Los Angeles is set to host its first citywide Jazz Festival this August, a 25-day event designed to establish the city as a major international jazz destination. The festival, backed by Mayor Karen Bass and the City of Los Angeles, aims to become the world’s third-largest international jazz festival and the largest Black-owned jazz festival.
A Citywide Celebration
Unlike traditional festivals centered around a single location, the Los Angeles Jazz Festival will span all 15 City Council districts. Organizers anticipate approximately 250,000 attendees will enjoy more than two dozen free concerts in parks, neighborhoods, and community spaces. The festival will culminate in a two-day “Jazz on the Beach” celebration at Dockweiler Beach on August 22nd and 23rd, with expected daily attendance of up to 40,000.
The festival’s scope extends beyond the beach, with plans for “Jazz After Dark”—roughly 150 shows in woman- and POC-owned venues—and a Caribbean street festival in El Segundo featuring music inspired by Cuba, Brazil, New Orleans, and Afro-Caribbean traditions. Additional events include coastal cultural tours of historic sites like The Inkwell and Bruce’s Beach, a two-day State of Jazz Conference in Marina del Rey, and “Jazz in the Park” with 25 free concerts across the city.
Airbnb is the festival’s inaugural title sponsor, supporting a tourism model focused on bringing visitors into local neighborhoods. The festival intends to highlight jazz as a uniquely American classical music form rooted in the African, African American, and Caribbean experience, while also supporting civic life, tourism, and local businesses.
Mayor Bass described the festival as “a powerful and elegant act of cultural storytelling, rooted in the African diaspora that is so important to L.A.’s history.” The event also aims to operate using fossil-fuel-free operations and green technologies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the duration of the Los Angeles Jazz Festival?
The festival is scheduled to run for 25 days in August.
Where will the Los Angeles Jazz Festival take place?
The festival will be held across all 15 City Council districts of Los Angeles, with events in parks, neighborhoods, community spaces, and culminating in a celebration at Dockweiler Beach.
What is the expected attendance for the festival?
Organizers expect roughly 250,000 attendees over the nearly month-long run.
Will the Los Angeles Jazz Festival become a recurring event remains to be seen, but its initial ambition and broad scope suggest a potential long-term impact on the city’s cultural landscape.
