List of jazz festivals


Historic jazz festivals

NameYearLocationNotesImage-
Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival1969–presentAnn Arbor, Michigan-
Beaulieu Jazz Festival1956-61Beaulieu, HampshireLord Montagu of Beaulieu holds an annual trad and modern jazz festival in the ground of Beaulieu estate, in the New Forest. Attracts beats and jazz eccentrics.-
Clearwater Jazz Holiday1979-presentClearwater, FloridaThe Clearwater Jazz Holiday is a four-day and four-night, world-class, live, music festival, enjoyed by over 35,000 people the third week of every October and now in its 37th year. -
DC Jazz Festival2005–presentWashington, DCPresents a selection of established jazz artists as well as emerging artists, and provides enhanced exposure for the rich treasure trove of musicians from the Washington, DC area. -
Festival International de Jazz1959–1966Comblain-la-Tour, BelgiumFor eight years, between 1959 and 1966 at the initiative of a GI who survived the Rundstedt Offensive, the small Walloon village turned into one of the landmarks of the jazz world. Performing artists included John Coltrane, Ray Charles, Nina Simone, Stéphane Grappelli, Cannonball Adderley, Chet Baker, and Woody Herman.
Golden River City Jazz Festival1960–presentKortrijk, BelgiumFocusing on Jazz. The Festival was an opportunity for The Golden River City Jazz Band to showcase their repertoire and to mingle with international musicians-
1984–presentLake George, New YorkThis free festival weekend of contemporary jazz, features nationally acclaimed performers in upstate New York every September at Lake George Village’s Shepard Park. "One of the best-kept secrets on the Eastern jazz festival circuit, the Lake George Jazz Festival is a gem worth discovering." -
Jazz Bilzen1965- 1981Bilzen, BelgiumThis was the first festival on the continent where jazz and pop music were brought together. Sometimes called the "mother of all festivals," Bilzen started out featuring jazz, but eventually incorporated blues, folk, rock and soul, punk and new wave as well.-
JazzFest Berlin1964– presentBerlin, GermanyThe festival's artistic concept has been to document, support, and validate trends in jazz, and to mirror the diversity of creative musical activity.-
Jefferson St. Jazz & Blues Festival2000–PresentNashville, TennesseeThis 2-day event pays homage to the historic treasures and challenges that make the Jefferson Street community a unique and vital part of Nashville. -
Kongsberg Jazzfestival1964–presentKongsberg, NorwayThe second jazz festival started in Norway.-
Moldejazz1961–presentMolde, NorwayThe first jazz festival in Norway.-
National Jazz and Blues Festival1961-1980sUnited KingdomOriginally oriented around jazz and blues, this annual festival soon became a showcase for progressive rock as well, featuring groups such as the psychedelic rock group Cream.-
Nattjazz1972–presentBergen, NorwayThis is a sentral jazz festival in Norway oriented around the variety of jazz.-
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival1970–presentNew Orleans, LouisianaThis annual festival celebrates the indigenous music and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana, so the music encompasses every style associated with the city and the state: contemporary and traditional jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, Cajun music, zydeco, Afro-Caribbean, folk music, Latin, rock, rap music, country music, and bluegrass.-
Newport Jazz Festival1954–presentNewport, Rhode IslandIt was established in 1954 by socialite Elaine Lorillard. While initially focused on acoustic jazz, the festival's 1969 program was an experiment in fusing jazz, soul and rock music and audiences.-
Pori Jazz1966–presentPori, FinlandThe first festival was based on acoustic jazz, but electric jazz and other rhythm music, blues, soul, funk, hip-hop and the rich Cuban and Brazilian music gradually took foot.-
Prague International Jazz Festival1964–presentPrague-
Jersey City Jazz Festival2013–presentJersey City, NJAn annual festival in June based out of Hudson County. The festival was started to create an awareness of the internationally known jazz musicians living in Jersey City.-
Tobago Jazz Festival2004–PresentTrinidad and TobagoAmerican magazine Forbes in 2008 voted the festival "third Biggest Event on Planet Earth"-

Jazz festivals by country

The following is an incomplete list of notable jazz festivals by current, including both current and defunct festivals of note.

Africa

Angola

Kriol Jazz Festival in Praia Cabo Verde

Lesotho

Madagascar

Argentina

Alabama
Alaska
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Azerbaijan

2017 april 29,
2018 september 8,
2019 july 26,
ig: ipjazzfestival

Nepal

Austria

Romania

*

Australia