What is on site
Access provision
- Companion / PA ticket
- Sign language interpretation
About Melbourne International Jazz Festival
The Melbourne International Jazz Festival runs for ten days every October across venues throughout Melbourne. Now in its 29th year, it describes itself as Australia's largest jazz festival, presenting more than 130 performances by over 550 artists to crowds of more than 60,000. Its Modern Masters series fills the city's major concert halls, including the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Hamer Hall and the Melbourne Recital Centre, while club gigs run in smaller rooms around the city.
The 2026 festival runs from Friday 16 to Sunday 25 October. Jazz at the Bowl on Saturday 17 October features The Teskey Brothers marking ten years of their album Half Mile Harvest, with Fred Wesley and The New JBs and Emily Wurramara. Dee Dee Bridgewater plays Hamer Hall on 24 October, and the closing night on 25 October brings Aziza, the group of Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Lionel Loueke and Eric Harland, to the same hall.
The wider program includes The Bad Plus in their final Australian appearance, Tigran Hamasyan, Benjamin Clementine at the Forum, Rebirth Brass Band, the Joey Alexander Trio, Yosvany Terry, the Tomeka Reid Quartet, BIGYUKI, aja monet and the Soojin Suh Coloris Trio. Venues also include The JazzLab, Max Watt's, Kindred Bandroom and Chapel Off Chapel, and free Footscray Sunday Sessions take the festival into local bars.
The festival says at least 35 percent of its program is free or low cost. It also commissions new work, runs a First Nations Artist Residency in partnership with the Australian Art Orchestra, and presents masterclasses and education programs.
Tickets are sold per event through the festival website, with a $5.50 transaction fee per order. Concession prices are available where offered, Companion Card holders receive a free companion ticket, and Mob Tickets offer discounted entry for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander audiences. The 2025 festival ran from 17 to 26 October and featured Harry Connick Jr. at the Bowl.
Melbourne International Jazz Festival lineup
19 artistsAccessibility
Wheelchair-accessible seating is available at many shows, marked in the program. Assistive listening is offered at selected venues, and Auslan-interpreted performances are marked in the program. Companion Card holders receive a free second ticket for their companion. Contact the ticketing team for access bookings.
Image credits
- Main photo: United States Embassy Australia / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain · source
- Logo: Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Official logo from the festival's own website (logo source 3). Trademark of Melbourne International Jazz Festival; no licence wording on the page, use for identification only. · source
Photos may be resized or cropped. Logos belong to their festivals.
Frequently asked
When is the 2026 Melbourne International Jazz Festival?
Friday 16 October to Sunday 25 October 2026, at venues across Melbourne.
Who is headlining?
The Teskey Brothers with Fred Wesley & The New JBs at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, plus Dee Dee Bridgewater, Aziza, The Bad Plus and Tigran Hamasyan.
How do tickets work?
Tickets are sold per concert through the festival website. A $5.50 transaction fee applies per order, and concessions are available for many shows.
Are there free events?
Yes. The festival says at least 35% of its program is free or low cost, including the Footscray Sunday Sessions.
What access services are offered?
Wheelchair-accessible seating at marked shows, assistive listening at selected venues, Auslan-interpreted performances and free Companion Card tickets.
Contact the festival
Last verified 2026-10-20. Dates, prices and lineups change — always confirm on the official festival site before booking.