Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal is the largest jazz festival in the world and the anchor of the Canadian summer circuit. Its 2026 edition, the 46th, runs from 25 June to 4 July across the Quartier des Spectacles.
- City
- Montréal
- Where
- Montréal, Quebec
- When
- Late June to early July
- Since
- 1980
The festival was staged for the first time in 1980 by Alain Simard, who worked with André Ménard and Denyse McCann through their company Spectra, with early backing from CBC Stereo and Radio-Québec. It was recognised by Guinness World Records in 2004 as the world's largest jazz festival, and it now programmes roughly 3,000 musicians from around 30 countries across some 20 stages, with several hundred of the concerts free of charge.
For ten days a large part of downtown Montréal is closed to traffic so that the outdoor stages of the Place des Festivals and the surrounding Quartier des Spectacles can operate. Ticketed concerts run in parallel in the concert halls of the district, including Place des Arts, while the free outdoor programme carries the bulk of the audience. The 2026 edition is built partly around the centenary of Oscar Peterson, the Montréal-born pianist, with a dedicated gala programme.
No shows in our listings yet
We don't have any Montreal Jazz Festival shows in our listings yet (its program is usually announced shortly before each edition). In the meantime, explore all our live jazz shows.
Where to stay for Montreal Jazz Festival
Hotels and apartments around Montréal. Prices shown are for one night; you can widen the dates on the map.
Frequently asked questions
- When does Montreal Jazz Festival take place?
- Montreal Jazz Festival takes place in Montréal in late june to early july, and has been running since 1980. The exact dates for each edition can vary, so it's worth confirming them on the official website.
- Where is Montreal Jazz Festival held?
- It takes place in Montréal (Montréal, Quebec).
- How do I follow the program and get tickets?
- At Jazz Live Canada we publish its shows in our Calendar listings as they are confirmed, and for the full line-up and tickets you can check the festival's official website. If you join Jazz Live Canada, we'll let you know when the line-up is announced.
The exact dates for each edition can vary. Check the festival's official website to confirm the line-up and tickets.