Kaunas Jazz Festival 2024 in Lithuania

The Kaunas Jazz Festival has been a cultural cornerstone for decades, drawing jazz enthusiasts to Kaunas, Lithuania’s lively hub of music and artistic expression. The festival was launched in 1991, shortly after Lithuania declared its independence from the Soviet Union. Initially a small event held in April, the festival has since grown into an internationally recognized series, expanding to include additional performances in the fall and just before Christmas.

Programme

The festival's eclectic program blends a whole bunch of jazz genres, from traditional old school to avant-garde and contemporary jazz, promising to please the most discerning audiences. Chords of established jazz artists and up-and-comers from about 20 countries cross the Kaunas Jazz stage yearly.

Lineup (December 4, 2024)

This year’s Kaunas Jazz Festival, celebrating its 34th edition, will showcase a stunning collaboration between Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez and the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra. Their performance, set for December 4 at Kaunas' "Žalgiris" Arena, will be the grand finale of the festival's 2024 program. Adding to the excitement, renowned Portuguese singer Salvador Sobral will visit Lithuania for two exclusive performances. He will take the stage at the National Drama Theater of Kaunas on December 11, followed by a performance at the LVSO concert hall in Vilnius on December 12.

Venues

During Kaunas Jazz, world-class music swirls throughout the entire Kaunas, spanning disparate venues from large concert halls to more intimate and remote jazz clubs. Headliners often perform at Žalgirio arena, but other concerts and events like workshops take place at diverse theatres, museums, gardens, etc.

Tickets

Ticket prices for the Kaunas Jazz Festival performances vary depending on the event. Tickets for Alfredo Rodriguez and the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra, taking place on December 4, range from €38.80 to €118.80. For Salvador Sobral’s exclusive performance in Kaunas on December 11, tickets are priced between €59.00 and €74.00.

Past Lineups

Some of the past lineups' highlights were Al Di Meola, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, John Scofield, Elvin Jones, Charles Lloyd, Jan Garbarek, Bobo Stenson, Courtney Pine, Nils Landgren, Marc Copland, Palle Mikkelborg, John Abercrombie, Nils Petter Molvaer, Mike Stern, David Sanborn, Trilok Gurtu, Greg Osby, Bobby Previte, and Chico Freeman.