Our city will soon come alive with the rhythm of jazz, in the Melbourne International Jazz Festival’s most expansive program to date. Get ready for over 150 performances and events across the city, from the streets of Melbourne to intimate bars and grander stages. The line-up this year features over 500 artists from 18 countries, and roughly one third of the festival is free to attend. The Melbourne International Jazz Festival (MIJF) will run from October 17 to 26.
Melbourne International Jazz Festival 2025
Every year since 1998, the sound of jazz takes over Melbourne. Over ten exciting days, you can look forward to performances around Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Fed Square, Grazeland and more.
According to Artistic Director of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Michael Tortoni, the program this year “reflects the full breadth of jazz today, from its deep traditions to its most daring frontiers, and it’s designed to be experienced by everyone, whether you’re a dedicated jazz enthusiast or simply curious to explore.”
Chapel Off Chapel will be the festival hub for boundary-pushing performances as well as special encounters. Meanwhile, the JazzLab will host intimate, late-night shows.
Night Crawl
The festivities will kick off with Night Crawl on Friday October 17. Over one night, over 100 musicians will perform free live music across multiple venues around the city, including laneways, basements and open-air stages. Swing by Fed Square, Whitehart Bar, Wax Music Lounge, Section 8, Afloat, Workshop, Rooftop Bar, The Toff, Fifty-Five Bar, Aster and Melbourne Music Room.
Jazz at the Bowl
Head to Sidney Myer Music Bowl and feel mesmerised by international star Harry Connick Jr. as he headlines a six-hour show of jazz, soul and New Orleans classics at Live at the Bowl. Joining him on the line-up is jazz guitarist Bill Frisell and homegrown artist Emma Donovan.
Free events
On Saturday October 18, the celebrations at Fed Square will continue with Big Band Saturday. Look forward to a day of brass, rhythm and groove, with the Air Force Big Band channelling the golden era of swing, as well as performances from the Melbourne Youth Jazz Orchestra and the Melbourne Conservatorium Big Band.
The Jazz on Film series will return, with screenings at ACMI, Fed Square and Palace Penny Lane Rooftop. Celebrate jazz across multiple genres and eras.
On Sunday October 19, explore Jazz Westside in Moonee Valley. Venues across Ascot Vale, Moonee Ponds and Essendon will host live sets from the afternoon to the early evening.
Staying in the west, check out Footscray Sunday Sessions on October 26. Visit four local venues like Mamma Chens and Misfits, and listen to live tunes, followed by DJs late into the night.
The festival will also hit Grazeland on October 17 and 18, with two nights of music spanning from 1930s jazz to exciting West African-meets-Melbourne jazz fusion.
Swing by the Royal Exhibition Building for the Italian Festa Jazz Club on October 18 and 19, and hear Italian classics blended with Latin grooves, jazz tributes to film composer Ennio Morricone and more.
International headliners
Two-time GRAMMY Award-winning vocalist, composer and bandleader, Gregory Porter, will take the stage at Hamer Hall on October 24. Ever since his release Liquid Spirit sold over a million copies, Porter has been enchanting audiences with the soul and gospel influences of his Bakersfield upbringing, as well as the timeless influence of Nat King Cole.
Samara Joy has become the most celebrated new voice in jazz, with five GRAMMY Awards under her name, including Best New Artist. Joy has sold out venues like The Apollo, and appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Now, she will perform at Hamer Hall on October 26.
GRAMMY-winner and UNESCO Artist for Peace Danilo Pérez will perform at the Melbourne Recital Centre on October 18, bringing nearly four decades of experience to the stage.
Lebanese-French trumpeter and composer Ibrahim Maalouf will make his Australian debut alongside his 10-piece band. Listen to a blend of jazz improv, modern pop and Arabic melodies at 170 Russell on October 23.
To browse the full program, click here.