A celebration of Australia’s longest running national jazz radio program, featuring Eugene Ball and Hyperbaroq.

“Her poems are powerful and dangerous, like violets pushing through concrete to kiss the sun, or unarmed people, arms locked, chanting and singing, forcing armies to retreat” — Los Angeles Times

Featuring Lloyd Swanton (The Necks), Ed Kuepper (The Saints, Laughing Clowns), Alister Spence and Toby Hall, Asteroid Ekosystem fuses rock, jazz, avant-impro and psychedelia like no other.

Four titans of modern jazz (Holland/Potter/Loueke/Harland) reunite for a 10th anniversary celebration of their tour de force eponymous release.

An evening of spontaneous creation and boundary-pushing sound, as two adventurous musical forces meet for the very first time.

“Original and provocative, feels like the sense of discovery” – Brian Eno

One man, one piano, one voice: an artist of rare intensity in his purest and most powerful form.

Epic synths and electrifying breaks from one of music’s great innovators.

“An important part of the newest wave of South African artists to add to the country’s rich musical heritage.” — Jazzwise

“One of American jazz’s foremost voices… a career that spans four decades and has never stopped evolving.” — The Guardian

Hear from one of the most celebrated voices in jazz as GRAMMY and Tony Award-winning vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater sits down for an intimate artist talk.

One of the world’s oldest working instruments meets contemporary jazz in the hands of Nay master Faris Ishaq.

Local bar hops with a difference – we’re bringing Jazz Fest to some of Footscray’s favourite venues for two epic Sundays of free music and cool beverages. Wander between venues and discover Afro-diasporic grooves, swing, soul and jazz in the heart of Melbourne’s west.

Kicking off the 2026 festival with a bang, Fed Square comes alive with a free afternoon of brass, beats and boundary-pushing sounds, followed by a special program of Jazz on Film. Saturday afternoon begins with our unmissable Second Line Parade bringing the vibrant spirit of the New Orleans streets to Melbourne, with New Orleans legends […]

Jazz Fest takes over Prahran Square with a huge afternoon of free live music, bringing together acclaimed local and international artists for an energising celebration of jazz, soul and Afrobeat.

Rally your favourite people for a huge night at Jazz Fest’s Haus Party — where jazz, groove, hip-hop and electronic music collide.

Syncopate your imagination with some jazzy play!

Across two days, a dedicated theatrette inside the Royal Exhibition Building’s gallery will host some of Italy’s finest jazz talents, creating an intimate club atmosphere. Alongside over 200 stalls of food, wine, art, fashion and culture, this specially curated Italian Festa Jazz Club offers a rare chance to immerse yourself in world-class Italian jazz right here in Melbourne.

Melbourne’s music scene flows into Alba Thermal Springs & Spa, where lush geothermal pools provide the backdrop for a unique series of live jazz sessions. Soak up some of the city’s finest jazz surrounded by nature, the perfect way to unwind during the festival.

Steeped in history and full of charm, the Crown Street Stables comes alive with jazz, improvisation and sonic exploration. Bring a picnic blanket, settle in, and enjoy a free afternoon of music and discovery in this much-loved heritage landmark.

The label at the forefront of the UK’s jazz scene, Jazz re:freshed, brings you another epic double bill featuring Theon Cross and Summer Pearl, alongside a line-up of their best DJs.

A celebration of jazz tradition, innovation and the artists shaping its future.

Innovative trombonist, philosopher and academic George Lewis presents his paper “Is Our Machines Learning Yet?” Machine Learning’s Challenge to Improvisation and the Aesthetic.

DownBeat Pianist of the Year: 2020, 2022, 2025 and 2026.

Late night, unplanned and unmissable.

One of South Africa’s most celebrated performers joins forces with local legends Afrospace Interchange.

A celebration of the next generation of jazz, featuring students from the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, University of Melbourne — alongside GRAMMY‑winning pianist and composer Kris Davis.

Acclaimed bassist and composer Ross McHenry premieres a new collaboration featuring New York’s most in-demand trumpeter, Adam O’Farrill.

“A philosopher, composer, improviser, conceptualist, computer-music pioneer and trombonist, George Lewis has a mind as expansive as an ocean…. ” — Sydney Morning Herald

A celebration of the next generation of jazz featuring students from the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance, alongside renowned jazz bassist Robert Hurst.

Australian-born, New York-based duo Olivia Chindamo and Matthew Sheens return to Australia to launch their second album, Putting It Together.

“TL;DR carves space for deep listening, sonically drifting in ways that invite the listener in” – Jazzwise

Jazz Fest is taking over Prahran Market for two lively days of free music. Enjoy jazz, soul and R&B from local artists as you explore Stonnington’s favourite historic foodie destination.

“unbelievable. hard as hell, free as a ray of light, there is not a band on earth that is better” — Flea, Red Hot Chili Peppers

“The evening was one of intimacy, restraint and – yes – resonance, with all four artists focused on listening, responding and sharing, their spirit of openness resonating with the audience in turn.” – The Age

Recording artist, storyteller and cultural documentarian Sachém premieres his new work Strangers Again.

An epic new work from Aaron Choulai’s Australian Art Orchestra, featuring Ngaiire and Joelistics.

Our Second Line parade returns, bringing the jubilant energy of the quintessential New Orleans art form to Melbourne’s inner-city.

“Hearing Shai Maestro is like awakening to a new world.” — All About Jazz

A leading voice in Korea’s contemporary jazz scene, drummer and composer Soojin Suh brings her acclaimed Coloris Trio to Melbourne for two rare performances.

Disney Pixar’s Soul, an Oscar-winning celebration of jazz, creativity and the pursuit of purpose, is coming to Fed Square.

Discover Moonee Valley’s soundscapes on “listening walks” led by landscape architect and acoustic ecologist Anthony Magen.

Three distinct voices at the forefront of Japanese jazz – Tenors in Chaos, STEREO CHAMP, and Misaki Umei – come together for a huge triple bill, showcasing the present and future of Tokyo’s incredible jazz scene.

Learn the craft of MCing during this hour-long workshop with Stogie T, one of Africa’s most respected voices in hip hop.

A seminal force in 21st century jazz, The Bad Plus make their final Australian appearance.

Hear from a seminal force in 21st century jazz — The Bad Plus — in a career-spanning farewell artist talk.

The Shanghai Pearls bring to life the swinging jazz clubs of old Shanghai.

The Teskey Brothers headline an incredible day of soul, funk, jazz and blues to kick off the 2026 Melbourne International Jazz Festival, joined on the line-up by towering architect of funk, Fred Wesley & the New JBs, and ARIA-winning vocalist Emily Wurramara.

“Hamasyan and his collaborators travel musical expanses marked with heavy grooves, ethereal voices, pristine piano playing and ancient melodies. You’ll hear nothing else like this” — NPR

Join us at The Toff for a late-night celebration of Melbourne’s vibrant jazz and live music community.

A “New Jazz Power Source” (New York Times) in her Australian premiere

One of Melbourne’s most distinctive musicians, Xani, presents her highly anticipated MIJF commission.

“Since arriving in New York City in 1999, Cuban saxophonist, percussionist and composer Yosvany Terry has helped redefine Latin Jazz as a complex new idiom” – The New York Times.

An international ensemble co-curated with Jazz at Lincoln Center brings the music of Thelonious Monk vividly into the present.