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Atlanta Jazz Festival

Atlanta Jazz Festival returns to Piedmont Park May 23-25, 2026 with three days of free live music during Memorial Day weekend.

Atlanta Jazz Festival 2022   Photo Credit John Stephens
Photo credit: John Stephens
2022 Atlanta Jazz Festival

Atlanta Jazz Festival

Atlanta Jazz Festival is one of the country’s largest free jazz festivals, bringing major jazz artists, crossover performers, and jazz-focused community programming to Atlanta each spring. Produced by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, the festival has become a long-running Memorial Day weekend tradition in Piedmont Park.

2026 Update

The 49th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival takes place May 23-25, 2026 at Piedmont Park in Atlanta. The 2026 lineup is now live, with five artists scheduled each day on the Design Essentials stage. The festival is free and open to the public.

What to Expect

The festival blends nationally recognized headliners, contemporary jazz voices, spoken-word and crossover artists, and Atlanta-connected performers in a relaxed outdoor setting. In addition to the main weekend lineup, the broader festival brand also includes special programming and citywide jazz events.

Location

Piedmont Park
Atlanta, GA

Schedule Highlights

  • Saturday, May 23: Buddy Red, aja monet, Nate Smith, Christian McBride & Ursa Major, and Kamasi Washington
  • Sunday, May 24: Cleveland P Jones, Myron McKinley Trio, Donnie - The Colored Section, Esperanza Spalding, and The Roots
  • Monday, May 25: Cody Matlock, Nicole Zuraitis, Destin Conrad, Butcher Brown, and PJ Morton

 

Event Information

Event

Friday May 22, 2026 07:30 PM EDT
Atlanta Jazz Festival’s Friday Kick Off Concert celebrates the Miles Davis Centennial with Miles Electric Band featuring Keyon Harrold and opening act Hero The Band at Atlanta Symphony Hall. | more...

Event (Event Scheduled)

Saturday May 23, 2026 01:00 PM EDT
Day one of Atlanta Jazz Festival 2026 features Buddy Red, aja monet, Nate Smith, Christian McBride & Ursa Major, and Kamasi Washington at Piedmont Park. | more...

Event (Event Scheduled)

Sunday May 24, 2026 01:00 PM EDT
Day two of Atlanta Jazz Festival 2026 features Cleveland P Jones, Myron McKinley Trio, Donnie - The Colored Section, Esperanza Spalding, and The Roots at Piedmont Park. | more...

Event

Sunday May 24, 2026 11:00 PM EDT
Atlanta Jazz Festival’s Late Night Concert at Park Tavern features Lil’ John Roberts and Russell Gunn presenting A Tribute to Churchill Grounds, hosted by Jamal Ahmad. | more...

Event (Event Scheduled)

Monday May 25, 2026 01:00 PM EDT
Day three of Atlanta Jazz Festival 2026 features Cody Matlock, Nicole Zuraitis, Destin Conrad, Butcher Brown, and PJ Morton at Piedmont Park. | more...

Festival Programming

The 2026 festival is built around three days of mainstage performances in Piedmont Park, with programming that moves from emerging and locally connected voices to major evening headliners. The shape of the lineup reflects the festival’s broad definition of jazz and its long-running role as both a community gathering and a destination event.

Why It Matters

Atlanta Jazz Festival remains one of the city’s most significant free cultural events, connecting Atlanta audiences with globally known artists while reinforcing the city’s role in the broader history and present-day evolution of jazz.

For the latest official updates, visit Atlanta Jazz Festival.