The Monterey Jazz Festival is the longest continuously-running jazz festival in the world and is held annually on the 20-acre, oak-studded Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, Calif.
Monterey Jazz is about much more than our annual Festival. From our all-star touring ensembles, summer camps, and recitals, to local pop-up concerts and bringing professional jazz musicians into our schools, Monterey Jazz is active and happening all year round.
Since 1958, the nonprofit Monterey Jazz Festival has been committed to celebrating America’s creativity and cultural heritage by presenting legendary jazz musicians, composers, and young rising stars.
Monterey Jazz
As a Friend of the Festival, you support Monterey Jazz with a gift of $150 or more annually. Your gift will sustain the important programs and initiatives that nurture and inspire young people each year. You’ll join a special community of jazz supporters, receiving regular updates on the jazz education initiative and invitations to special Monterey Jazz events.
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Monterey Jazz Education Program components include bringing professional jazz artists into local schools, HBCU partnerships, summer jazz camp, all-star student ensembles, online resources, instrument rentals and repertoire, community events, and more.
It’s a mood, a party, a tribal gathering, an improvisation and a cultural colossus.
July 17, 2025
New Names, Familiar Faces, One Epic Festival! The legends you love are back — and they’re bringing tomorrow’s greats with them. Get acquainted with icons, innovators,…
July 17, 2025
After the success of the Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island beginning in 1954, Jimmy Lyons and Ralph Gleason combined Rolodexes in 1956 and contacted the jazz elite…
June 10, 2025
New Names, Familiar Faces, One Epic Festival! The legends you love are back — and they’re bringing tomorrow’s jazz greats with them. In this new blog series, get…
For over 65 years, Monterey Jazz has been committed to celebrating America’s creativity and cultural heritage by presenting legendary jazz musicians, timeless composers, and young rising stars.
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