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Events · Top 10

The 10 Best Jazz Festivals in the World in 2027

By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 4 min read
Montreux Jazz Festival
Direct answer

The Montreux Jazz Festival is the best jazz festival in the world, with the Montreal International Jazz Festival at #2 and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at #3. The ranking weighs size, history and setting.

At a glance

#PickWhenBest for
1Montreux Jazz FestivalEarly July, every yearThe most famous lakeside jazz festival
2Montreal International Jazz FestivalEvery summerThe biggest jazz festival anywhere, with free outdoor shows
3New Orleans Jazz & Heritage FestivalEvery springJazz in its birthplace
4North Sea Jazz FestivalSecond weekend of JulyPacking many big names into one weekend
5Newport Jazz FestivalEvery summerHistory: the original American jazz festival
6Umbria JazzSummer, 10 daysJazz in a medieval Italian hill town
7Monterey Jazz FestivalEvery yearA relaxed California festival with deep history
8Jazz à VienneEvery summerJazz under the stars in an ancient theatre
9Java Jazz FestivalEvery May (since 2021)The biggest jazz festival in Asia
10Cape Town International Jazz FestivalEvery yearJazz with an African lineup

Pick by what you want

Best overall
Montreux Jazz Festival
Biggest
Montreal International Jazz Festival
Most history
Newport Jazz Festival
Best setting
Jazz à Vienne
Best in Asia
Java Jazz Festival

The ranking

1

Montreux Jazz Festival

Montreux Jazz Festival
Photo: Markus Schweizer / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe world’s most famous jazz festival setting.
When: Early July, every yearWhere: Montreux, Switzerland, on Lake GenevaSize: Second-largest annual jazz festival in the world

Montreux runs in early July every year on the Lake Geneva shoreline in Switzerland. It is the second-largest annual jazz festival in the world.

Go ifThe most famous lakeside jazz festival
Skip ifYou want cheap tickets
Why #1 over #2: Its lakeside setting and legend edge out Montreal’s sheer size.
2

Montreal International Jazz Festival

Montreal International Jazz Festival
Photo: Jocelynhade / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe world’s largest jazz festival.
When: Every summerWhere: Montreal, Quebec, CanadaRecord: 2004 Guinness World Record as the world’s largest jazz festivalLineup: Roughly 3,000 artists each year

Montreal holds the 2004 Guinness World Record as the world’s largest jazz festival, with roughly 3,000 artists each year.

Go ifThe biggest jazz festival anywhere, with free outdoor shows
Skip ifYou dislike big crowds
Why #2 over #3: Its scale beats New Orleans for jazz lovers.
3

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Photo: Infrogmation of New Orleans / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictJazz at its source.
When: Every springWhere: Fair Grounds Race Course, New Orleans, USAKnown for: Local music and culture of New Orleans

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival celebrates the city’s music and culture every spring at the Fair Grounds Race Course.

Go ifJazz in its birthplace
Skip ifYou want a jazz-only lineup
Why #3 over #4: Jazz in its birthplace beats North Sea’s indoor weekend.
4

North Sea Jazz Festival

North Sea Jazz Festival
Photo: JAGO / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictEurope’s big indoor jazz weekend.
When: Second weekend of JulyWhere: Ahoy, Rotterdam, NetherlandsHistory: Moved to Rotterdam in 2006 from The Hague

North Sea Jazz runs the second weekend of July at Ahoy in Rotterdam; it moved there in 2006 from The Hague.

Go ifPacking many big names into one weekend
Skip ifYou prefer outdoor stages
Why #4 over #5: Its packed weekend lineup beats Newport’s smaller program.
5

Newport Jazz Festival

Newport Jazz Festival
Photo: Lee Paxton / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictAmerica’s original jazz festival.
When: Every summerWhere: Newport, Rhode Island, USAFounded: 1954, by Elaine Lorillard

Newport, founded in 1954 by Elaine Lorillard, is America’s original jazz festival, held every summer in Rhode Island.

Go ifHistory: the original American jazz festival
Skip ifYou want a city festival
Why #5 over #6: Its history edges out Umbria.
6

Umbria Jazz

Umbria Jazz
Photo: Valentina Spasaro / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictItaly’s great jazz festival.
When: Summer, 10 daysWhere: Perugia, ItalyFounded: 1973

Umbria Jazz has run since 1973 and fills Perugia for 10 days each summer.

Go ifJazz in a medieval Italian hill town
Skip ifYou want a short trip
Why #6 over #7: Its 10-day run gives more than Monterey’s.
7

Monterey Jazz Festival

Monterey Jazz Festival
Photo: Kazuho Okui from Santa Clara, CA, USA / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictCalifornia’s longest-running jazz festival.
When: Every yearWhere: Monterey, California, USAFounded: 1958 (first held October 3, 1958)

Monterey Jazz Festival first ran on October 3, 1958, and returns every year in California.

Go ifA relaxed California festival with deep history
Skip ifYou want a huge city festival
Why #7 over #8: Its long history edges out Jazz à Vienne.
8

Jazz à Vienne

Jazz à Vienne
Photo: Joyce11 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe most atmospheric venue on this list.
When: Every summerWhere: Vienne, near Lyon, FranceSetting: Concerts in Vienne’s ancient theatre

Jazz à Vienne, near Lyon, stages its concerts in Vienne’s ancient theatre every summer.

Go ifJazz under the stars in an ancient theatre
Skip ifYou want a big-city festival
Why #8 over #9: Its ancient theatre setting beats Java Jazz for atmosphere.
9

Java Jazz Festival

Java Jazz Festival
Photo: Joko Photography / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictAsia’s jazz giant.
When: Every May (since 2021)Where: Jakarta, IndonesiaSize: One of the largest jazz festivals in Asia

Java Jazz in Jakarta is one of the largest jazz festivals in Asia, held every May since 2021.

Go ifThe biggest jazz festival in Asia
Skip ifYou want a European trip
Why #9 over #10: Its size edges out Cape Town.
10

Cape Town International Jazz Festival

Cape Town International Jazz Festival
Photo: Discott / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictAfrica’s largest jazz festival.
When: Every yearWhere: Cape Town, South AfricaFirst held: 2000Size: Largest jazz festival on the African continent

Cape Town International Jazz Festival, first held in 2000, is the largest jazz festival on the African continent.

Go ifJazz with an African lineup
Skip ifYou want a short flight from the US

How we ranked these

We ranked each festival on size, history and setting, using each festival’s Wikipedia record. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.

Questions people ask

What is the biggest jazz festival in the world?

The Montreal International Jazz Festival holds the 2004 Guinness World Record as the world’s largest jazz festival, with roughly 3,000 artists each year.

When is the Montreux Jazz Festival?

Early July every year, in Montreux on Lake Geneva in Switzerland.

What is the oldest jazz festival on this list?

The Newport Jazz Festival, founded in 1954 by Elaine Lorillard in Newport, Rhode Island.

Year founded / first held at a glance

Newport Jazz Festival1,954 year
Monterey Jazz Festival1,958 year
Umbria Jazz1,973 year
Cape Town International Jazz Festival2,000 year
Year founded / first held, as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.

Official sites

Sources

Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.