Cheltenham Jazz Festival

About

The annual Cheltenham Jazz Festival will return 29 April - 4 May 2026  

Cheltenham The Festival Town is home to one of the country’s best-loved jazz festivals, attracting over 20,000 music fans annually. 

The festival celebrates all genres of jazz with a carefully curated mixture of international jazz icons, up-and-coming new artists and unique Festival performances to ensure the programme has something for everyone.

The 2025 lineup featured an incredible lineup of world-renowned musicians, including...

Lulu • Tom Walker • Corinne Bailey Rae • Jools Holland • Lisa Stansfield • Beverley Knight • David Gray • Roger Daltrey • Curtis Stigers • Macy Gray • Nubya Garcia • Katie Melua • Amadou & Mariam • Keyon Harrold • Emeli Sandé • Joe Armon-Jones (Ezra Collective) • Buena Vista All Stars • Maya Delilah & Ni Maxine • Billy Cobham • Claire Martin •  Misty in Roots and many more.

Every year the festival features a free live music stage in the Festival Village and also pop up free live music at venues across the the town. Discover more - free ...around Town programme.

What is the Cheltenham Jazz Festival?

Cheltenham Jazz Festival is part of Cheltenham Festivals, an arts charity that creates experiences which bring joy, spark curiosity, connect communities and inspire change. Its year-round learning and participation and talent development programmes culminate in four world-class Festivals, offering everyone an opportunity to explore and create culture. Over 225,000 visitors a year are inspired by its Literature, Science, Jazz and Music Festivals.

For more information visit the Cheltenham Festivals website.

Reviews of the Cheltenham Jazz Festival...

'If someone doesn’t get jazz, how do you woo them towards enjoying it? The Cheltenham Jazz Festival, with 47 official concerts plus a lively fringe, is a good answer, offering the chance to dip into many different styles of jazz' - The Times.

'The great thing about Cheltenham Jazz Festival is that it brings together so many genres under the umbrella of jazz…I think it is one of the best Jazz Festivals in the world so it’s amazing for me to be here' - Jamie Cullum

"One of the UK's classiest and most eclectic jazz festivals" - The Guardian

For more festivals & major events taking place in Cheltenham this year, including the Music, Science & Literature Festivals, visit: 

Cheltenham Festivals & Events Guide & Live performances in Cheltenham

To plan your stay in Cheltenham visit: 

Cheltenham Hotels Guide, Cheltenham Eating Out & Cheltenham Weekend Breaks.