The Festival Roundup October 2026

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 theneworleansragtimefestival.com or follow @nolaragfest on Instagram and Facebook.

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 Texas Stompers, 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.

KENTUCKY HERITAGE JAZZ FESTIVAL (Harrodsburg, KY) Oct. 1-4

Our 2026 dates are October 1-4, with Jazz on the Lawn at Beaumont Inn on Thursday, a Friday night “Mardi Gras” kickoff on Main, and two full days of live jazz, artisans, food, fun, and more on Saturday and Sunday. The Jazz Festival and the Kentucky Artisan Expo will also join us at the Fort on Saturday.

The Kentucky Heritage Jazz Festival Begins on Thursday October 1 with with jazz on the lawn at Beaumont Inn by Five Jazz Quintet. On Friday, the fun continues on Main Street with a New Orleans-inspired night of food and music featuring a jazz jam with Blue Groove Jazz, a choreographed performance and parade by the Circle City Sidewalk Stompers, and a concert with Paladin.

The music continues all day Saturday at historic Old Fort Harrod with concerts by Blue Groove Jazz, Walnut Street Ramblers, Jamey Aebersold Quartet, The John Richardson Quintet, Circle City Sidewalk Stompers, and the Alan Robinson Trio. Sunday begins with a concert by David Hall, followed by a six hour Big Band Blast with the Somerset Big Band, Transylvania University Jazz Band, The MetroGnomes Big Band, University of Kentucky Jazz Ensemble, and Derby City Jazz Orchestra. The Kentucky Artisan Expo will also join us at the Fort on Saturday.

Visit kyheritagejazzfest.org for details.

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.

JAZZ JUBILEE CENTRAL COAST (Central CA) Oct. 18-26

The Basin Street Regulars Hot Jazz Society is thrilled to announce the 3rd Jazz Jubilee Central Coast 2026, 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 23-25 at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center, the Siren in Morro Bay and the Veterans Memorial Building in Pismo.

Links to purchase ticketed shows are available at: www.my805tix.com/e/jazz-jubilee-26.

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.

Please go to JazzJubileeCentralCoast.com for all of the latest 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.

This year’s Guest of Honor is pianist Rossano Sportiello. Other invited guests include Harry Allen, Evan Arntzen, John Allred, Dan Barrett, Adrien Chevalier, Danny Coots, Bill Dendle, Scott Edmunds, Yve Evans, Philip Flanigan, Michael Francis, Charles Gordon, Duke Heitger, David Jones, Jon-Erik Kelso, Ricky Malichi, Eddie Metz, Jr., Byron Mutnick, Vinny Raniolo, Chuck Redd, Brian Piper, Frank Otero, Scott Robinson, Danny Rubio, Charlie Silva, Richard Simon, Hillary Smith, Erik Unsworth, Allan Vache, and Jason Wanner.

Tickets for the 2026 Roswell Jazz Festival are available for purchase on our website: 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 eight 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

Featured bands and performers include Dave Bennett Quartet, Diego Figueiredo, Professor Cunningham & His Old School, Tom Rigney & Flambeau, Champian Fulton, Jonathan Russell, Chuck Redd, Dan Levinson’s Palomar Jazz Band with Molly Ryan, Jen Hodge, Cláudio Infante, Eddie Metz, Theo Valentin, James Suggs, Nate Najar, Daniela Soledade, Hot Tonic, Bakey & Betty, James Wall, Heather Thorn, La Lucha, Simon Lasky, Allison Nash, Mark Moultrup, Steve Boisen, Al Downing Trio, Naples Jazz Society Jazz Band, Paul Wilborn & Eugenie Bondurant, and many many more… Please visit suncoastjazzfestival.com for more information.

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 US.

Performing this year are Nick Arteaga, Au Brothers, Freebadge Sereneders, Clint Baker, Ramona Baker, Riley Baker, Jack Bradshaw, Isaiah Burton, Ryan Calloway, Michael Chisholm, Jared DiBartolomeo, Neville Dickie, Richard Dowling, Stave and Robyn Driven, The Easy Winners,, Marty Eggers, Eve Elliot, Lisa Gonick, Jeff Green, Kevin Gunia, Frederick Hodges, Brian Holland, Vincent Johnson, Charlie Judkins and Miss Maybell (Lauren Sansaricq), Key System Trio, Carl Sonny Leyland, William McNally, TJ Müller, Don Neely, Andrew Oliver, Pacific Coast Ragtime Orchestra, The Ragabonds, David Thomas Roberts, Nick Robinson, Zac Salem, Ray Skjelbred, Martin Spitznagel, Bub and Petra Sullivan, Squeek Steel, Jared Z. Szabo, Lilianne Tao, Virginia Tichenor, Matt Tolentino, John Reed-Torres, and Joan Walton.

Please check westcoastragtime.com for details.

33rd Annual EAGLES AND IVORIES RAGTIME FEST (Muscatine, IA) Jan. 14-17

The 33rd Annual Eagles & Ivories Music Fest is staged in Muscatine, Iowa, at five different locations. The 2027 lineup includes St. Louis Stompers, Sweet and Hot Quartet, Mad Creek Mudcats, Jeff Barnhart, Josh Duffee, Dave Majchrzak, and artist-in-residence, Andy Schumm. Special events include silent film comedies with live accompaniment, a cabaret, a ragtime/jazz gospel service, a free eagle watch, and more!

For more information and tickets: muscatineartscouncil.org; ajwoodhouse@machlink.com.

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

Wilmington gives a warm welcome to all of the jazz lovers attending our 47th Annual 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, leaving your days free to explore our beautiful area!

Our visiting all-stars on Friday and Saturday night will play in the traditional jazz style of six or seven players, each set with a different leader. You will hear many of our favorite Festival musicians plus new additions to our lineup, so you won’t want to miss this exciting 47th Annual North Carolina Jazz Festival! Concerts each night will be approximately 3-4 hours.

Scheduled musicians include Emily Asher, Herman Burney,, Adrian Cunningham, Reginald Cyntje, Brandi Disterheft, Kevin Dorn, Nate Najar, Ben Polcer, Chuck Redd, Robert Redd, Kenny Rittenhouse, Jonathan Russell, Rossano Sportiello, Anita Thomas, and Lucy Yeghiazaryan.

. For tickets and more information, visit ncjazzfestival.org.

For more information visit ncjazzfestival.org, e-mail ncjazzfest@yahoo.com, or call (910)-399-6596.

TEAGARDEN JAZZ FESTIVAL (Sacramento, CA) Feb. 6

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.

SOUNDS OF MARDI GRAS (Fresno, CA) Feb. 11-14

Save the date for the 43rd edition of the Sounds of Mardi Gras in Fresno! Check fresnodixie.com for details about activities, bands, and schedules as they become available.

SAN DIEGO JAZZ PARTY (San Diego, CA) Feb. 19-21

The San Diego Jazz Party returns for another unforgettable weekend of world-class jazz in an exciting new home—conveniently located in the heart of Mission Valley, San Diego, California. Hotel reservations are now open at a special San Diego Jazz Party rate, making it easier than ever to join fellow jazz lovers for three days of extraordinary music and camaraderie.

Returning to the stage are many of your favorite internationally acclaimed musicians, along with fresh faces and exciting new collaborations. And that’s just the beginning. We’re planning more than a few unexpected twists that will make the 2027 San Diego Jazz Party one to remember.

Special Jazz Party rates are now available at the Mission Valley Marriott. Stay tuned… the best is yet to come.

Festival details can be found at sandiegojazzparty.com.

47th Annual JAZZ BASH BY THE BAY (Monterey, CA) March 5-7

World-Class musicians make Monterey their home for the weekend of March 5-7, 2027 when historic Monterey comes alive with the tunes of our rich musical heritage. Enjoy the many colorful forms of American Traditional Jazz in the Monterey Conference Center and Portola Hotel & Spa, including: Traditional, Ragtime, Swing, Gypsy, Zydeco, and Blues. 3 Days, 8 Venues, 20+ Bands, over 100 Musicians … and YOU!

Scheduled bands are: Alpha Rhythm Kings, Blue Street, Bye Bye Boys Blues Band, Carl Sonny Leyland Trio, Crescent Katz, Dan Barrett’s Old Fashioned Jazz Band, Dave Stuckey & The Hoot Owls, Holland’s Ragabonds Seven, Ivory&Gold®, Marc Caperone’s All Stars featuring Dawn Lambeth, Monterey Sax, Natalie Mendoza’s Tiger Five, Oliver-Smith Incomparables, The Pacific Brass Band, San Lyon, Tom Rigney & Flambeau, Travis Anderson Trio, Warehouse Reunion, Ave Evans, Trio, and Zydeco Flames.

Tickets, the complete schedule, and lodging information is online at jazzbashmonterey.com.

A TRIBUTE TO BIX FEST (Mt. Pleasant, WI) March 11-14

A Tribute to Bix Fest is an annual event celebrating the life of jazz musician Leon “Bix” Beiderbecke with authentic performances and dancing as well as a trade show for antique music ephemera. The event is dedicated to the memory of Phil Pospychala, its founder and chief organizer until his passing in 2022. Phil started the event in 1989 as a birthday celebration for Bix Beiderbecke and hosted it each year, a large portion on his own dime, for 31 years. A straightforward affair, Phil’s approach to the festival was three-pronged: enjoy old jazz music, spend time with friends, and have fun.

This year’s lineup: The Chicago Cellar Boys, The Troubadours of Rhythm, Swing Chevron, Mike Davis, Josh Duffee, The Saint Louis Contingent (Valerie Jo Kirchhoff, Ethan Leinwand, &T.J. Muller), and Three Daves (Bock, Kosmyna, & Boeddinghaus).

For more information, including information on discount hotel rooms and how to purchase tickets, go to bixfest.org.

SOUTH COAST CLAMBAKE MUSIC FESTIVAL (North Bend, OR) March 11-14

Polish up those dancin’ shoes and get ready for the exciting musical extravaganza known as the South Coast Clambake Music Festival! (Formerly South Coast Clambake Jazz Festival.) This year you will see another lineup of great bands, energetic dancers and a flood of out of town guests in our community. The Clambake Music Festival Board is looking forward to yet another season of incredible music that ranges from traditional jazz to 50’s rock, including swing, doo-wop, blues, big band and Zydeco! However, many first-timers are surprised to find that our Festival is NOT a celebration of mollusks! “Clambake” is an old time musical term for a “jam session” and we are hoping you will choose to join us at our annual clambake. Dancers and music enthusiasts from up and down the West Coast, plan to attend again this year, as the Clambake Music Festival has developed a reputation as a favorite.

For nearly three decades, the South Coast Clambake Music Festival has entertained thousands in the Northwest. Located on beautiful Coos Bay/ North Bend, Oregon the Ko-Kwel Casino Resort, formerly known as The Mill Casino, is the perfect venue for a festival of this size and magnitude on Oregon’s Adventure Coast! Performers include Alpha Rhythm Kings, Dave Stuckey & The Hot House Gang, Tom Rigney and Flambeau,, and others. Details at: clambakemusic.com.

JAZZAFFAIR (Three Rivers, CA) April 8-11

The Jazz Music Festival with a Flair, featuring Trad Jazz, Ragtime, Rockabilly, Zydeco, Rock ’n’ Roll & more, returns! Held each Spring in Three Rivers, California, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Jazzaffair brings diverse jazz bands from across the country to the Kaweah River.

This year’s bands include: Sounds Like High Sierra,Tom Rigney & Flambeau, Dave Bennett & the Memphis Speed Kings, Miss Jubilee & The Yas Yas Boys, Blue Street Jazz Band, Groovus, Dave Bennett Quartet, St Johns Riverboat Jazz Band, Okie Weiss & The Zydeco Playboys, Marc Caparone’s Hot 5 plus 2, Mitch Polzak & the Royal Deuces, and Brian Holland & the Ragabonds

Also featuring special events nights, a kickoff dinner and concert, a “Rowdy Brunch”, and dance floors at all three venues.

Visit the Sierra Traditional Jazz Club online to order tickets: threeriversjazzaffair.com.