The Botanical Garden at the Complutense University (Alfonso XIII Royal Botanical Garden) will host two major electronic shows by Jean-Michel Jarre on 3 and 10 July, as part of the programme of Nights at the Botanical 2026. The French musician, a true legend and pioneer in the art of combining the magic of synthesisers with cutting-edge multi-media art, will reveal why major musical events of this genre are due to his huge influence.
Throughout his career spanning five decades, his visionary and innovative approach has established him as a pioneer of ambient, techno-pop, new age and even trance music, always combining artistic quality with commercial appeal. Today, his repertoire includes 22 studio albums and sales in excess of 85 million copies worldwide, featuring early highlights, such as Oxygène (1976) or Equinoxe (1978).
Throughout his career, the composer and producer has set numerous milestones and Guinness Records for live audiences. In 1981, he became the first western musician to perform in communist China and he brought together more than three million people in Moscow in 1997. His creative, cultural and environmental message is set against emblematic locations and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ranging from the Great Pyramids of Egypt, the Sahara Desert and the Forbidden City to the Eiffel Tower, the Dead Sea or Al Ula, as well being a sell-out in tours of stadiums and festivals, such as Coachella.
Technology remains at the forefront of his work, ranging from multi-channel audio production to virtual reality and the meta-verse. In addition to his musical career, he has served as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Education, Science and Culture since 1993 and stands out for his unwavering defence of the planet and he has been awarded the Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication.
