The 41st Vancouver International Jazz Festival, presented by Coastal Jazz, returns to Metro Vancouver stages, from June 19th to July 5th.
The 2026 festival welcomes over 150 artists with 175+ performances at 25 venues, including 33 free shows and workshops, and 32 pay-what-you-can performances.
The Marquee performances featured in this year’s festival include:
- Brandon Woody’s Upendo: Wednesday June 24 (two shows) at Fox Cabaret
- Tomoki Sanders: Thursday, June 25, at The Birdhouse
- The Ex: Friday, June 26, at The Hollywood
- Keyon Harrold “Foreverland and Songs For Miles”: Tuesday, June 30 at the Vancouver Playhouse
- Isaiah Collier “Collier Plays Coltrane”: Wednesday, July 1 at the Vancouver Playhouse.
Once again the 2026 Vancouver International Jazz Festival has something for everyone with a mix of free and ticketed performances, including the return of Downtown Jazz—a free concert series taking place outside the Vancouver Art Gallery at šx????n?q Xwtl’e7én? Square on June 27 and 28. Granville Island will serve as the festival hub, with both free and ticketed shows at Ocean Artworks throughout the festival, as well as at shows at Performance Works and the Revue Stage from July 1 to 5. New festival locations, The Hollywood Theatre and The Birdhouse join other downtown theatres, clubs, and North Shore venues showcasing a variety of live jazz performances throughout the 17-day festival.
The Performance Works Series, running July 1 to 5, features five nights of adventurous programming highlighting local luminaries of the scene.
photo: Tom Gould
Shows taking place at Performance Works includes:
- Voodoo: The Music of D’Angelo: Wednesday, July 1
- MA:Q + Sharon Minemoto Quartet: Thursday, July 2
- Cellar Live 25th Anniversary: Cory Weeds Little Big Band ft. Jerry Weldon & Noah Franche-Nolan Trio – Friday, July 3
- Haleluya Hailu plays Ethiopia, directed by Feven Kidane: Saturday, July 4
- Stranger Friends Orchestra feat. Fredrik Ljungkvist: Sunday, July 5
“This year, we’re doubling down on the incredible local talent that has always been at the heart of the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, while welcoming international artists who are making the trip to be here. We’re partnering with some new venues for this year’s festival like The Hollywood Theatre and The Birdhouse, who will host Tomoki Sanders, a saxophonist from New York City as well as Dutch Punk Band, The Ex. We’ll also feature a wide mix of greatness from our own scene and continue our ongoing collaborations with organisations such as the Western Front, Queer Arts Festival and Talking Stick,” says Cole Schmidt, Co-Artistic Director of the Vancouver International Jazz Festival. “We’ll be highlighting a few larger ensembles, new musical meetings, and celebrating the creativity of some great artists that passed away this last year, such as D’Angelo and Louis Moholo. Current affairs and the FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule have led to many limitations and hindrances in this work, but thankfully, our connection with the community has once again helped us land on our feet. We’re expecting another really great time together this summer.”
Coastal Jazz presents the 41st Vancouver International Jazz Festival, returns to Metro Vancouver stages, from June 19 to July 5, 2026. For the festival guide, tickets and more information on the 2026 Vancouver International Jazz Festival events and performances, visit coastaljazz.ca