About EFG London Jazz Festival
The EFG London Jazz Festival is a ten-day jazz festival held across London every November. Concerts take place in large halls such as the Barbican and the Royal Festival Hall and in smaller clubs such as Ronnie Scott's and the Vortex Jazz Club. The festival is produced by Serious, the company that previously ran the Camden Jazz Weeks. Those weeks were added to the Camden Festival in 1970 and held at venues around the borough for about fifteen years. When the Camden Festival closed in the early 1990s, Serious launched the London Jazz Festival in 1992 with help from the London Arts Board. In 2011 it was produced with BBC Radio 3. Since 2013 it has carried the name of its headline sponsor, EFG Private Bank. A history of the festival, written by Emma Webster and George McKay, was published in 2017 for its 25th anniversary.
The 2026 festival runs from Friday 13 to Sunday 22 November, with ten days of performances, collaborations and new commissions across the capital, and the Barbican presents part of the programme. The opening night includes Coltrane 100, a centenary tribute with Joe Lovano, Melissa Aldana, Nduduzo Makhathini, Linda May Han Oh and Jeff "Tain" Watts. Goldie presents Dare to Dream with his live band, an orchestra and guests, and Asha Puthli plays a rare UK concert. Other highlights include Anouar Brahem's After the Last Sky, Ambrose Akinmusire, GoGo Penguin, Fatoumata Diawara with the Thanda Choir, Lizz Wright, Emma-Jean Thackray's Dear Miles, Roberto Fonseca with Vincent Segal, and Andy Sheppard's trio with Norma Winstone and Kit Downes.
The programme also includes a Japanese jazz night inspired by Haruki Murakami's Jazz at Peter Cat, Kyoto Jazz Massive with the Echoes of a New Dawn Orchestra, and Church of Sound's 10th birthday with a British Jazz Songbook programme. The Jazz Social returns as a festival hub with intimate sets, one-off events, live radio broadcasts and family activities.
Tickets are sold per event through the festival website and individual venues, so prices vary by concert. The 2025 festival ran from 14 to 23 November across more than 60 London venues.
EFG London Jazz Festival lineup
13 artistsFrequently asked
When is the 2026 EFG London Jazz Festival?
Friday 13 to Sunday 22 November 2026, at venues across London.
Who is playing?
Highlights include Coltrane 100 with Joe Lovano and Melissa Aldana, Goldie, Asha Puthli, Anouar Brahem, Ambrose Akinmusire, GoGo Penguin and Fatoumata Diawara.
Where are the concerts?
At venues large and small, including the Barbican, the Royal Festival Hall, Ronnie Scott's and the Vortex.
How are tickets sold?
Per event, through the festival website and individual venues, so prices vary.
What is The Jazz Social?
The festival hub, with intimate performances, one-off events, live radio broadcasts and family activities.
Contact the festival
Last verified 2026-10-20. Dates, prices and lineups change — always confirm on the official festival site before booking.