Various locations across Edinburgh
Now over 40 years old, this joyful and flamboyant multicultural event is one of the largest jazz festivals in Europe.
Launched in 1978 by Edinburgh guitarist and banjo player Mike Hart, the festival originally featured traditional jazz performances playing in Edinburgh’s pubs, before evolving to feature a more diverse range of styles, including funk and hip-hop. Today, it attracts major international jazz names from all over the world, as well as from the burgeoning Scottish contemporary jazz scene.
With more than 100 events at venues across the city, the 2025 programme features an incredible line-up of jazz and blues artists from around the globe. Whether you’re a festival regular or a first-time visitor, prepare for a genre-spanning celebration – from bebop to boogie-woogie, funk to soul, trad to techno, swing to searing blues-rock.
No other festival covers jazz and blues, across all the styles, with such depth and quality, and with so many unique events. Enjoy acclaimed American guitarist Julian Lage; world-renowned singer Curtis Stigers, Scottish trumpet star Colin Steele, American blues icon Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Scotland’s own corto.alto, and much, much more.
This year’s international showcases introduces some exciting new names as the festival collaborates with partners in Poland and Luxembourg.
As part of a series of interactive events, the festival also presents digital music making workshops from Stu Brown, as well as two shows for young music fans with Jazz For Kids and Sound Explorers, as well as talks, masterclasses, jam sessions and more.
And, of course, not forgetting the Edinburgh Festival Carnival, Scotland’s largest and most flamboyant multicultural event. Returning to the city centre on Sunday 13 July with over 750 participants from across the globe, the Carnival programme will be released on Thursday 12 June.
The full programme is out now. Tickets to performances can be booked on Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, or by calling the box office on 0131 226 0013 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm)
