The beloved Vancouver International Jazz Festival is a celebration of all things jazz: the music, the artists, and the venues that hold space for it all to come alive. Starting this weekend, the festival will make its way to participating theatres and stages across the city, with over 30 free shows and workshops to check out.
So if you’re looking for something fun and enriching to check out in between FIFA matches, this is your sign to check out one of the most celebrated annual events in Vancouver.
Two-day free concert series
For starters, Downtown Jazz is back at the Vancouver Art Gallery (šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square) with free outdoor concerts all day long on June 27 and 28, from 1 to 10 p.m. There will be two stages running simultaneously: the Georgia Street Stage and the Sounds of Youth Stage, presented by Tom Lee Music.
Jazz lovers will also find an array of food trucks, local vendors, and a beer garden.
Here are all the free concerts slated for June 27 and 28:
June 27
The Georgia Street Stage
- Ruthie Ha Big Band – 1:30 p.m.
- DJ GUACHIIIN (DJ between sets) – 2:30 to 8:30 p.m.
- Bonnie Northgraves and the Big Loud – 3:15 p.m.
- ADHD – 4:45 p.m.
- The Rumble featuring Big Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. – 6:30 p.m.
- Leenalchi – 8:30 p.m.
Sounds of Youth Stage
- Burnett Senior Jazz Ensemble – 1 p.m.
- Sarah McLachlan School of Music Jazz Combo – 2:15 p.m.
- VSO School of Music Jazz Combo – 3:30 p.m.
- Wellington Multi School Jazz Combo – 4:45 p.m.
- Capilano University Jazz Combo – 6 p.m.
June 28
The Georgia Street Stage
- Mike WT Allen’s Space Elevator – 1:30 p.m.
- Lovely Daw (DJ between sets) – 2:30 to 8:30 p.m.
- Missy D – 3:15 p.m.
- Julian Borkowski Quintet – 4:45 p.m.
- Étran de L’Air – 6:30 p.m.
- GeminiCrab – Malika Tirolien + Caulder Nash – 8:30 p.m.
Sounds of Youth Stage
- Holy Cross Senior Jazz Ensemble – 1 p.m.
- Gladstone Senior Jazz Ensemble – 2:15 p.m.
- Magee Senior Jazz Ensemble – 3:30 p.m.
- McNair Senior Jazz Ensemble – 4:45 p.m.
- Semiahmoo Jazz Mailers – 6 p.m.
Free lunch-hour concerts
If you’re downtown and taking a lunch break, the festival will throw free lunch-hour concerts on the Dunsmuir Patio at Bentall Centre (105 Dunsmuir St.), which is also currently transformed into a pitchside patio for the FIFA World Cup.
Free performances to catch here include the following:
- William Chernoff’s Western Red Cedar: noon on June 26
- Clara Lin Trio: noon on June 29
- My Sister Maria: noon on June 30
- Ben Frost Quartet: noon on July 2
- ISBN: 1 p.m. on July 3
There are also over 40 “pay what you can” performances taking place across Vancouver and the North Shore, and no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
These concerts will be centred on Granville Island, with PWYC programming offered daily at Ocean Artworks (1531 Johnson St.), Zameen Art House (1515 Anderson St.), Performance Works (1218 Cartwright St.), and Revue Stage ( 1601 Johnston St.).
PWYC concerts will take place at various times through the day from July 1 to 5, with additional concerts between June 26 and 28.
You can check out which artists are playing at the festival’s official list of PWYC shows.
If you’re looking for the newest additions to the festival, head to all-new festival venues, The Hollywood and The Birdhouse, to see who’s playing!
The Vancouver International Jazz Festival officially kicks off this Friday, June 19, and runs until July 5 at venues across Vancouver and the North Shore.
When: June 19 to July 5, 2026
Time: Varies per concert
Where: 1531 and 1601 Johnston St., and venues across Vancouver
Cost: Free and ticketed concerts
Recent posts:
No gas, no problem: All the provincial parks you can visit from Vancouver without a car this summer
A new one-of-a-kind cruise will set sail from Vancouver to Bowen Island this summer