British artist RAYE inaugurated the 2026 Montreux Jazz Festival on July 3rd by welcoming two celebrated musicians as unannounced collaborators. The Auditorium Stravinski underwent a significant spatial redesign for the opening act, which featured producer and songwriter Mark Ronson and singer Alicia Keys. The South London performer's appearance marked her third consecutive year at the Lake Geneva festival and arrived following her 2024 live recording and the spring release of her second studio album.

Highlights included RAYE performing alongside Ronson on tracks including 'Uptown Funk,' which he co-wrote, and subsequently joining Keys for several pieces—a musical pairing that had never taken place in a live setting before. The festival's calendar continues throughout July with additional major performers scheduled, whilst RAYE's upcoming commitments include festival headlining slots and a North American tour supporting Bruno Mars later in the year.