Montreal Jazz Festival 2026: 15 Highlights from the World's Largest Jazz Event

The 46th Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (FIJM) took place from June 25 to July 4, 2026, in Montreal's Quartier des Spectacles, featuring hundreds of gigs, many free, and attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors. Highlights included performances by Cécile McLorin Salvant, who won the festival's Ella-Fitzgerald prize and performed a jazz version of Donna Summer's 'I Feel Love'; Camille Thurman with the Darrell Green Quartet at Upstairs jazz club; and Kid Koala's 'The Storyville Mosquito,' a genre-defying blend of live music, animation, and puppetry at Place des Arts. Headliners Kamasi Washington and Keyon Harrold drew massive crowds at the outdoor Scene TD stage. Other notable acts included Brandee Younger on harp, Joshua Redman Group, Stacey Kent, and rising star Olive Jones. The festival also featured intimate sets by Jean-Michel Pilc Trio, David Binney Action Trio, and Brittany Davis. Executive Director Jacques-André Dupont emphasized the festival's role as a community project that supports artists and elevates Montreal globally. The 47th edition is scheduled for June 25 to July 4, 2027.