Spotlight: Charlie Parker
Spotlight: Charlie Parker is a city-wide Kansas City celebration held every August around the life and music of Charlie 'Bird' Parker, who was born there. The 2026 edition was the 14th, closing with a Folly Theater concert on August 29.
- City
- Kansas City
- Where
- Kansas City, Missouri
- When
- Throughout August
The festival is produced by Kansas City Jazz ALIVE, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2013 that works across five constituencies in the local scene: artists, students, educators, venues and audiences. Rather than occupying one site, the program is distributed through jazz clubs, museums and theaters across the city for most of the month, mixing venue showcases with jam sessions, panel discussions, film screenings and historic walking tours through the 18th & Vine Jazz District.
The closing concert is the anchor. In 2026 the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra presented 'Spotlight: Charlie Parker, featuring KC's Saxophone Legends and Rising Stars' at the Folly Theater, with Bobby Watson, Matt Otto and Stephen Martin joined by student musicians for a big band treatment of Parker's bebop repertoire. That pairing of established saxophonists with students is the festival's working method, not a one-off.
No shows in our listings yet
We don't have any Charlie Parker 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 Charlie Parker Festival
Hotels and apartments around Kansas City. Prices shown are for one night; you can widen the dates on the map.
Frequently asked questions
- When does Charlie Parker Festival take place?
- Charlie Parker Festival takes place in Kansas City in throughout august. The exact dates for each edition can vary, so it's worth confirming them on the official website.
- Where is Charlie Parker Festival held?
- It takes place in Kansas City (Kansas City, Missouri).
- 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.