Malou Oheix Wins International Jazz Vocals Competition in Paris
France's Malou Oheix, 27, won the Herbie Hancock Institute International Jazz Vocals Competition held for the first time outside the U.S. at Fondation Louis Vuitton. She received a $50,000 scholarship prize.
Malou Oheix, a 27-year-old vocalist from France, has won the 2026 Herbie Hancock Institute International Jazz Vocals Competition. The finals, held on October 12, 2026, at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, marked the first time in the competition's nearly 40-year history that it took place outside the United States.
Oheix was awarded the $50,000 First Place Scholarship. She impressed an international jury, including Dee Dee Bridgewater, Roberta Gambarini, Angélique Kidjo, Gretchen Parlato, and Gregory Porter, with her performances of "I'm Glad There Is You" and "Madame Toulouse."
The competition finals were hosted by actor Jeremy Irons. The event also honored Arturo Sandoval with the Institute's Maria Fisher Founder's Award for his contributions to jazz. Performances by renowned musicians highlighted Paris' significance in jazz history, with musical direction by John Beasley.
The evening also included a tribute to architect Frank Gehry, designer of the Fondation Louis Vuitton. The event concluded with the world premiere of Danilo Pérez's new composition, "The Ever-Changing World."