Malou Oheix wins Herbie Hancock Institute jazz vocals competition

Malou Oheix, a 27-year-old vocalist from France, won first place in the 2026 Herbie Hancock Institute International Jazz Vocals Competition. The event, held at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, marked the first time in the competition's nearly 40-year history that the finals were hosted outside of the United States.

Oheix was awarded a $50,000 scholarship following performances of ‘I’m Glad There Is You’ and Michael Brecker’s ‘Madame Toulouse.’ The competition featured an all-star jury including Dee Dee Bridgewater, Angélique Kidjo, and Gregory Porter. Other finalists included second-place winner Georgia Heers and third-place winner Lucy-Anne Daniels.

The gala, hosted by actor Jeremy Irons, served as an international celebration of jazz and honored Arturo Sandoval. The event was supported by the Fondation Louis Vuitton and featured a rhythm section including Carmen Staaf, Ben Williams, and Kendrick Scott.