometimes filled with performance dates more than a year in advance. As a result, Corinne Hennequin is faced with a delicate balancing act when it comes to scheduling. "When you want a conductor who already has a schedule set for the year, you have to make your request well in advance if you want them to be able to come," confirms Corinne Hennequin. In addition, the festival's reputation now encourages artists to contact the president to express their desire to participate in the event. The festival's reputation for warm hospitality and enthusiastic audiences, combined with the island's appeal, means that the Music Festival's aura grows every year. And the artists performing from January 9 to 19 are unlikely to tarnish that reputation.
The return of the local audience
"Attendance was incredible," says Corinne Hennequin. "All the concerts at the Anglican church were sold out, and people arrived an hour before the concerts to get good seats. There was a real buzz." She was also pleased to see the return of spectators who live on the island. "We had lost some of this local attendance, but it has returned," says the president. It also gives everyone good visibility for the Festival, especially our partners." Such as the local government, which is contributing €100,000 in funding. "The musicians had an incredible stay," continues Corinne Hennequin. "They were extremely happy. We pull out all the stops to welcome them, within our means. And the musicians play along too. They give their time and their talent, but they also help out with lots of little things, like clearing away the music stands, etc. They are completely committed. I don't know if there is another festival in the world that works like this." Possible, but unlikely. The event's popularity among professionals seems quite unique.
In addition, the Music Festival was able to respond to the request of the Tourism Committee, which, starting in 2025, wanted to include Saint Barthélemy in a South American year. Corinne Hennequin looked for an artist who could fit in with this spirit and found the Brazilian Will Sant. "I didn't expect there to be so many people," says the president, still surprised. For the closing concert, spectators eager to hear the talented bossa nova artist did not hesitate to wait in line to try to get a seat. This was yet another success for the organizers, who are already working hard to put together a stunning program for 2027.
