JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jazz Festival returns to downtown Jacksonville for Memorial Day weekend, May 21-24, bringing a star-studded, free lineup to Ford on Bay.
Headliners on the Ford on Bay stage, presented by Publix Super Markets, include Parliament Funkadelic featuring George Clinton; Ghost-Note; Andra Day; Esperanza Spalding; Sheila E. & the E-Train; Nile Rodgers & CHIC; Kamasi Washington; Moonchild and others. Premium experiences are presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority.
A new Jazz in the Plaza stage at Riverfront Plaza will showcase local jazz and R&B artists all weekend, with additional food vendors and a free, all-ages atmosphere.
The festival opens Thursday, May 21, with the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition, presented by Yamaha, at the Florida Theatre. This year’s five finalists are Quintin Harris, Max Holm, Ian McCune, Rowan Tucker-Meyer and Christian Valdes; the winner will perform on the Ford on Bay stage.
Other weekend activities include:
- Jazz Jam, presented by Hot 106.5: Saturday, May 23, 9 p.m.-midnight, Riverfront Plaza.
- Jazz Clinic: Sunday, May 24, 1 p.m., The Jessie, 40 E. Adams Street.
- Jazz Parade: Sunday, May 24, 5:15-6 p.m., beginning near the Ford on Bay stage and ending at Jazz in the Plaza.
Festival organizers unveiled the 2026 commemorative poster by illustrator Lindsey Overstreet; posters will be available online and at the festival.
Operational notes and travel info
- The festival is free, and all City of Jacksonville point-of-sale locations will be cashless; major credit cards and tap-to-pay accepted.
- A prohibited items list, parking map and full travel details are at jacksonvillejazzfest.com/faq.
- Major road closures downtown begin May 18 and run through May 25 for setup and teardown. Affected streets include Market Street, Liberty Street, Bay Street, Independent Drive and Laura Street; specific closure times and locations are posted on the festival website.
Sponsors and partners include Publix Super Markets, Jacksonville Aviation Authority, Downtown Investment Authority, the Florida Theatre, Yamaha, Hot 106.5, WJCT and others.
For the full four-day schedule and updates, visit jacksonvillejazzfest.com or follow @JacksonvilleJazzFestival on Facebook and @jaxjazzfest on Instagram and Twitter.