Jacksonville Jazz Festival

Over Memorial Day weekend, the Jacksonville Jazz Festival makes downtown Jacksonville the place to be for live music. One of the largest free jazz festivals in the U.S., this four-day event spreads along the St. Johns River with a riverfront footprint that is easy to navigate on foot. You will find the main hubs at the Ford on Bay waterfront area and the Florida Theatre, pairing big-stage sound with skyline and water views. If you love jazz, or you are planning a polished holiday trip, you can move between multiple stages, grab bites from local vendors, and settle in for long sets.

Your weekend begins Thursday night with the Jazz Piano Competition at the Florida Theatre, a focused kickoff that rewards arriving early. From Friday through Sunday, the schedule shifts outdoors at Ford on Bay, where headliners anchor each day. The 2026 lineup includes George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, Andra Day, and Nile Rodgers and Chic, with additional sets from Esperanza Spalding, Kamasi Washington, and Sheila E. and the E-Train.

Plan your timing around the biggest sets: arrive 60 to 90 minutes early if you want a clean sightline. General admission is free, and premium experience packages are available if you want reserved seating and climate-controlled amenities. The Skyway monorail and nearby parking garages are the simplest ways to reach the downtown footprint; once you are in, browse the Jazz Marketplace for regional art, or take a slower lap along the St. Johns Riverwalk between performances. Bring a small folding chair, a reusable water bottle, high-SPF sunscreen, and light layers for humidity; leave large coolers and pets at home. This is a rain-or-shine event, and heavy weather can delay sets, though cancellations are uncommon.

For the shortest walk back to your room, stay in a high-rise hotel in the Downtown Jacksonville core. If you prefer beach time in the mornings, Jacksonville Beach is about 20 miles east and offers rental options for a more coastal base. The festival is family-friendly at the open-air stages, vegetarian options are typically available at food stalls, and small bags and backpacks are allowed with security screening at entry points.