Summers spent in Ottawa are truly unforgettable.
There are concerts, food festivals, patios along the Rideau Canal, and more live music than you can fit into a weekend. And if there’s one event that captures the city’s love of music better than anything else, it’s the Ottawa Jazz Festival.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering the festival for the first time, this guide has everything you need:
- 2026 lineup: All artists and headliners
- Venues: Location details
- Ticket info: Free vs ticketed events
- Parking tips: How to avoid downtown traffic with Indigo Neo
Plan your visit with confidence and make the most of Ottawa’s premier summer music event.
JUMP TO:
Paid Ottawa Jazz Festival Events
Free Ottawa Jazz Festival Events
What is the Ottawa Jazz Festival?
The Ottawa Jazz Festival (also known as Jazz Fest Ottawa) is an annual outdoor music festival held in downtown Ottawa, Ontario. It’s one of Canada’s premier jazz festivals and one of the only major festivals set right in Ottawa’s urban core, with Parliament Hill as a backdrop.
What started as a weekend of outdoor jazz in Major’s Hill Park back in 1980 has grown into an 11-day musical celebration attracting hundreds of thousands of attendees each year. The festival was founded by local musicians Bob Misener, Tony Pope, and Bill Shuttleworth, and has never stopped growing since.
When & Where is the Ottawa Jazz Festival?
Here’s everything you need to know about where the 2026 Ottawa Jazz Festival takes place.
Dates: Ottawa Jazz Festival runs from Thursday, June 18, to Sunday, June 28, 2026, that’s 11 days of music in the heart of the capital.
Note: there is no programming on Monday, June 22, or Tuesday, June 23. Festival hours are 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM on all active days.
Ottawa Jazz Festival 2026 Location & Stages
The festival’s venues are conveniently clustered in downtown Ottawa, all within a short walk of each other.
Main Stage – Confederation Park: The heart of the festival. The main outdoor stage hosts the biggest headline acts each evening. Confederation Park is a National Historic Site bordered by Elgin Street, Laurier Avenue, the Rideau Canal, and the Rideau Centre.
Elgin St. Stage – A second outdoor stage within Confederation Park, featuring a mix of local and emerging artists across the day and early evening.
National Arts Centre (NAC) – Indoor performances at Ottawa’s iconic National Arts Centre, steps from Confederation Park.
Azrieli Studio – National Arts Centre (NAC): Intimate indoor venue at the NAC, perfect for more experimental and acoustic programming.
Grill 41 at the Lord Elgin Hotel – The after-hours hotspot. Free entry for Late Night Jams, the place where musicians unwind and improvise after their main sets.
Where to buy tickets for the Ottawa Jazz Festival?
There are full festival passes for regular attendees. Here’s the breakdown.
- General Admission (GA) Full Festival Pass
- Premium Full Festival Pass
- VIP Full Festival Pass
- Youth Full Festival Pass
All tickets can be purchased on the Showpass site here.
Which Ottawa Jazz Festival Events Require Tickets?
Wyclef Jean
Jun 18 | 8:30 PM |OLG Main Stage – Confederation Park
The festival kicks off with a bang. Multi-Grammy-winning musician and former Fugees member Wyclef Jean brings his electrifying live show to Ottawa for what promises to be one of the most energetic opening nights in festival history. A true global superstar.
TOBi
Jun 18 | 10:30 PM | Elgin St. Stage – Confederation Park
Toronto-based R&B artist TOBi wraps up opening night with his genre-bending sound that weaves together hip-hop, soul, and jazz-inflected grooves. One of Canada’s most exciting voices right now.
BADBADNOTGOOD
Jun 19 | 8:30 PM | OLG Main Stage – Confederation Park
Toronto’s instrumental jazz-meets-hip-hop collective BADBADNOTGOOD is one of the most important jazz acts to emerge in the past decade. Their live show is an experience, dense, evolving, and completely captivating.
Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra
Jun 20 | 8:30 PM | OLG Main Stage – Confederation Park
Yes, that Jeff Goldblum. Actor, cultural icon, and genuine jazz pianist. Jeff Goldblum and his orchestra have built a devoted following with their charming, swing-infused performances. Expect jazz standards, big band energy, surprise guests, and a lot of fun. One of the most unique shows of the festival.
Bob James
Jun 21 | 6:30 PM | OLG Main Stage – Confederation Park
Jazz legend Bob James, the godfather of smooth jazz and one of the most sampled musicians in hip-hop history, performs on the main stage with Michael Palazzolo on bass and John Mahon on drums. An intimate, historic evening.
GALACTIC featuring Jelly Joseph
Jun 24 | 8:30 PM | OLG Main Stage – Confederation Park
New Orleans funk institution Galactic returns, this time joined by powerhouse vocalist Jelly Joseph. Expect a deep groove-driven evening with the kind of musicianship that makes New Orleans funk so irresistible.
WILLOW
Jun 26 | 9:00 PM | OLG Main Stage – Confederation Park
Singer-songwriter WILLOW (yes, Will Smith’s daughter) has grown into one of the most artistically daring young musicians in popular music. Her blend of pop, rock, R&B, and experimental sound makes her a fascinatingly bold choice for Jazz Fest, and one that’s sure to pull a massive crowd.
The full lineup also includes many more artists across all stages, including Brandon Woody’s UPENDO, Flore Laurentienne, Bobby Previte’s Pocket Orchestra plays Bitches Brew, The Dip, Myra Melford’s Fire & Water Quintet, Becca Stevens Trio, Takuya Kuroda, Witch Prophet, Charley Rose Trio, and many more.
Check ottawajazzfestival.com for the complete program.
Which Ottawa Jazz Festival Events Are Free?
Confederation Park- Elgin St. Stage
Each festival day features free performances starting at noon, with artists playing on both outdoor stages before the evening paid programming begins.
Some of the free acts in 2026 include:
| Artist | Date & Time |
| Finely Tuned Elephant | June 19, 12:00 PM |
| Youth Series Student and Community Ensembles | June 20, 10:00 AM |
| Pimienta | June 24, 12:00 PM |
| Atcheleh Aryee Quintet | June 25, 12:00 PM |
| Funk-A-Tron 5000 | June 26, 12:00 PM |
| The Artichoke Hearts | June 27, 12:00 PM |
| Prime Rib Big Band | June 27, 2:00 PM |
| Alanna Sterling | June 28, 12:00 PM |
| Steve Berndt | June 28, 2:00 PM |
There are many more free performances throughout the city; check ottawajazzfestival.com for the complete program.
Late Night Jamming Series — Free After-Hours Music
Every festival night, the Late Night Jamming Series takes place at Grill 41 in the Lord Elgin Hotel (100 Elgin St.), just steps from Confederation Park. These sessions are free and open to all ages. This is the unofficial soul of the festival: musicians who just finished main stage sets come here to unwind, improvise, and play for the love of it. The energy is electric and completely unpredictable. If you’ve never stayed out late at a jazz festival, this is the night to do it.
Homegrown Local Club Series
May 29 – June 6
Before the main festival even begins, the Homegrown Local Club Series (presented by Beyond The Pale) kicks off with a series of free performances at local Ottawa bars and venues. This series is dedicated to spotlighting local Ottawa musicians, a chance to discover the city’s deep homegrown jazz talent before the international headliners arrive. Artists in the 2026 series include Birdie Whyte, NITROTURTLE ft. Matthew Chaffey, Gregory Nicholas Trio, Kate Weekes, and more.
The Ottawa Jazz Festival also presents Music in the Park with Zibi, a free outdoor concert series running through the summer at Zibi in Gatineau, just across the river from Ottawa. Shows include Florquestra Brasil (July 8), BRASS TAXX (Aug 12), and FASOCANA (Sep 9). Free entry.
Where Can I Park for the Ottawa Jazz Festival?
88 Metcalfe Street
6-minute walk to Confederation Park
This 24/7 surface lot offers 35 parking spaces. This lot is located at the corner of Slater and Metcalfe.
219 Laurier Avenue West
7-minute walk to Confederation Park
This 24/7 surface lot offers 50 parking spaces. This lot is directly across from Ottawa City Hall and steps from the south entrance of Confederation Park.
84 Gloucester Street
8-minute walk to Confederation Park
This 24/7 surface lot offers 32 parking spaces. This lot is tucked just off Elgin Street near the ONE60 Elgin complex, within easy walking distance of Confederation Park and the National Arts Centre.
193 Metcalfe Street
8-minute walk to Confederation Park
This 24/7 underground lot offers 141 parking spaces. This lot is centrally located and is close to Parliament Hill.
111 Cooper Street
9-minute walk to the Rex Hotel
This 24/7 surface lot offers 34 parking spaces. This lot is just a short walk from Elgin Street’s restaurants and bars and a quick stroll to Confederation Park.
700 Sussex Drive
10-minute walk to Confederation Park
This 24/7 underground garage offers 76 parking spaces. This lot is located is underneath 700 Sussex building (home of Milestone’s Restaurant, Greco’s, etc.), with access from Sussex Drive.
93 George Street
12-minute walk to Confederation Park
This 24/7 surface lot offers 65 parking spaces. This lot is located at the corner of George Street and Dalhousie, in the heart of the ByWard Market.
Ottawa Jazz Festival Tips
- Book Parking or Plan Transit Before You Go
Opening Weekend (June 18–20) and big headline nights will bring thousands of people into the downtown core. Parking fills fast. Use the Indigo Neo app to book a spot before you go, or take the O-Train for a stress-free arrival. - Arrive Early for Free Shows
The free noon and afternoon sets at Confederation Park are first-come, first-served. On busy weekend afternoons, the park can fill up. Bring a folding lawn chair or blanket; collapsible chairs are permitted throughout Confederation Park. - The Festival Is Cashless
There are no ATMs on site. All purchases (food, merchandise, bar) require a debit card, credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay. Come prepared. - Download the Official App
The Ottawa Jazz Festival app (available for iOS and Android) has the full interactive schedule, venue map, set times, and artist information. It’s the best tool for planning your festival days on the fly. - Pets
Dogs and other pets are not permitted inside the park during festival hours. Guide dogs and certified service animals are welcome.
Enjoy the Ottawa Jazz Festival
The Ottawa Jazz Festival is one of Canada’s great summer traditions, 11 days of world-class music in one of the country’s most beautiful downtown settings, with a huge amount of it completely free.
Plan ahead, book your parking with Indigo Neo, get to the free daytime shows early, and make sure you stay for at least one late-night jam session at Grill 41. That’s the full Jazz Fest Ottawa experience.
You May Also Like:
