Detroit Jazz Fest
The world’s largest free Jazz festival
Main Festival, News
Get a free digital copy of the 2026 Detroit Jazz Festival’s Program Book highlighting all of the exceptional artist and events over the festival weekend. DOWNLOAD HERE
Main Festival, News, Press Release
DETROIT, MI — The Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation today announced an exciting addition to the 2026 Detroit Jazz Festival schedule with the inclusion of Dee Dee Bridgewater’s Jazz Club, bringing late-night performances to the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center at Wayne State University. Named after the Grammy and Tony Award-winning jazz vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater,...
Main Festival, News, Press Release
Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation to Present J.C. Heard JazzWeek@Wayne, a One-Week Jazz Education Workshop Featuring: Performance, Jam Session on Wednesday, July 29 at Cliff Bell’s Jazz Club, and Student Showcase, Friday, July 31 at Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center Detroit–In collaboration with the Wayne State University Department of Music and with generous support from the...
Main Festival, News, Press Release
Detroit Jazz Festival Unveils Full 2026 Lineup, New Festival Experience in Consolidated Hart Plaza Stages, Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center DETROIT – The Detroit Jazz Festival, the world’s largest (and best) free jazz festival, today announced the full lineup and key experience updates for the 2026 Detroit Jazz Festival, taking place September 4–7, 2026 over Labor Day...
News
The Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation and International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 38 have teamed up to celebrate the opportunity inherent in Michigan’s Theatre- and Music-tech college programs. Music- and Theater-tech programs encompass a curriculum of study, specific to non-performance majors. These skill sets in stagecraft, from carpenters to electricians, from board operators to script supervisors...
Main Festival, News, Press Release
Jazz Titan Joe Lovano Named 2026 Artist-in-Residence Open Artist Submission due June 1 DETROIT – The Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation is proud to announce Grammy-winning saxophonist, composer, and producer Joe Lovano as the 2026 Detroit Jazz Festival Artist-in-Residence. Known as a Titan in Jazz, Lovano is fearless in finding new modes of artistic expression. With...
Main Festival, News, Press Release
DETROIT, MI — The Detroit Jazz Festival, the world’s largest (and best) free jazz festival announced today that all three of its downtown stages will be consolidated within Hart Plaza for future festivals. The updated footprint enhances the audience experience, improves mobility, and strengthens the Festival’s long-term ability to remain free and accessible to the public....
Main Festival, News, Press Release
Detroit Jazz Festival Expands Global Audience 300K+ Jazz Fans Flock to Downtown, Midtown Performances DETROIT – The 2025 Detroit Jazz Festival saw an approximate 30 percent uptick from last year in the number of countries within its global livestream audience and more than 300,000 in-person attendees gather during the annual Labor Day weekend...
News
IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 10, 2025 CONTACT: Detroit Jazz Festival Media Team djffmedia@detroitjazzfest.org (313) 530-7860 2025 Full Lineup, Schedule Announced – 4 Stages of Free Jazz throughout Labor Day Weekend DETROIT – The Detroit Jazz Festival, the world’s largest (and best) free jazz festival, today announced this year’s full 2025 lineup and schedule...
News
The Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation is celebrating the excellence and opportunity inherent in Michigan’s college and university jazz programs. Where once jazz was viewed as an inappropriate area of study in Colleges and Universities, now jazz degree programs and ensembles are a central part of many music departments across the country. These programs are led...
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(313) 469-6564
For over 40 years, the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation has celebrated Detroit’s rich history of jazz music by providing year-round concerts and educational programming, and of course, organizing the world’s largest free Jazz festival, featuring world-class talent, over Labor Day weekend.
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