Monterey Jazz Festival
The longest continuously running jazz festival in the world, held every September on the Monterey County Fairgrounds in coastal California. The 69th edition runs September 25-27, 2026.
- City
- Monterey
- Where
- Monterey, California
- When
- Late September
- Since
- 1958
Monterey Jazz Festival debuted on October 3, 1958, co-founded by the critic Ralph J. Gleason and the disc jockey Jimmy Lyons, with Dave Brubeck among its early champions. It has taken place every year since on the same 20-acre, oak-studded fairgrounds at 2004 Fairground Road, and the main stage still carries Lyons' name. The festival's own materials date the organization to 1958 and count 2026 as the 69th edition.
The three-day weekend spreads roughly 50 concert sets across multiple stages, from the ticketed Jimmy Lyons Stage to smaller grounds venues included with a general admission ticket. Alongside the headline programming, the nonprofit behind the festival runs a year-round education arm, including the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra and a student festival, so student ensembles regularly appear on the September bill next to touring artists.
No shows in our listings yet
We don't have any Monterey Jazz 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 Monterey Jazz
Hotels and apartments around Monterey. Prices shown are for one night; you can widen the dates on the map.
Frequently asked questions
- When does Monterey Jazz take place?
- Monterey Jazz takes place in Monterey in late september, and has been running since 1958. The exact dates for each edition can vary, so it's worth confirming them on the official website.
- Where is Monterey Jazz held?
- It takes place in Monterey (Monterey, California).
- How do I follow the program and get tickets?
- At Jazz Live US 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 US, 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.