The Melbourne International Jazz Festival will return from 16–25 October with more than 550 artists from 18 countries performing across 30 venues in a 10-day program of more than 150 events and performances.

The 2026 festival will include 29 Australian premieres and 12 world premieres, with the program ranging from jazz and funk to soul, poetry, hip hop and contemporary classical music.

A substantial free program will also bring performances to outdoor stages and public spaces across Melbourne.

Rebirth Brass Band. Photo supplied

Among the major additions is the return of the festival’s Second Line Street Party, led by GRAMMY Award-winning New Orleans ensemble Rebirth Brass Band in its long-awaited Australian debut. The band will lead a street parade along the Yarra before continuing the celebrations at Federation Square with free performances alongside New York-based Japanese keyboardist BIGYUKI and Melbourne artist Allysha Joy.

The festival will also mark 10 years since the breakthrough debut of Melbourne’s The Teskey Brothers, with the six-time ARIA Award winners performing their album Half Mile Harvest in full at the Sidney...