Montréal Jazz Fest will hit the highest notes of summer 2026!

The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal 2026 programming is sure to thrill

Always one to leap over borders both geographic and genre-based, the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal’s 2026 line-up once again offers a wealth of crowd-pleasing classics and brand-new discoveries. This year’s eye-popping line-up includes Diana Krall, Lionel Richie with Earth, Wind, & Fire, Melody Gardot, Patrick Watson, Pink Martini, St. Vincent (with symphony!), Cécile McLorin Salvant, Willow, Dominique Fils-Aimé, Max Richter, Hiromi, Fridayy, Joshua Redman Group, Kokoroko, Stacey Kent, The Barr Brothers, Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda & Antonio Sánchez, John Pizzarelli, Marcus Miller, Flore Laurentienne, Larkin Poe, Taj Mahal and Phantom Blues Band, Hania Rani, Macario Martinez, McKinley Dixon, The Halluci Nation, Etran de L’Aïr, Lila Downs, Rilès, Father John Misty, Sarah Neufeld, Richard Reed Parry, Rebecca Foon, Alchemist, Tanya Tagaq, Billy Bragg, Agine de Poitrine, Ibrahim Maalouf, GOAT, Viviane Audet, Tortoise, Kid Koala, Naïka, Willow, Smino, The Headhunters, Sullivan Fortner, Ca7riel y Paco Amoroso, The Bad Plus, Chief Adjuah, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Isaiah Collier and Ron Di Lauro (playing homage to Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue), plus many more just waiting to be discovered.

Keep tabs on precise scheduling and performer bios at the festival’s website. Just a tip—given Jazz Fest’s global reputation, if a ticketed show tickles your fancy it’s best to grab tickets as most sell out quickly. But should you miss them, worry not! There’s always space for all comers at the free epic outdoor shows in and around the Place des Festivals, and each year’s program is 2/3rds free to enjoy!

Festival International de Jazz de Montréal is the world’s biggest

Jazz Fest makes up a primary piece of any Montréal summer, and the past luminaries who’ve presided from its stages make up a distinct piece of musical history that reaches far beyond the boundaries of jazz. With past performers (all linked here to live clips of their historic performances) including Nina Simone, Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Wynton Marsalis, The Roots, Norah Jones, Ben Harper, The War on Drugs, Herbie Hancock & Thundercat, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Kamasi Washington, Ôlafur Arnalds, Jean-Michel Blais, Anderson.Paak and the Free Nationals, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Brian Wilson, Ms. Lauren Hill, Rufus Wainwright, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Lou Reed with Laurie Anderson & John Zorn, Gilberto Gil, Dave Brubeck, Bob Dylan, Andre 3000, Diana Ross, Keith Jarrett, Pat Metheny Group, Don Cherry with Charlie Haden & Ed Blackwell, Tanya Tagaq, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Orville Peck, Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, Burning Spear with Sly & Robbie, Diana Krall, Angélique Kidjo, Beck, Oscar Peterson, Ornette Coleman, Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, The B-52s, Youssou N’Dour, Funk Brothers, Bobby McFerrin, Césaria Évora and so many more, the Jazz Fest has steadily grown into the biggest of its kind on the globe. Some of the afore mention artists have also officially released their performances as live albums, keeping the legacy of those nights past shining bright. And not only do Montrealers come out in force for the festivities, but thousands of international music lovers also regularly make the pilgrimage every year.

Exhibitions and immersive experiences

The festival’s Maison du Festival also hosts music-themed exhibitions and many performances in its Le Studio TD venue, designed with optimal acoustics and sightlines throughout. Be sure to experience this perfect atmosphere filled with new musical discoveries and more intimate festival memories. And speaking of memories, the festival’s merch boutique is packed with commemorative knick-knacks, apparel and prints of the fest’s annual iconic poster.

The Jazz Fest’s augmented reality project Wall of Legends: Jazz is Everywhere offers an immersive festival experience requiring nothing more than a mobile device and headphones. Linked to the Jazz is Everywhere portal, users can experience eight tableaus on the facade of the Maison du Festival’s storied Wall of Legends, including a tribute to local great Oscar Petersen and his connections to the Saint-Henri neighbourhood (created in direct collaboration with the Petersen family), an exploration of Montréal’s long jazz history, a look at the role of improvisation and a deep dive into the ever-growing links between jazz and hip-hop.

Plotting a sustainable festival future

Since 1989, the Jazz Fest has developed and implemented sustainable initiatives to minimize their impact on the local and global environment, simultaneously promoting a positive societal influence. Indeed, these efforts have placed the Jazz Fest’s operations at the forefront of environmental responsibility.

These actions include:

• the use of hydroelectric and solar power whenever possible
• the installation of self-service water fountains and the banning of all single-use plastics (including backstage)
• the use of 100% recyclable dishes and cutlery for all on-site restaurants
• the use of waste sorting stops for proper and efficient waste disposal (along with the Green Brigade on-hand to help out)
• an on-site Eco-Centre focused on sorting reusable items including construction and hazardous materials
• replacing printed programs and other materials with screens and mobile apps
• setting aside hundreds of free bike parking spots
• partnering with public transport
• ensuring the site remains accessible for all audience members
• donating directly back to the local community in collaboration with Renaissance and La rue des Femmes. 

Explore these efforts in further depth here, and see you at Jazz Fest!