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 Myer Music Bowl. They will be joined by funk pioneer and former James Brown sideman Fred Wesley leading The New JBs and singer Emily Wurramara.

Aziza. Photo © Govert Driessen

Other headline artists include Dave Holland’s supergroup Aziza, featuring Chris Potter, Lionel Loueke and Eric Harland; three-time GRAMMY-winning vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater; Armenian pianist Tigran Hamasyan; poet and musician aja monet; and The Bad Plus, who will make their final Australian appearance as part of their worldwide farewell tour.

The festival will also feature Mercury Prize winner Benjamin Clementine on his first Australian headline tour, performing his stripped-back Back to Basics show at the Forum. South Korean pianist Shai Maestro, BIGYUKI and UK artists Theon Cross and Summer Pearl are among other international artists appearing across the program.

Xani Kolac. Photo © Michelle Grace Hunder

Australian artists and new work are central to MIJF 2026. Papuan-Australian composer Aaron Choulai will bring together the Australian Art Orchestra, Ngaiire and Joelistics for Saltwater, Sugar, while violinist and composer Xani Kolac will premiere KOŁACZ, commissioned through the festival’s Take Note program. Sachém will premiere Strangers Again, exploring the intersection of jazz and hip hop.

The JazzLab will host the festival’s largest international club residency program to date, featuring Kris Davis, Tomeka Reid, Yosvany Terry, Bokani Dyer and South Korea’s Soojin Suh Coloris Trio.

Late Night Jams led by Melbourne ensemble The Rookies will extend the festival into the early hours.

Late Night Jams at MIJF

Japan, South Korea, South Africa and the UK are this year’s countries in focus, with artists from each scene appearing in concerts, residencies, collaborations and late-night events. A Japanese program will include a triple bill and a pop-up Jazz Kissa celebrating the country’s listening-bar culture.

For more information visit melbournejazz.com