Ottawa Jazz Festival
The Ottawa Jazz Festival takes over Confederation Park in the centre of the capital for ten days each June. The 2026 edition, its 46th, ran from 18 to 28 June.
- City
- Ottawa
- Where
- Ottawa, Ontario
- When
- Mid to late June
- Since
- 1980
The festival was started in 1980 by three local musicians, Bob Misener, Tony Pope and Bill Shuttleworth, who first staged it in Major's Hill Park. It has since moved to Confederation Park, where the main stage sits, with additional programming in nearby halls and clubs around downtown Ottawa.
The event has grown to draw up to 300,000 visitors, with more than 100 concerts and over 850 artists in recent years. Alongside straight-ahead and contemporary jazz it programmes blues, rock and indie acts on the main stage, and its economic impact has been tracked by the city at over $448 million in tourism spending since 2009.
Shows in our listings
Upcoming live shows related to the festival on Jazz Live Canada.
Where to stay for Ottawa Jazz
Hotels and apartments around Ottawa. Prices shown are for one night; you can widen the dates on the map.
Frequently asked questions
- When does Ottawa Jazz take place?
- Ottawa Jazz takes place in Ottawa in mid to late june, 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 Ottawa Jazz held?
- It takes place in Ottawa (Ottawa, Ontario).
- 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.