Sun Life UpTown Waterloo Jazz Festival
The Sun Life UpTown Waterloo Jazz Festival is a free three-day festival in the centre of Waterloo, Ontario, held in mid-July. It was in its 34th season in 2026, when it ran from 17 to 19 July.
- City
- Waterloo
- Where
- Waterloo, Ontario
- When
- Mid July
The festival is run by Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival Inc., a registered charity, and is staged on the City of Waterloo parking lot at 100 Regina Street South in the uptown core. Admission is free, with optional paid extras such as VIP seating and subscriptions, and organisers expect attendance above 20,000 across the three days.
Its stated remit is to encourage all genres of jazz, and the 2026 billing reflected that spread: the Toronto contemporary group Four80East on the Friday, Juno-nominated trumpeter Alexis Baro leading a large Latin-jazz band on the Saturday, and pianist Adrean Farrugia's quintet on the Sunday. Alongside the music the site carries food vendors and family programming, and the festival leans heavily on volunteer support.
No shows in our listings yet
We don't have any Waterloo 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 Waterloo Jazz Festival
Hotels and apartments around Waterloo. Prices shown are for one night; you can widen the dates on the map.
Frequently asked questions
- When does Waterloo Jazz Festival take place?
- Waterloo Jazz Festival takes place in Waterloo in mid july. The exact dates for each edition can vary, so it's worth confirming them on the official website.
- Where is Waterloo Jazz Festival held?
- It takes place in Waterloo (Waterloo, 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.