Dust off the dancing shoes, because Melbourne International Jazz Festival is taking over the city for 10 days.
Melbourne International Jazz Festival runs 16 to 25 October, packing more than 150 events into 30 venues.
More than 550 artists from 18 countries are on the program, and a good chunk of it is free.
Here’s where to start, from rooftop dance floors to street marches.
Melbourne International Jazz Festival
- When: 16 to 25 October
- Where: Venues across Melbourne and Victoria
- Tickets here
Check out our gig guide, our festival guide, our live music venue guide and our nightclub guide. Follow us on Instagram here.
Big nights out in the city
Haus Party
- When: 21 October, doors 6pm
- Where: Spiegel Haus, Melbourne
- Tickets here
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New this year, Haus Party takes over the Spiegel Haus rooftop for a night of jazz, groove, hip hop and electronic music.
Eight live acts play, including Don Glori and South African MC Stogie T, with DJ sets from Emelyne and Amber Ferraro in between.
Erica Tucceri performs her debut album in full.
BIGYUKI
- When: 16 October, doors 8pm
- Where: Max Watt’s, 125 Swanston Street, Melbourne (18+)
- Tickets here
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New York-based keyboardist BIGYUKI has recorded with A Tribe Called Quest and J. Cole, and he’s bringing his trio for a night of heavy grooves and electronic textures.
He’s also toured with Kamasi Washington. Melbourne dance act Intermood opens, blending psychedelic jazz with cosmic disco.
aja monet
- When: 22 October, doors 7.30pm
- Where: Max Watt’s, 125 Swanston Street, Melbourne (18+)
- Tickets here
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Brooklyn poet aja monet makes her Melbourne debut, performing her new album the color of rain with a US trio.
She became the youngest winner of the Nuyorican Poets Café Grand Slam at 19. She was also London Jazz Festival’s 2025 artist in residence.
Quentin Angus & MSFS open.
Jazz Re:freshed
- When: 24 October, doors 7.30pm
- Where: Max Watt’s, 125 Swanston Street, Melbourne (18+)
- Tickets here
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The London label that helped launch Shabaka Hutchings and Nubya Garcia brings a double bill.
Tuba player Theon Cross, formerly of Sons of Kemet, headlines, with singer-songwriter Summer Pearl opening and label DJs keeping things moving. Cross has collaborated with Jon Batiste.
Opening weekend blockbusters
Second Line Street Party
- When: 17 October, 1pm
- Where: Red Stair Amphitheatre, 1 Southbank Boulevard, Southbank
- Free event, details here
New Orleans’ Rebirth Brass Band make their Australian debut by leading a free, eight-piece march along the Yarra.
Beads and bright clothes are encouraged.
The party then rolls on to Fed Square with sets from the band, BIGYUKI and Allysha Joy. Early arrival is recommended.
The Teskey Brothers
- When: 17 October, gates 3pm
- Where: Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne
- Tickets here
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Six-time ARIA winners The Teskey Brothers mark 10 years since Half Mile Harvest by playing the whole album.
Funk trombonist Fred Wesley & The New JBs and ARIA winner Emily Wurramara share the bill. Wesley was James Brown’s musical director.
Wurramara starts at 4pm, Wesley follows at 5.30pm and the Teskeys close at 7.15pm.
Hidden gems at Melbourne International Jazz Festival
Xani
- When: 17 October, doors 8pm
- Where: Howler, 7-11 Dawson Street, Brunswick (18+)
- Tickets here
Melbourne electric violinist Xani Kolac debuts KOŁACZ, a festival commission about family names and migration.
It was sparked by restoring the Polish accent mark to her surname. Estonian-Swedish artist Tuulikki Bartosik joins in her Australian debut. Justin Olsson plays drums and percussion.
Shai Maestro
- When: 18 October, 6pm and 8.30pm
- Where: Chapel Off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel Street, Prahran
- Tickets here
Pianist Shai Maestro, a regular on ECM Records, plays tracks from his 2026 album The Guesthouse with bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Ofri Nehemya.
Influences range from Rosalía to John Coltrane.
The Bad Plus
- When: 21 October, 8pm
- Where: Melbourne Recital Centre, Cnr Southbank Boulevard and Sturt Street, Southbank
- Tickets here – $71 to $99
The Bad Plus play their final Australian show, closing a 26-year run.
Founding members Reid Anderson and Dave King are joined by guitarist Ben Monder and saxophonist Chris Speed. Tomeka Reid Quartet
- When: 24 and 25 October, 7pm and 9.30pm both nights
- Where: The JazzLab, 27 Leslie Street, Brunswick
- Tickets here
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MacArthur Fellowship-winning cellist Tomeka Reid makes her Australian premiere with guitarist Mary Halvorson, bassist Jason Roebke and drummer Tomas Fujiwara.
They’ll play material from the 2026 album Dance! Skip! Hop! across four shows.
For more information, head here.
This article was made in partnership with Melbourne International Jazz Festival.
