Jazz Music

The World’s 10 Must-See Jazz Festivals Dates & Info

August 18, 2025
Jazz Lover

 

1) Festival International de Jazz de Montréal — Montréal, Canada

When: late June into early July (typically the last week of June through the first week of July) — expect a 10-day run. (Tourisme Montréal)
Average cost: Famous for hundreds of free outdoor concerts; paid indoor headliners vary by artist/venue (plan for mid-range concert pricing). (Montreal Jazz Festival | Home)

History: Began in 1980 and grew into a sprawling city-wide party anchored around the Quartier des spectacles; today it’s widely regarded for its free programming and street-festival vibe. (Montreal Jazz Festival | Home)
Insider tips:

  • Free stages cluster around Place des Arts; arrive early for evening headliners to secure sightlines.
  • If you want indoor seated shows, book the moment program drops; the free stuff fills the vibe, but the ticketed series brings the legends.
    Official site: montrealjazzfest.com (Montreal Jazz Festival | Home)

 

2) Montreux Jazz Festival — Montreux, Switzerland

When: early–mid July (primarily the 1st and 2nd weeks of July), spanning two weeks on Lake Geneva. (Montreux Jazz Festival)
Average cost: About 90% of the program is free (lakeside stages, talks, jam sessions). Paid concerts range by category; there’s also a Lake Pass (all Lake Stage concerts for the edition). (Montreux Jazz Festival)

  • Example products: Lake Pass is listed at CHF 1,199 for the edition; other options like Priority Pass exist (priority lanes/guaranteed access to free stages). Prices and categories are detailed on the official site. (Montreux Jazz Festival)
  • History: Founded in 1967 by Claude Nobs; over decades, it evolved into a legendary performance archive (recognized by UNESCO’s Memory of the World via the Claude Nobs Foundation). (Montreux Jazz Festival, Claude Nobs Foundation)
    Insider tips:
  • Even for sold-out headliners, same-day limited tickets can drop at on-site box offices — check in person. (Montreux Jazz Festival)
  • Free program runs late into the night at the Lake House; pack layers for cool lakeside breezes.
    Official site: montreuxjazzfestival.com (Montreux Jazz Festival)

 

3) NN North Sea Jazz Festival — Rotterdam, Netherlands

When: mid-July, traditionally the second weekend of July (Fri–Sun) at Rotterdam Ahoy. (Wikipedia)
Average cost: Day tickets commonly start around €140; multipasses and add-ons vary.

History: Launched in 1976 in The Hague by Paul Acket; moved to Rotterdam in 2006, and is now billed as the world’s largest indoor jazz festival. (Wikipedia)
Insider tips:

 

4) Newport Jazz Festival — Newport, Rhode Island, USA

When: early August, typically the 1st weekend of August, at Fort Adams State Park. (Newport Jazz Festival, WXPN | Vinyl At Heart)
Average cost: Single-day and weekend passes (GA and upgraded tiers) are offered; pricing varies by tier year-to-year. Note: no re-entry once you leave the grounds. (Newport Jazz Festival)

History: The “granddaddy” of jazz fests, founded in 1954 (Elaine & Louis Lorillard; produced by George Wein); pivotal in U.S. jazz history. (Wikipedia)
Insider tips:

 

5) New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival — New Orleans, USA

When: late April & early May — two long weekends, typically the last week of April and the first week of May.
Average cost: GA single-day tickets typically list around $129 advance / $135 gate (plus fees); Louisiana residents have special pricing on designated days; multiple VIP tiers exist. (New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival)

History: Founded in 1970 by George Wein and the local foundation, a cultural powerhouse celebrating Louisiana music, food, and arts. (New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, jazzandheritage.org)
Insider tips:

 

6) Umbria Jazz — Perugia, Italy

When: July, generally spanning the 2nd and 3rd weeks of July across 10 days. (Umbria Jazz)
Average cost: A hallmark mix: free piazza concerts throughout the historic center + ticketed arena headliners (dynamic pricing via official sellers; check early). (Cape Town International Jazz Festival)

History: Born in 1973, Umbria Jazz turned Perugia’s piazzas into open-air stages and remains Italy’s most renowned jazz festival. (Umbria Jazz)
Insider tips:

  • Evenings in Piazza IV Novembre are magic — stake out balcony views from cafés if you can. (Umbria Jazz)
  • Students and players: look into the Berklee at Umbria Jazz Clinics that run alongside the festival. (Umbria Jazz)
    Official site: umbriajazz.it (Umbria Jazz)

 

7) Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival — Jakarta, Indonesia

When: late May / early June (often the last weekend of May into the first weekend of June). Recent editions are at JIExpo Kemayoran. (javajazzfestival.com, exhibition.jiexpo.com)
Average cost: Offers daily and multi-day passes; pricing tiers vary by phase. (Watch the official channels for early-bird drops; some editions add premium/showcase tickets.) (javajazzfestival.com)

History: Launched in 2005; one of the largest jazz festivals globally and the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere, with dozens of international and Indonesian acts across many stages. (Wikipedia)
Insider tips:

  • Venue is expansive and indoor-heavy — great for tropical downpours, but bring earplugs for hall-to-hall sprints.
  • Jakarta traffic is real; base yourself near Kemayoran or use the integrated shuttle/rail options.
    Official site: javajazzfestival.com (javajazzfestival.com)

 

8) Cape Town International Jazz Festival — Cape Town, South Africa

When: March (recently trending the 1st week of March, but editions vary). (Monterey Jazz)
Average cost: Recent GA day tickets around R950, with seated “Rosies” shows carrying a small surcharge per set. Hospitality/VIP tiers available. (Monterey Jazz)

History: Branded “Africa’s Grandest Gathering,” CTIJF is the continent’s flagship jazz event with deep local and pan-African programming alongside international stars. (Cape Town International Jazz Festival)
Insider tips:

 

9) Copenhagen Jazz Festival — Copenhagen, Denmark

When: early July — it starts the first Friday of July and runs 10 days (so it straddles the 1st and 2nd weeks of July). (Copenhagen Jazz Festival)
Average cost: A huge number of free concerts across squares and harborside; club shows and concert-hall dates are ticketed individually. (Copenhagen Jazz Festival)

History: Established 1979; a sprawling city festival with 100+ venues and 1,100+ concerts in peak years. (Copenhagen Jazz Festival)
Insider tips:

  • Book the big indoor names early; then graze the free afternoon sets in Nyhavn/harbor areas.
  • Copenhagen is ultra bike-friendly — perfect for stage-to-stage hopping.
    Official site: jazz.dk (Wikipedia)

 

10) Blue Note Jazz Festival in Japan — Tokyo/Yokohama, Japan

When: late September (last weekend of September in recent editions), with arena-scale headliners plus club-style showcases. (bluenotejazzfestival.jp)
Average cost: Arena days are priced like major pop concerts; club nights vary by venue. Exact tiers change each year — monitor the official English pages for releases and onsales. (bluenotejazzfestival.jp)

History: A newer entry tied to the Blue Note brand, this festival has quickly become a marquee late-September event in Japan’s live calendar. (bluenotejazzfestival.jp)
Insider tips:

  • Japanese onsales can stagger by segment (festival days vs. club nights); set alerts so you don’t miss the first wave.
  • Tokyo transport runs like clockwork — plan rapid venue hops via JR lines and the Metro.
    Official site: bluenotejazzfestival.jp/en (bluenotejazzfestival.jp)

 

 

11) Monterey Jazz Festival — Monterey, California, USA

When: late September — typically the last weekend of September at the Monterey County Fairgrounds. (Recent editions confirm late-September weekends.) (Monterey Jazz)
Average cost: Single-day and 3-day tickets, with reserved arena seating vs. grounds access tiers; prices vary by section and release. Check the official site for current GA vs. arena offerings. (Monterey Jazz)

History: Founded in 1958, the longest continuously-running jazz festival globally; a who ‘s-who of jazz has passed through its stages for 65+ years. (Monterey Jazz)
Insider tips:

  • Mornings are fog-cool, afternoons warm — layer and bring a low chair for grounds stages.
  • The grounds host multiple simultaneous stages; arrive early if you want rail-side spots at the Arena.
    Official site: montereyjazz.org (Monterey Jazz)

 

Quick planning notes (money & logistics)

  • Free vs. paid balance: Montréal, Montreux, and Copenhagen each offer extensive free programming — you can build an incredible trip spending little on tickets if you’re flexible. (Montreal Jazz Festival | Home, Montreux Jazz Festival, Copenhagen Jazz Festival)
  • Typical single-day baselines (ticketed festivals): North Sea Jazz day tickets often start ~€140; New Orleans Jazz Fest advance ~$129 (GA) with resident/Thursday discounts; others vary by tier and section. Always verify each edition’s release. (New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival)
  • Pass & perks examples: Montreux’s Lake Pass (all Lake Stage concerts) and Priority Pass (fast lanes, guaranteed access to free stages) are good fits for power attendees. (Montreux Jazz Festival)
  • Rules & comfort: Some festivals enforce no re-entry (e.g., Newport Jazz), and many have chair height limits. Skim each FAQ before you pack. (Newport Jazz Festival)

 

Official links (all in one place)

 

 

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