15 Of The World’s Best Jazz Festivals To Have On Your Radar
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4 months ago
Jazzy festivals to visit this summer
Whether you’re a die-hard jazz fan or merely looking to appreciate good music in beautiful surroundings, there are plenty of jazz festivals to quench your thirst. Here are our favourites for 2024, from the UK and beyond.
15 Of The World’s Best Jazz Festivals
Sani Festival
Sani Festival, Greece
Jazz in sunny Greece? Sounds ideal. This festival is as kind on the eyes as it is the ears: situated on Sani Hill, where the sea, sky and greenery all meet against the dramatic backdrop of the ruined Byzantine tower and the Aegean Sea. Having celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2023, what started as a small jazz festival has transformed into one of the country’s foremost cultural institutions. Making the most of warm summer nights, Sani Festival featured a starry line-up in 2024, including Plácido Domingo, Madeleine Peyroux, Tom Jones, The Century of Mimis Plessas, Emeli Sande and Gipsy Kings. Stay tuned for all the 2025 details.
Details: Every summer at Sani Hill, Kassandra, Greece. sani-resort.com
Cheltenham Jazz Festival, UK
One of Europe’s largest jazz festivals, Cheltenham Jazz Festival is internationally renowned for bringing the very best jazz musicians to the pretty Cotswolds town. Balancing world-renowned artists with talented up-and-comers, the Festival is always looking to create new jazz fans with new audiences.
Details: Cheltenham Jazz Festival takes place every Spring at Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham. Learn more about it here. cheltenhamfestivals.com
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New Orleans Jazz Festival, USA
One of the US’ largest music festivals, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – aka Jazz Fest – is an annual festival celebrating the music, art, culture and heritage of New Orleans, Louisiana. These days, it attracts huge crowds with big name artists like, in 2024, The Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters, Chris Stapleton, The Killers, Hozier, Queen Latifah, Vampire Weekend, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Beach Boys and many more. But its roots are firmly in jazz, and the Festival hosts a plethora of less established performers, with applications only taken from Louisiana locals to preserve the heritage of the festival.
Details: Jazz Fest takes place every Spring at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots (1751 Gentilly Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70119, United States). Learn more about it here. nojazzfest.com
EFG London Jazz Festival, UK
The annual London Jazz Festival is the largest of its kind in Europe, with over 300 shows across more than 70 venues drawing over 100,000 in live audiences. Taking place annually since 1992, performers and audiences flock from across the globe to be part of it, and the line-up is jam packed with world-class events across London.
Details: Every November, with the next edition 15–24 November 2024, across London. efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk
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North Sea Jazz Festival, Netherlands
A hub for music fans and professionals alike, Rotterdam’s North Sea Jazz Festival features workshops, panels and exhibitions alongside over 1,000 artists spanning jazz, blues, soul and funk. Established in 1976, like New Orleans’ Jazz Fest, it has grown to feature popular music and artists along side jazz – the 2023 edition featured Stormzy, Tom Jones, Janelle Monae, Seal and Lizzo, among many more. It’s the largest indoor music festival in the world, and jazz remains the core of the line-up, though visitors can expect blues, soul, funk, hip hop, pop and plenty more.
Details: Every summer in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. northseajazz.com
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Cross The Tracks, UK
This one-day London jazz festival is all about culture, music and community. Taking over south London’s Brockwell Park, music is naturally at the heart of the festival, but more than 70 food trucks will keep you fuelled up, and local traders will set up stores selling artisan wares, too. On the music side, expect some of the world’s premier jazz artists to take to one of the nine al fresco stages, from jazz to funk, soul to hip hop.
Details: Every May in Brockwell Park (London SE24 0NG). xthetracks.com
Jazz in Marciac, France
This small-town jazz festival draws local and international jazz musicians to southwestern France for two weeks of escapism. Famously relaxed and welcoming, expect workshops, masterclasses and exhibitions alongside performances from the likes of Norah Jones, Samara Joy and Gregory Porter.
Details: Every summer in Marciac, France. jazzinmarciac.com
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Iford Manor Jazz Festival, UK
Iford Manor is a lovely, historic venue with a fledgling jazz festival launched just a few years ago. Curated by multi-award-winning jazz vocalist Claire Martin OBE, the programme is filled with acclaimed jazz artists from all over the world alongside rising stars. A concise line-up and limited number of tickets makes for the most intimate of jazz performances from captivating artists in the historic setting, come accompanied by delectable food.
Details: Every summer in Bradford-on-Avon. ifordmanor.co.uk
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Firenze Jazz Festival, Italy
This beautiful historic city shines best when the backdrop of musical performances – and its annual Jazz Festival is no exception. Expect world-class performances set against splendid backdrops, from intimate jazz clubs to open-air stages.
Details: Every September across Florence. firenzejazzfestival.it
Love Supreme Jazz Festival, UK
Venture to East Sussex’s beautiful Glynde Place for Love Supreme Music Festival, which features world-class jazz and soul music alongside a wellness and yoga area, organised hill walks across the South Downs, talks and panels, film screenings, and DJs late into the night.
Details: Every summer at Glynde Place, East Sussex. lovesupremefestival.com
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Brick Lane Jazz Festival, UK
London based jazz fan? This music scene is thriving in the British capital, and Brick Lane Jazz Festival is the annual event showcasing all things London jazz, alongside a series of one-off events throughout the year. Championing eclectic, genre-defying artists from the surrounding area, Brick Lane Jazz Festival is all about the community vibes – with world class music to boot.
Details: Every April across venues around Brick Lane, London, centred on The Truman Brewery (91 Brick Ln, London E1 6QR). bricklanejazzfestival.com
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Umbria Jazz, Italy
Founded in 1973 by Italian music producer Carlo Pagnotta, Umbria Jazz celebrated 50 years in 2023. With blues, soul and Latin music alongside jazz, enjoy established artists and newcomers in the stunning surroundings of Perugia. With a key focus on sustainability, opportunities for emerging artists to learn more, and plenty for little ones to get up to, too, this is a truly wholesome jazz festival.
Details: Every summer in Perugia, Italy. umbriajazz.it
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We Out Here, UK
We Out Here is billed as a jazz festival ‘for everyone’, the brainchild of British DJ Giles Peterson. The inaugural 2019 festival was an instant success, with a stellar line-up spanning not just jazz but house, disco, soul, drum ‘n’ bass and more. In 2023, Ezra Collective, Knucks, Nia Archives and Róisín Murphy all performed, and the 2024 lineup is looking just as stellar: Floating Points, Mount Kimbie, Ebo Taylor & The Family Band, and CASSISDEAD will all perform. Elsewhere you’ll find ‘The Escape’, which hosts mindfulness workshops, yoga and art therapy, a wild swimming lake, plenty of cultural offerings and excellent food.
Details: Every summer in Wimborne St Giles, Dorset. weoutherefestival.com
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Flow Festival, Finland
Founded in 2004 as a small jazz and soul event, Flow Festival has grown into a key player on the European music festival scene. Wizkid, Blur and FKA Twigs all performed in summer 2023, alongside a cultural programme of talks and art. In 2024, Fred Again tops the bill, with Pulp, The Smile, PJ Harvey and Jessie Ware all on the lineup. Flow has impressive eco-credits too, being one of the world’s first carbon-neutral festivals.
Details: Every summer in Helsinki, Finland. flowfestival.com
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Green Room, UK
Set in a medieval barn in the countryside village of Lenham, Green Room is the newest jazz festival on this list. Launching in 2023, the festival brought world-class musicians to intimate and unusual spaces to give audiences authentic performance experiences. The Pasedena Roof Orchestra opened the inaugural festival on Friday 1 September 2023, with classical performances on Saturday from world-renowned performers, and swing from jazz vocalist Clare Teal with The Clare Teal Four on Sunday, all enjoyed with a local glass of wine from Balfour Winery, or beer or cider from Jake’s Drinks. It will return in 2024 – and hopefully thereafter – with performances from Lance Ellington, Bach to Baby, Jay Rayner, Jack Gonzalez-Harding and Nicholas McCarthy, and more.
Details: At the end of every summer in Lenham, Kent. greenroomconcerts.com
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