when is jazz fest new orleans

New Orleans Jazz Fest (New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival) in 2026 is scheduled for April 23 – May 3, 2026 at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans.

Quick Scoop: Key Dates

• Overall festival window: April 23 – May 3, 2026.

• Weekend 1: April 23–26, 2026.

• Weekend 2: April 30 – May 3, 2026.

• “Locals Thursday” (discounted for Louisiana residents): April 23 and April 30.

What You Can Expect

• The festival runs across two long weekends , with music most days between those dates at the Fair Grounds.

• It features over 5,000 musicians on 14 stages , covering jazz, blues, funk, rock, gospel, zydeco, and more.

• Alongside the music, there’s a heavy focus on local food, art, and New Orleans culture , so it’s as much about the city as the music itself.

Travel Timing Tip

If you’re planning a trip and your main question is “when is Jazz Fest New Orleans,” aim to be in the city for at least one full weekend within April 23 – May 3, 2026 , depending on which headliners or days you care about most.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.