CA Ongoing

Nanaimo Jazz Festival

Name: Nanaimo Jazz Festival
Start: 2026-09-12
End: 2026-09-27
Location: Nanaimo

The Nanaimo Jazz Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2026, featuring 17 distinct performances scheduled across three weekends. The event highlights Nanaimo's deep jazz heritage through a mix of free outdoor concerts and ticketed indoor shows at various venues throughout the city.

Date: Sep 12-27, 2026
Location: Nanaimo
Status: Ongoing

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Event summary

Highlights

10th anniversary celebration
17 different performances over three weekends
Free outdoor concerts at Maffeo Sutton Park
Closing performance by the Jocelyn Gould Trio

The festival kicks off with free public performances at Maffeo Sutton Park on its opening weekend. Subsequent events take place at diverse local venues, including The Queen’s, the Coast Bastion Inn ballroom, and the Vancouver Island Conference Centre’s Shaw Auditorium. The programming showcases a wide variety of styles within the jazz genre, ranging from emerging artists to established trios.

Notable performers for the 2026 edition include the Mary Ancheta Quartet, Dee Daniels & Trio, and Alex Cuba. In addition to traditional stage concerts, the schedule includes community-focused activities such as a Jazz Jam at the Vault Cafe and a performance at a local parkade. The festival concludes on September 27 with a closing set by the Jocelyn Gould Trio.

Practical details

Before attending

Check the sources below for current opening times, admission prices and registration requirements. A date range does not mean the event runs continuously or that admission is free.