Festival Roundup August 2026

BIX BEIDERBECKE JAZZ FESTIVAL (Davenport, IA) July 30-Aug. 1

Join us once again at Rhythm City Casino in Davenport as we celebrate a new era of the Bix Jazz Festival! Since 1971, the Bix Jazz Society has preserved the music and memory of Bix Beiderbecke through the annual Bix Jazz Festival, the Bix Youth Band, and more. After years of partnership, Common Chord and the Bix Jazz Society are excited to announce that these programs will merge into Common Chord under the guidance of the Bix Society Advisory Board, a committee of dedicated Bix volunteers!

The 55th Bix Jazz Festival (our “Emerald” anniversary), celebrates our merger with Common Chord by highlighting Bix’s collaborations with Jean Goldkette. The 2026 Festival will have a special set featuring this important musical team-up, sets highlighting other works of the time period, and special events including a riverboat cruise, a silent film with live accompaniment, and a concert at Bix’s gravesite. There will be multiple performances by Mike Davis’ New Wonders, Oliver-Smith Incomparables, Jeff Barnhart’s Fats Waller Legacy Band, Chicago Cellar Boys, Graystone Monarchs, TJ Muller’s Jazz-O-Maniacs, and the Bix Youth Band.

For tickets and more information, check commonchordqc.org/bix/festival.

SANTA CRUZ JUG BAND FESTIVAL (Santa Cruz, CA) Aug. 6-9

The 2nd Annual Santa Cruz Jug Band Festival features a Thursday night sing-along, a jug band history presentation, a dance party, and a day of performances by five area jug bands. The festival takes place at four locations near Abbott Square Markey, and features The Trolley Drops, The Puffball Collective, The Quake City Jug Band, The Rivertown Skifflers, and The Washboard Rhythm Company. The festival culminates with a jug band happy hour on Sunday afternoon at the Shanty Shack Brewery, where various members of the five jug bands will perform some of their favorite songs in a more intimate setting. Free admission for all events!

For more information, contact thetrolleydrops@gmail.com or visit facebook.com/thetrolleydrops.

HISTORIC SUTTER CREEK RAGTIME FESTIVAL (Sutter Creek, CA) Aug. 7-9

The Historic Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival is ready to bring the fun filled music of Ragtime to the Main Street of Sutter Creek, August 7th – 9th 2026. This year we will celebrate our 28h annual festival celebration. This prestigious festival brings the exuberant sounds of Ragtime, Boogie Woogie, Stride and Early Jazz to the quaint town of Sutter Creek, nestled in the Sierra Foothills, every second weekend in August. We not only have top notch Ragtime and stride pianists from around the country this year, but we have the electrifying Pacific Coast Ragtime Orchestra, The Pianophiends, Charlie Judkins & Miss Maybell, and Ivory and Gold. The festival starts at 4 PM on Friday and runs through 4 PM on Sunday. Musicians perform at 7 venues along Main Street Sutter Creek.

Some of our lineup includes: Frederick Hodges, Carl Sonny Leyland, (Inductee into the Boogie Woogie Hall of Fame), Paul Orsi, Danny Coots, ( Drummer Extraordinaire). Pacific Coast Ragtime Orchestra, Jeff Barnhart, Squeek Steele, (Guinness world book record holder of most songs played from memory on the piano), Matt Tolentino (Versatile Accordionist), Don Neely, (Founder of the Royal Society Jazz Orchestra), Vincent Johnson, some more amazing youth performers coming to Sutter Creek for the first time, and many more.

Make a trip into Sutter Creek, peek inside our venues, and get hooked on America’s own turn of the century music craze, RAGTIME!

Look for information on the different venues, lodging choices and festival pricing at www.historicsuttercreekragtimefestival.com, or call 209-304-0835

FOX RIVER RAGTIME FESTIVAL (South Elgin, IL) Aug. 22-23

Listen to America’s first popular music—classic and modern ragtime—performed by world-class musicians throughout the day on historic trolley cars and on the Fox River Trolly Museum grounds. Experience the thrill of riding early-20th century electric interurban and trolley cars over a two-mile stretch of historic interurban mainline dating back to 1896! Whether you choose to ride the trolley just for fun or a park-and-ride shuttle between the parking lots for this festival, our restored historic trolleys are sure to wow. Our artist list includes Paul Asaro, Nathan Beasley, Sue Keller, Ted Lemen, Sammy G, Faye Ballard, Anderson Pries, Tim Barton, and The Mudcats Traditional Jazz Band.

Find details about the festival at foxtrolley.org/visit/special-events/ragtimefestival/

2026 LEWISTON JAZZ FESTIVAL (Lewiston, NY) Aug. 28-29

The Lewiston Jazz Festival began in 2001 to revitalize the regional jazz scene. The festival has grown to be one of the largest in the northeast, featuring over 150 musicians throughout the two day event. Traditional jazz performers include Ladies First Big Band, Back Room Jazz Band, Gregory Street Vagabonds, and Bria Skonberg Quintet.

Check out lewistonjazz.com for more information.

BAY STATE HOT JAZZ FESTIVAL (Medford, MA) Aug. 29-30

The 2026 Bay State Hot Jazz Festival is a FREE community celebration featuring 8+ traditional jazz bands from all over the country, raising the roof with set after set of incredible music. Our fourth festival of ragtime, hot jazz, stride, New Orleans, and other early jazz styles will take place outdoors on August 29-30 at the Medford Condon Shell, just minutes from Boston.

We are pleased to announce our stellar lineup for 2026. We’ll start at 11 am on Saturday August 29 with the North Shore Big Band, followed by on-the-hour performances from Banjo Juice, The Smack Dabs, and Wolverine Jazz Band. Summer Street Stompers will be swinging in the jam tent between sets – so bring an instrument and play along. On Sunday, the festival starts at 11 with The Catnip Junkies, followed by Josiah Reibstein and Hubtones, Dixie Diehards Traditional Jazz Band, and the festival hosts, Annie and the Fur Trappers. 2-bit Brass holds down the jam tent for extra fun between sets. Grab a lawn chair and a sunhat, and see you at the Condon Music Shell!

For more information about the BASH Jazz Festival, visit baystatehotjazzfestival.com.

HOT JAZZ JUBILEE (Sacramento, CA) Sept. 4-7

Prepare to enjoy four days of exciting live music performance all under one roof! Tickets are now on sale for the 11th Annual Hot Jazz Jubilee. The DoubleTree by Hilton Sacramento is the home of the Jubilee, providing outstanding music venues including three large dance floors. Performances by Crescent Katz, San Lyon, Katie Cavera and the Lost Boys, Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums, Cheryl’s Vintage Jazz Band, and many more.

Book your room early for Labor Day weekend, as this event will sell out. Hot Jazz Jubilee is FUN for everyone, regardless of age (children under 18 are always admitted free), so come on out, listen, dance, and enjoy!

Check hotjazzjubilee.com for details, tickets, and updates on 2026’s event.

PENTASTIC HOT JAZZ & MUSIC FESTIVAL (Penticton, BC) Sept. CANCELLED

Significant issues related to U.S. band travel across the border, a decline in grant funding, rising operational costs, and an aging demographic have resulted in the cancellation of the Pentastic Hot Jazz & Music Festival. The Board of Directors extends their sincere gratitude to all supporters, past and present, and especially to the dedicated volunteers whose efforts have made the festival a warm and welcoming event for 27 years.

Details at pentasticjazz.ca.

CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA RAGTIME & AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL (Orbisonia/Rockhill Furnace/Huntingdon, PA) Sept. 10-13

Since 2009, the twin boroughs of Rockhill Furnace and Orbisonia, Pennsylvania, have been filled with the strains of America’s first popular music: Ragtime, brought to life by some of America’s leading ragtime and early jazz artists. Enjoy America’s Original Music in one of its most historic towns!

Join us September 10-13 2026 for the 16th Annual Central Pennsylvania Ragtime & American Music Festival. Four fun-filled days of music, silent movies, lectures, open houses, and more. Hear Ragtime favorites, Jazz, Boogie-Woogie, Stride, Blues, and hits from the Great American Songbook, all performed by Grammy Award winning musicians. Plus, enjoy rides on the town’s two signature attractions, the historic East Broad Top Railroad, and the neighboring Rockhill Trolley Museum!

Our festival is by far the most intimate of the ragtime gatherings – where else in America can you enjoy our nation’s musical heritage in such a historic setting? Past performers include Adam Swanson, Frederick Hodges, Andy Schumm, Martin Spitznagel, Bryan & Yuko Wright, Brian Holland, Danny Coots, Domingo Mancuello, Joey Antico, Bill Edwards, Andrew Greene and the Peacherine Ragtime Orchestra, Ed Clute, Daniel Souvigny, Richard Dowling, Dan Levinson, Terry Waldo, T.J. Muller, Brian Nalepka, Charlie Judkins, Lauren Sansariq, Andy Stein, and Joyce Richardson. Come join us for some great music!

Learn more about the festival by and find links to tickets by visiting www.rockhillragtime.com You can also call the East Broad Top Railroad directly at (814) 447-3285 to purchase tickets over the phone.

THE GREAT NORTHEAST JUG BAND FESTIVAL (Arlington, MA) Sept. 25-26

Save the date for New England’s ONLY Jug Band Festival, now in it’s sixth year. We’ll showcase early blues, jazz, and string band traditions from the 1920’s and 30’s, and the modern evolution of this good-time music. Jazzmo and the Jug Nuts kick off the weekend with a Friday night jam. This year’s Saturday lineup features three fabulous women-lead bands: the very vaudevillian Zoë Lewis and The Educated Fleas; direct from Brooklyn, The Dirty Mother String Band; and local favorite Annie and the Jug Tappers. The festival is free!

For details about the festival, visit: acarts.org/jug-band-festival.

REDWOOD COAST MUSIC FESTIVAL (Eureka, CA) Oct. 1-4

The Redwood Coast Music Festival is Eureka’s celebration of American roots music. Jazz, Swing, Blues, Zydeco, Rockabilly, Americana, Western Swing, Country—we’ve got it all. You’ll find iconic venues, top-notch music, multiple dance floors PLUS special sets and band combinations you won’t see or hear anywhere else! Situated along the spectacular Northern California coastline, the City of Eureka is one of California’s best kept secrets, bordered on one side by beautiful Humboldt Bay and on the other by mountains lush with giant Redwoods.

Performers include The Hot Club of Cowtown, Dave Stuckey & The Hot House Gang, Jonathan Stout’s Campus Five Featuring Hilary Alexander, Tom Rigney & Flambeau, Katie Cavera & The Lost Boys, Naomi Uyama & Her Handsome Devils, On The Levee Jazz Band, The Hot Baked Goods, Miss Jubilee, Clint Baker’s Jazz Band, Dan Barrett, Steve Lucky & the Rhumba Bums, The Black Market Trust, Dave Stuckey & The Hoot Owls, Holland Coots Jazz Band, Benny Amon’s New Orleans Pearls, Colin Hancock’s TexasStompers, The Lovestruck Balladeers, Jonathan Doyle Swingtet, NOIR, Sam Rocha, San Lyon, Charlie Halloran & The Tropicales, Kris Tokarski’s Chicagoans, Mikiya Matsuda’s Alcatraz Islanders, Alice Spencer, Josh Collazo’s Jazzboree, Marc Caparone’s Allstars, Groovus, New Orleans Night Owls, TJ Muller’s Jazz-O-Maniacs, Hal Smith’s Swing Central, Andy Schumm, Riley Baker, Dave Kosmyna Incendiary Seven, Dennis Lichtman, Dalton Ridenhour, Mike Davis, Nick Rossi Swing Six, Laura Windley, Danny Tobias, Matt Weiner, The Redwood Dixie-Gators—and more!

Tickets and details, including special hotel packages, at rcmfest.org.

THE NEW ORLEANS RAGTIME FESTIVAL (New Orleans, LA) Oct. 1-4

Since 2016, the New Orleans Ragtime Festival has been dedicated to preserving and promoting the vibrant legacy of ragtime music, vintage dance, and early American culture through world-class performances, educational programming, and community celebration. This milestone year marks a decade of bringing syncopated rhythms and timeless traditions to audiences from around the world.

The four-day festival will feature an exciting lineup of internationally recognized ragtime pianists, ensembles, dancers, and performances, continuing the festival’s tradition of blending history, music, dance, and New Orleans culture into one unforgettable weekend. Additional announcements regarding performers, venues, schedule highlights, sponsorship opportunities, and Early Bird Pass availability will be released in the coming weeks.

For more information, visit The New Orleans Ragtime Festival or follow @nolaragfest on Instagram and Facebook.

AMELIA ISLAND JAZZ FESTIVAL (Amelia Island, FL) Oct. 4-11

Celebrate 23 years of world-class jazz on Amelia Island with 8 Days of Jazz!

The Amelia Island Jazz Festival provides a rich, diverse cultural offering to the Amelia Island area by exposing thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds to the sounds, excitement and vitality of great jazz. The Festival presents world-class jazz in many styles, including swing, bebop, Dixieland, big band, Latin, and contemporary. During the annual week-long festival, held every October since 2003, music is performed by jazz greats as well as fresh, up-and-coming young talent. Performances are staged in several venues around Amelia Island including the Courtyard | Springhill Suites Amelia Island by Marriott, Sadler Ranch, The Decantery, Mocama Beer Company and the Amelia Rec Center. The goal of the Amelia Island Jazz Festival is to help preserve the American art form Jazz by increasing the exposure and awareness of the music genre to the general public.

Of interest to TST readers are a “Jump, Jive and Wail” Swing Night on October 7, “Down Home Blues and Gumbo Show” on October 8; a headliner performance by Gunhild Carling on October 10, followed by a late night jam; and “Dixie to Swing Jazz Brunch” on October 11—and more!

Visit ameliaislandjazzfestival.com for tickets and details.

SUN VALLEY JAZZ & MUSIC FESTIVAL (Sun Valley, ID) Oct. 15-18

The Sun Valley Jazz and Music Festival unites an incredible lineup of artists who fill the mountains with unforgettable music. From world-class bands to rising stars, each performer shares not just their music–but their passion, energy, and love for counting with an audience. Every note you hear is part of the magic that makes this festival unforgettable. Swing, blues, gospel, big band, boogie, and beyond–you’ll find it all here, performed by musicians who make Sun Valley their stage.

Bands include Terry Myers Big Band; Tom Hook; Tom Rigney and Flambeau; Dave Bennett Six; San Lyon with Katie Cavera; Noir; Terry Myers’ Hot Jazz Collective; The Racketmakers featuring Sherri Colby, Jason Wanner, Matty Bottel Danny Coots, TJ Muller & Riley Baker; and more!

Tickets and more information at sunvalleyjazz.com.

Third Annual JAZZ JUBILEE CENTRAL COAST (Pismo Beach, CA) Oct. 18-27

The Basin Street Regulars Hot Jazz Society is thrilled to announce the 3rd Jazz Jubilee Central Coast, a vibrant celebration of jazz music stretching across California’s beautiful Central Coast. This multi-venue, area-wide à la carte festival runs from Sunday, October 18th through Tuesday, October 27th, 2026, in multiple venues stretching from Morro Bay to Santa Maria, including returning favorites and new additions.

Once again, the festival will be “orchestrated” by the Basin Street Regulars Hot Jazz Club. Acts already booked include headliners Blue Street and the High Sierra Reunion Jazz Band as well as the Cal Poly Fall Jazz Concert. These Premium shows will take place October 23rd-25th at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center, the Siren in Morro Bay and the Veterans Memorial Building in Pismo.

We are very excited to have our premier weekend lined up and are actively working to secure quality acts along the Central Coast throughout the 10 days of the festival. Stay tuned for additional events as we announce them. Links to purchase ticketed shows are available at: www.my805tix.com. Please visit JazzJubileeCentralCoast.com for updates.

ROSWELL JAZZ FESTIVAL (Roswell, NM) Oct. 21-25

Every year since 2006, something more magical happens for five October days in southeastern New Mexico. A kaleidoscope of live music floats on crisp air, mingling with the brilliant gold and red leaves of fall. Free and ticketed venues feature a vibrant mix of world class musicians beginning Wednesday, October 21nd through Sunday, October 25th. Tickets for the 2026 Roswell Jazz Festival will be available for purchase on our website this summer and they will sell out fast. You can get an idea of official schedule of free and ticketed venues, by viewing what we did in 2025 on the “Official Schedule” tab now. Check back for the 2026 updated schedule this summer and join us for some music magic in 2026!

roswelljazz.org

MIKE DURHAM’S INTERNATIONAL CLASSIC JAZZ PARTY (Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK) Nov. 6-8

Here is the globe’s foremost gathering of classic jazz musicians and fans in a three-day concert series featuring live music of a rarely heard quality and authenticity, performed by a truly international roster of world-class performers. The International Classic Jazz Party is a unique event like none other in the Jazz festival calendar. The Party was founded in 1990 by Mike Durham in Whitley Bay, near Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK, and has grown bigger and better with each successive year. Fom midday on Friday until late on Sunday evening, the Party takes the form of a series of special themed concerts chosen and curated by the musicians themselves and drawn from the canon of the first 40 years of jazz. At the end of each day, musicians and audience relax and enjoy themselves at the legendary after-hours jam sessions in the hotel’s bar, often going on into the wee small hours. The concerts take place in 4-star luxury, with audience members being assigned to cabaret seating of 8 to a table. A twice-daily rotation system is in place to ensure that everybody gets a good view.

This year’s stellar line up includes Enrico Tomasso (UK), Lewis Taylor (UK), Colin Hancock (USA), Mike Davis (USA), Andy Schumm (USA), Malo Mazurié (France) on trumpet; Lorenzo Baldasso (Italy), Michael McQuaid (UK), David Lukács (Netherlands), Natalie Scharf (USA) David Horniblow (UK), Richard Exall (UK), Laurin Habert (Germany) on reeds; T.J. Müller (USA), Alistair Allan (UK), Graham Hughes (UK) on trombone; Andrew Oliver (USA), Morten Gunnar Larsen (Norway), Mathieu Meyer (France) on piano; Thomas “Spats” Langham (UK), Martin Wheatley (UK), Félix Hunot (France), Curtis Volp (UK) on guitar & banjo; Phil Rutherford (UK), Malte Tönißen (Germany), Harry Evans (UK) on brass bass & string bass; Nicholas D. Ball (UK), Josh Duffee (USA), Nick Ward (UK) on drums & percussion; Emma Fisk (UK) on violin; and Thomas “Spats” Langham (UK) and Nicolle Rochelle (France) on vocals.

Details at whitleybayjazzfest.com.

SUNCOAST JAZZ FESTIVAL (Clearwater Beach, FL) Nov. 20-22

Join us at the beautiful Gulf beaches in Sand Key, Clearwater Beach, Florida, for the 36th Annual Suncoast Jazz Festival, November 20-22, 2026. Held indoors at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort, the Suncoast Jazz Festival has three venues with continuous music rotating all day and all night through the weekend. With a variety of jazz genres, and listening lounge, dancing, and “sip and mingle experiences” offerings, the Suncoast Jazz Festival truly has something for everyone

John Pizzarelli, Dave Bennett Quartet, Diego Figueiredo, Professor Cunningham and his Old School, Jason Marsalis, and Tom Rigney & Flambeau will perform, with more artists to be announced. Check suncoastjazzfestival.com for more information as it becomes available.

40th Annual WEST COAST RAGTIME FESTIVAL (Concord, CA) Nov. 20-22

The West Coast Ragtime Society is pleased to put together a fantastic fortieth year festival with a fabulous performer lineup, special shows, seminars, and dancing! Make your room reservations at our new venue, The Hilton Concord, and purchase your badges early to take advantage of the discounted prices to start planning for another terrific ragtime festival. We are proud to say we produce one of the world’s premiere annual ragtime festivals in the ragtime capital of the world! There’s lots of great music performed by the finest musicians from inside and outside the U.S.

The Hilton in Concord is next to Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord and The Veranda mall. They are within two miles of the Concord BART station. Enjoy our outdoor pool, fitness center, and Mount Diablo views from your guest room.

There will be multiple venues for performances at the hotel. Performances are almost nonstop throughout the three days of the festival. If you love to dance, there will be opportunities to participate in vintage dance instruction during the festival weekend. In addition, there are ragtime stores where you can purchase our performers’ music, as well as various goodies like vintage clothing, records and more.

Check westcoastragtime.com for updates.

NORTH CAROLINA JAZZ FESTIVAL (Wilmington, NC) Feb. 4-6, 2027

Wilmington gives a warm welcome to all of the jazz lovers attending our 46th North Carolina Jazz Festival! This historic city located on the bank of the Cape Fear River has many interesting shops, art galleries, museums and restaurants, as well as a movie studio, nearby beaches, plus Revolutionary and Civil War sites to explore during your days here. We will fill your evenings with exciting performances by some of the greatest traditional jazz musicians from around the globe!

Thursday Night Showcase: Noel Freidline and Maria Howell will headline the 46th annual opening night’s Special Event.

Friday and Saturday Nights: All evening concerts begin at 7:30 pm and are held at the Hotel Ballast ballroom. We will continue our celebration with All-Star musicians playing in the traditional seven sets of six or seven players, each set with a different leader. We will continue our celebration with All-Star musicians playing in the traditional seven sets of six or seven players, each set with a different leader. You will hear many of our favorite NCJF musicians plus new additions to our lineup. You will not want to miss this exciting 46th Annual North Carolina Jazz Festival! These will be 4 ½ hour concerts. Scheduled musicians include Shaye Cohn, Ehud Asherie,, Adrian Cunningham, Herman Burney, Brandi Disterheft, Kevin Dorn, Chloe Feoranzo, Wycliffe Gordon, Bruce Harris, Nate Najar, Ben Polcer, Chuck Redd, Jonathan Russell, Rossano Sportiello, and Dion Tucker.

On Saturday from 10:30 until 2pm we treat our patrons to a musical brunch, when all of our All-star musicians play for their pleasure while everyone enjoys a delicious meal. Patrons can participate in the jam session during brunch.

General admission and patron tickets are available on our web site through ETIX or by contacting the NC Jazz Festival by phone: 910-399-6536. For more information visit ncjazzfestival.org, e-mail ncjazzfest@yahoo.com, or call (910)-399-6596.

TEAGARDEN JAZZ FESTIVAL (Sacramento, CA) Feb. 6, 2027

The joy of early New Orleans-style jazz is at the heart of this scholastic combo festival, which is dedicated to fostering a better appreciation of this classic American art form. Each year, scores of young musicians gather at the annual Teagarden Jazz Festival for experiences that take their musical skills to the next level. The 2026 event featured 30 youth jazz bands from around northern California. Next year marks the 20th Anniversary of the festival, and we are pleased to announce that our Guest Clinician will be trumpeter/vocalist/songwriter Bria Skonberg. More information can be found at teagardenfestival.org.