The Vancouver International Jazz Festival runs from mid-June until Canada Day. One of the largest jazz gatherings in Canada, it consists of over 300 concerts at about 30 venues over a period of two weeks. The festival brings together jazz legends, emerging musicians, and contemporary visionaries from different countries. Jazz club sessions, outdoor improvisations in the park—the Vancouver International Jazz Fest has it all!
Festival's Lineup
During two weeks, the Vancouver International Jazz Festival hosts 130 free concerts. David Lam Park Jazz Weekend is among the most popular Vancouver events, featuring concerts in a beautiful green space. This year's lineup includes Sumac With Moor Mother, Garret T. Willie, The Jason Winikoff Hot 5, Biboye Onanuga Quartet, Irreversible Entanglements, The Messthetics & James Brandon Lewis, Julian Lage, Aja Monet, Emmeluth's Amoeba, Lakecia Benjamin And Phoenix, Empanadas Ilegales, Peregrine Falls + Shahzad Ismaily, Team Hegdal, Dan Gaucher Quartet, and many others.
Schedule of Workshops
Annually, Coastal Jazz takes pride in providing complimentary workshops and lectures at Tom Lee Music Hall downtown. From June 26 to 30 at 1 pm, attendees can immerse themselves in an intimate learning environment led by engaging and insightful musicians, such as visiting artists David Blake from Brooklyn and Jessica Ackerley from Honolulu, alongside local talents Meredith Bates and Alvaro Roias. The International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation also offers a series of artistic discussions scheduled for 3-5 pm on June 27, 28, and 30.
Location & Tickets
The Vancouver International Jazz Festival is held in multiple locations across the beautiful city of Vancouver, including Ocean Artworks, Georgia Street Stage, Tom Lee Music Hall, Western Front, Vancouver Playhouse, Tyrant Studios, Performance Works, and Revue Stage. Most of the concerts are free of charge, and paid events range from CAD 15 to CAD 65.
History of the Festival
The festival emerged from the Vancouver jazz scene in the early 1980s. In 1984, the Pacific Jazz and Blues Festival was held in the city for the first time. In 1986, it changed its name, and the first annual Vancouver International Jazz Festival was produced, featuring legends like Miles Davis, Wynton Marsalis, Tony Williams, Bobby McFerrin, Albert Collins, and John Mayall.
The festival draws about 460,000 people each year. Over 1,000 volunteers help make the event happen with its hundreds of performances in parks, community centers, streets, clubs, and public plazas in various neighborhoods.
