Christmas Concert in Phoenix, Mauritius on 18 December

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MAURITIUS · EVENTS

A Christmas concert in Mauritius takes place on Friday 18 December 2026, when a live band and guest singers fill J&J Auditorium in Vacoas-Phoenix. The show starts at 20:00 Mauritius time, which is 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

Early-bird tickets on Otayo, the island’s ticketing site, cost 500 to 800 Mauritian rupees (about US$10 to US$17) for adults. For a US visitor, it is an inexpensive way to spend a Christmas-week evening with local families.

What the Concert Is and Why It Matters

The Christmas concert is called L’Or, la Myrrhe et l’Encens, French for gold, myrrh and frankincense. Those are the three gifts of the Three Kings in the Christmas story, and this is the second edition of the show.

The listing says the first edition was a success, and the organisers have brought it back for 2026. Otayo describes a musical journey through Christmas carols, with voices, music and a live orchestra in a Mauritian-style celebration.

The Christmas concert is led by The Well Band, a live band formed in 2022, according to the listing. The producer is The Well Sega Jazz Rock Gospel, a live-entertainment company, which works with ICHOS Production Ltd and Charles Michael Photography.

The band lists guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, saxophone, trumpet, trombone and percussion, plus five named singers. Guest musicians from the group Les Jobalin add an accordion player, Jocelyn Cartier, and a violinist, Babi Malabar.

Guest singers named by Otayo are Laurance Thumiah, Eddy Fok Shan, Marie Anne Halbwachs, Dominique Halbwachs and Jessica Gopaul, listed as JessKa. Juliette Wildman is the master of ceremonies, and the listing promises further surprise guests.

This edition includes a tribute to Gilbert Thomas, who ran stage management for the band from 2022 and died in 2025, says the listing. The band will sing Hotel California by the Eagles, his favourite song, with his son Loïc Thomas.

Date, Times and Tickets

The Christmas concert is on Friday 18 December 2026 and starts at 20:00 Mauritius time. That is 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time in the United States, because Mauritius is nine hours ahead of New York in December.

Otayo sells Christmas concert seats in three zones. Gold is closest to the stage, Silver sits just behind Gold, and Bronze sits just behind Silver.

Early-bird tickets for ages 11 and over cost 800 rupees (about US$17) for Gold, 600 (US$13) for Silver and 500 (US$10) for Bronze. Children aged 4 to 10 pay 600 rupees (about US$13), 500 rupees (about US$10) or 300 rupees (about US$6) for the same three zones.

Dollar figures here use 47.64 rupees per US dollar, the rate on 31 October 2026. Otayo’s page said on Sunday 1 November that the early-bird offer ends in five days, so around Friday 6 November.

The price after the early-bird window is not published, so buying early is the only way to know the cost. Seats are not numbered, and places are assigned by ticket category.

Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable, and the venue can refuse admission. A ticket is required for every child aged 3 and over, and children under 3 enter free on a parent’s lap.

Otayo is the official seller named on the listing, and its office line is +230 466 99 99. Buy only through otayo.com, because resale offers from strangers carry a real risk of fake tickets.

Raffle, Photos and Dress Code

The organisers run a fundraising raffle tied to the printed programme of The Well Sega Jazz Rock Gospel. A donation of at least 100 rupees (about US$2) for the brochure earns three free raffle tickets in the Gold, Silver or Bronze category.

The draw takes place right after the interval, with three winning families in each of the three categories. Winners who come with friends or family may dress as they like, except in white.

Every ticket holder can also book a professional photo session, and the same no-white dress code applies. The price depends on the ticket category and is not published on the listing.

Children under 13 receive a gift, while stocks last and on a first-come, first-served basis. The listing also thanks the Resto du Coeur d’Albion for its help, and it gives no further detail.

The Venue and How to Get There

The Christmas concert is staged at J&J Auditorium, which stands on Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Avenue in Vacoas-Phoenix, according to Otayo’s venue page. The page says it opened in 2011 and has hosted concerts, theatre, international conferences and prize-giving ceremonies.

It describes a 2,500-seat auditorium, with 2,000 seats on the ground floor and 500 on the balcony, plus a youth hall and a restaurant. Another line speaks of movable seating for up to 2,300, so the exact capacity is unclear.

Food and drinks are sold at the venue cafeteria, and bringing your own food or drinks is not allowed. Otayo advises guests to arrive early to enjoy the event in the best conditions.

Vacoas-Phoenix lies inland, away from the coastal resorts, so plan on a taxi or hired car. The venue page lists air conditioning and a parking capacity of 475 but gives no transport details, so arrange your ride home before the show.

Tips for US and Foreign Visitors

The US State Department says no visa is required for US citizens, and the passport is stamped for entry for 60 days. You need a valid passport with one blank page, evidence of onward or return travel, and proof of sufficient funds.

Mauritius’s Passport and Immigration Office lists a confirmed hotel booking or sponsorship for accommodation among its entry conditions. Keep your booking confirmation on your phone, and check both government pages again before you fly.

The State Department also asks for a World Health Organization yellow fever card if you arrive from a country where the disease is present. Its advice for Mauritius is to exercise normal precautions.

The same page says that, despite overall low levels, crime remains a concern in Mauritius, particularly in tourist areas. It also advises caution at public gatherings, so after a night show use a taxi that your hotel has arranged.

Christmas concert prices on Otayo are in rupees only, so a US card will be converted by your bank. Check your card’s foreign-transaction fee before you buy.

December falls in the southern summer, which is also the cyclone season on the island. The Mauritius Meteorological Services publishes forecasts and cyclone warnings, so read them in the days before your trip.

By buying a ticket you agree to be photographed or filmed, and your image may be posted on social networks. Keep that in mind if you bring children.

What Is Not Confirmed Yet

For the Christmas concert, no doors time and no end time are published, and Otayo says the end time may change. The length of the interval and the song list are also not stated.

The listing is written in French, and it does not say in which language the carols will be sung. Otayo’s office line, +230 466 99 99, is the place to ask before you buy.

The surprise guests are not named, and the price of the photo session is not published. It is also unclear what a child aged exactly 3 pays, because the child ticket tiers on Otayo cover ages 4 to 10.

The Christmas concert details here come from Otayo, the official seller named on the listing, which gives no separate organiser website. Ticket availability can change within hours, and the prices above are the ones shown on Sunday 1 November 2026.

What Comes Next

If you are on the island for the Christmas concert, see our guide to the Philou party at The Ruins on 12 December. Another Phoenix show is the Jamel Comedy Club on 28 February 2027, at the same auditorium.

For a Creole sega night in November, read our guide to the Laflam Zilwa night in Belle Vue. For the capital, read what to do in Port Louis in November.

More: Latin America news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Christmas concert in Mauritius?

It is on Friday 18 December 2026 at J&J Auditorium in Vacoas-Phoenix. The show starts at 20:00 Mauritius time, which is 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

How much are Christmas concert tickets in Mauritius?

Early-bird tickets cost 800 rupees (about US$17) for Gold, 600 rupees (about US$13) for Silver and 500 rupees (about US$10) for Bronze. Child tickets for ages 4 to 10 cost 300 to 600 rupees (about US$6 to US$13).

Do US citizens need a visa to attend?

The US State Department says no visa is needed and the passport is stamped for 60 days. You need a valid passport with a blank page, return travel and proof of funds.

Sources: Otayo, L’Or, la Myrrhe et l’Encens – 2nd Edition (official ticket seller: date, time, line-up, prices, terms), accessed 1 November 2026; Otayo, J&J Auditorium venue page, accessed 1 November 2026; Mauritius Passport and Immigration Office, Travel Requirements, accessed 1 November 2026; US Department of State, Mauritius country information page, accessed 1 November 2026; Mauritius Meteorological Services (forecasts and cyclone warnings), accessed 1 November 2026.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief