Melbourne International Jazz Festival returns with over 500 artists from 18 countries performing across ten days.
Over 500 artists from 18 countries will descend on Melbourne this October for the Melbourne International Jazz Festival’s most ambitious program to date. From 17–26 October, more than 150 performances will fill 40 venues across the city, bringing together the biggest names in jazz alongside cutting-edge local talent for ten days of transformative live music.
Melbourne International Jazz Festival’s 2025 edition promises its most expansive lineup yet, featuring multi-Grammy winner Harry Connick Jr headlining the signature Jazz at the Bowl event, unparalleled baritone Gregory Porter, five-time Grammy-winning vocalist Samara Joy, and fearless Japanese pianist Hiromi with PUBLIQuartet. Festival opener Night Crawl transforms the CBD into a massive free music playground featuring over 100 musicians across 11 venues.
Melbourne International Jazz Festival 2025
- 17–26 October 2025
- Multiple venues across Melbourne
- Tickets on sale Thursday 28 August, 8am
- Jazz at the Bowl tickets on sale 1pm on Friday 29 August
- More than one-third of the program is free to attend
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International headliners bring world-class talent
Two-time Grammy Award-winning vocalist Gregory Porter arrives at Hamer Hall on 24 October, bringing his warm, resonant baritone that fuses timeless elegance with soul and gospel influences. Also at Hamer Hall is five-time Grammy Award-winning vocalist Samara Joy — a once-in-a-generation talent who recalls Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald, redefining classic jazz singing for the modern era.
Japanese virtuoso Hiromi pushes musical boundaries with her genre-defying compositions and boundless energy, joining forces with multi-Grammy-nominated PUBLIQuartet for a breathtaking suite blending jazz improvisation with classical precision. Grammy-winning saxophonist and modern jazz titan Gary Bartz premieres The Eternal Tenure of Sound in collaboration with celebrated Australian pianist Barney McAll, spanning six decades of landmark recordings with Miles Davis, Art Blakey and Charles Mingus.
Panamanian pianist Danilo Pérez, a Grammy-winner and UNESCO Artist for Peace, brings nearly four decades of visionary composition and improvisation to Melbourne Recital Centre. One of contemporary music’s most distinctive guitarists, Bill Frisell, returns for an exclusive six-show residency at The JazzLab, uniting with longtime collaborators Thomas Morgan and Rudy Royston.
Lebanese-French trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf headlines on Thursday 23 October with The Trumpets of Michel-Ange, bringing his explosive 10-piece ensemble complete with six trumpets to Australian stages for the first time. The virtuoso musician, praised by legends like Quincy Jones and collaborator with icons including Stevie Wonder and Sting, will fuse jazz, Arabic and contemporary influences.
The next evening, American funk juggernaut LETTUCE takes the stage on Friday 24 October, delivering their trademark high-energy grooves that have been redefining funk since 1992. The six-piece ensemble, featuring razor-sharp musicianship and Grammy-nominated releases including Elevate and their latest album Unify with legendary bassist Bootsy Collins, draws inspiration from Parliament-Funkadelic and Tower of Power.
Signature events kick off in spectacular style
Night Crawl transforms Melbourne’s CBD into an epic musical adventure on opening night, Friday 17 October. Over 100 musicians will perform across 11 venues in a choose-your-own-adventure of free live music, from rooftop bars to basement hideaways. Fed Square hosts UK multi-instrumentalist Tenderlonious with Melbourne groove masters Horatio Luna, cinematic soul champions Surprise Chef celebrating their new album Superb, and international DJ icon Natasha Diggs.
Jazz at the Bowl returns to the iconic Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Saturday 25 October with Harry Connick Jr headlining a six-hour celebration of jazz, soul and New Orleans classics. The masterful performer has exemplified excellence across music, film, television and Broadway for decades, earning Grammy, Emmy and Tony recognition plus a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Backed by his stellar band, this special performance showcases the full breadth of Connick’s artistry.
Joining this formidable line-up is one of the world’s greatest jazz guitarists Bill Frisell, renowned for his deeply lyrical playing, extraordinary versatility and creative vision. Plus, beloved homegrown talent, Emma Donovan unleashes her brand-new show Take Me to the River — a powerful tribute to the timeless sounds of soul icons Sam Cooke, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding and more.
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It’s an explosive double bill on Saturday 25 October at Max Watt’s, featuring Brooklyn-born vocalist and activist Melanie Charles alongside the dynamic collective WhoAllGonBeThere, in a night celebrating the intersection of jazz, soul and hip hop. Charles, praised by The New York Times and known for collaborations with Gorillaz and The Roots, joins forces with multidisciplinary artist IGNABU and producer Paul Wilson Bae, while WhoAllGonBeThere brings together Blue Note saxophonist Marcus Strickland, Grammy-winning bassist Ben Williams and explosive drummer Jharis Yokley for an unmissable showcase of New York’s underground scene.
Commissions and collaborations showcase innovation
Melbourne International Jazz Festival continues its tradition of bold new work with five major world premieres. Grammy-winning bassist-composer Linda May Han Oh unveils Invisible Threads at Melbourne Recital Centre, featuring trailblazing vocalist Pamela Z and acclaimed illustrator Keith Henry Brown in an immersive experience fusing live music, visuals and storytelling.
Proud Kamilaroi composer Adam Manning, the festival’s First Nations Artist in Residence, presents First Rhythms, reimagining clapsticks as vessels of cultural memory while blending traditional rhythms with contemporary jazz textures. Multi-instrumentalist SOLUNE premieres brand new material from Mad Vantage, a bold fusion of nu-jazz, prog-metal and electronic sound design channelling Greek, Persian and Middle Eastern modal traditions.
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Free events bring jazz to every corner
More than a third of the program comes free to attend, designed to bring jazz from iconic public spaces to neighbourhood favourites. Big Band Saturday at Fed Square on 18 October features the Air Force Big Band channelling swing’s golden era, the Melbourne Youth Jazz Orchestra injecting youthful energy, and the Melbourne Conservatorium Big Band blending classic repertoire with contemporary compositions.
Jazz Westside brings the scene to Moonee Valley on Sunday 19 October, with venues in Ascot Vale, Moonee Ponds and Essendon hosting live sets from afternoon to early evening. Footscray Sunday Sessions on 26 October creates a walkable music trail through four beloved local venues, while Inside Out: Jump, Jive, Jazz at ArtPlay invites Melbourne’s youngest music fans to create and move alongside live musicians.
Jazz at the Chapel showcases boundary-pushing performances
Chapel Off Chapel becomes a festival hub for innovative artists and special encounters. Acclaimed Sydney label Earshift Music presents triple bills capturing their adventurous spirit, featuring pianist James Bowers performing explosive material, Visions of Nar blending mystical jazz and folk traditions, and guitarist Hilary Geddes unveiling deeply expressive new work.
Singapore’s Jeremy Monteiro returns with the Jazz Association Singapore Orchestra, a dynamic 16-piece big band showcasing Southeast Asian jazz talent. In a long-awaited moment for Australian audiences, Italian piano grand master Rita Marcotulli makes her debut, bringing nearly five decades of experience working with icons including Chet Baker, Pat Metheny and Dewey Redman.
Club sessions keep the energy flowing
JazzLab serves as the festival’s late-night heartbeat with intimate, high-energy performances from contemporary jazz’s most exciting names. Aotearoa jazz pioneers Goldsmith Baynes make their Australian debut performing entirely in te reo Māori, while Japan’s technically fierce Banksia Trio bring their emotionally rich sound inspired by Australia’s native plant.
International super-group Ivdf unites drummer Myele Manzanza, saxophonist Alex Hitchcock, bassist Michelangelo Scandroglio and pianist Daniel Hayles in a thrilling collaboration fusing electronic, indie, dance and classical influences. Late Night Jams led by Melbourne favourites The Rookies keep music flowing into the early hours with spontaneous, improvised sessions bringing together local and international artists.
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