Nanaimo International Jazz Festival
Island hop to Nanaimo and bop to all kinds of great jazz, all September long!
Nanaimo International Jazz Festival on Social Media
With ocean vibes and jazz grooves, you can't go wrong. The Nanaimo International Jazz Festival isn't just your dad's jazz, this fest literally covers the waterfront.
First there are the venues: outdoors and oceanfront at Maffeo Sutton Park, or nestled into funky joints by the harbour, this is a town with a live music scene to discover.
Then, there are the acts: from 10-piece funk bands to drag jazz shows, the festival organizers are on a genre-busting mission.
And, finally, the desserts: hello, Nanaimo bars.
So get on over there in 3/4 time and get ready to shake your hips. Your guide to all the fun is right here in this feature on the festival, by Jim Barr.
One unique feature of the fest is the kickoff parade, Mardi-Gras style.
Nanaimo Jazz Fest lineup
For 2025, headliners include:
- Holly Cole
- The New Groovement
- Stealing Dan
- Joshua Holloway Celeste
But be sure to dig beyond the main acts, because as local jazz drummer Graham Villette says, "artists show up [from out of nowhere] to play and blow the roof off the place!"
Just like jazz, it's as much about the unscripted moments as the planned ones.
Tickets
Tickets are sold by show; check out the Nanaimo Jazz Fest website.
When you go
Being on Vancouver Island, there is so much more to do in Nanaimo during your visit. Grab these tips from writer Jim Barr, and get planning.
Here's a handy guide to getting around Nanaimo, via Tourism Nanaimo. Tourism Nanaimo also offers a roundup of accommodation options here, making your festival planning easy.
