New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (commonly called Jazz Fest) is an annual celebration of Louisiana music and culture held at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. Founded in 1970, it programs over 5,000 musicians across 14 stages during an eight-day run spanning two weekends. The 2026 edition runs April 23 through May 3, headlined by Eagles, Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart, Lorde, Jon Batiste, and Tyler Childers, among over 600 acts.

How Jazz Fest Works

Jazz Fest runs for eight days across two weekends (Thursday through Sunday on both weekends) at the Fair Grounds Race Course, a horse racing track in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans. The festival features 14 stages: the Acura Stage (main stage), the Gentilly Stage, Congo Square Stage, Blues Tent, Gospel Tent, Economy Hall Tent, Fais Do-Do Stage, Jazz & Heritage Stage, Lagniappe Stage, Rhythmpourium Tent, WWOZ Jazz Tent, Allison Miner Music Heritage Stage, Festival Stage, and the Ochsner Children's Tent. Each stage programs a distinct genre or tradition.

The festival is presented by Shell and organized by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit that uses festival revenue to support community programs and music education in Louisiana. The lineup balances national and international headliners with Louisiana-based artists, ensuring that local jazz, brass band, zydeco, Cajun, funk, gospel, and Mardi Gras Indian traditions remain central to the programming.

Tickets go on sale in several phases. Four-day weekend passes are available at early bird prices through late January. Single-day tickets become available in early March. Louisiana residents receive discounted pricing with proof of residency. The festival also offers VIP packages with elevated viewing areas, hospitality tents, and premium food access. Daily attendance reaches approximately 60,000 to 80,000 people.

Real-World Example: Jazz Fest 2026

The 2026 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival runs April 23 through May 3 at the Fair Grounds Race Course. The lineup was announced in mid-December 2025, earlier than usual. Headliners include Eagles, Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart, Kings of Leon, Lainey Wilson, Teddy Swims, Lorde, Jon Batiste, Tyler Childers, David Byrne, The Black Keys, T-Pain, Raye, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Nas, Widespread Panic, Earth Wind & Fire, and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit.

The 2026 edition also features a "Jazz Fest Celebrates Jamaica" cultural exchange pavilion, with performances by Luciano, Lila Ike, The Skatalites, Jesse Royal, Lutan Fyah, and Sevana. Local Louisiana artists on the bill include Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Alabama Shakes, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Galactic, Big Freedia, Rebirth Brass Band, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Irma Thomas, Mavis Staples, and Herbie Hancock.

Four-day passes went on sale through nojazzfest.com at early bird prices through January 30. Single-day tickets were announced for early March. The festival's daily schedule was released in February 2026, with set times published on the official website and mobile app.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

Jazz Fest is one of the few major US festivals that programs local and regional artists on the same stages as international headliners. If you are an independent artist based in Louisiana or performing in jazz, blues, gospel, funk, zydeco, Cajun, or brass band traditions, Jazz Fest offers direct exposure to 60,000+ daily attendees plus national media coverage. The festival's commitment to Louisiana culture means local artists are not just opening acts but are programmed throughout all 14 stages.

For independent artists outside Louisiana, the festival books nationally touring acts in rock, folk, Americana, hip-hop, and pop. The booking team monitors touring history, streaming growth, and critical reception. Playing New Orleans venues throughout the year builds visibility with the local music community, which has strong ties to the festival's programming team.

If you secure a slot, prepare for a discerning audience. Jazz Fest attendees range from lifelong New Orleans residents to international tourists, and they expect authentic, high-quality performances. The festival's food vendors are as celebrated as the music, so plan your day around both. Use our Tour Revenue Calculator to plan your routing through the Gulf Coast region, and check the Streaming Royalty Calculator to project post-festival streaming gains.

Visit the official Jazz Fest website for tickets, daily schedules, and lineup details.

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