New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Two long weekends of music, food and crafts at the Fair Grounds race track, at the end of April and the start of May.
- When
- Usually two Thursday-to-Sunday weekends: the last weekend of April and the first weekend of May. In 2024, 2025 and 2026 the second weekend ended on the first Sunday of May. (source, checked 2026-10-26)
- Where
- Fair Grounds Race Course, Gentilly
- First held
- 1970
- Admission
- Ticketed (single days and passes)
- Organiser
- Produced for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation by Festival Productions, Inc.-New Orleans and AEG Presents
- Official site
- nojazzfest.com/
Usual pattern, not announced · 172 days away
About Jazz Fest
The first Jazz Fest was held in April 1970 in Congo Square. It moved to the Fair Grounds race course in Gentilly and grew into one of the country's largest music festivals, with a dozen stages, gospel and blues tents, and a famous food line-up (crawfish Monica, cochon de lait po-boys, mango freeze).
The festival runs over two Thursday-to-Sunday weekends. The weekdays between them are quieter in the city and good for clubs, restaurants and Frenchmen Street.
Organisers announce the dates themselves, usually well before the line-up. Until they do, we show only the pattern.
Local press (nola.com) has reported 22–25 April and 29 April–2 May 2027, which matches the usual pattern, but the festival's own site did not show 2027 dates when we checked on 26 October 2026.
Tips
- The Fair Grounds are in Gentilly, not downtown. Shuttles, bikes, the Esplanade bus and cabs are the usual ways in; parking nearby is scarce.
- Late April and early May highs are typically in the 80s °F (high 20s °C). Bring sun protection; there is little shade between stages.
- Hotel prices peak on both weekends. Staying in Mid-City or along Esplanade puts you within walking distance.
Dates, 2026–2035
| Year | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Thu–Sun 23 Apr – 3 May | Held |
| 2027 | Thu–Sun 22–25 Apr | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2027 | Thu–Sun 29 Apr – 2 May | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2028 | Thu–Sun 27–30 Apr | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2028 | Thu–Sun 4–7 May | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2029 | Thu–Sun 26–29 Apr | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2029 | Thu–Sun 3–6 May | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2030 | Thu–Sun 25–28 Apr | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2030 | Thu–Sun 2–5 May | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2031 | Thu–Sun 24–27 Apr | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2031 | Thu–Sun 1–4 May | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2032 | Thu–Sun 22–25 Apr | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2032 | Thu–Sun 29 Apr – 2 May | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2033 | Thu–Sun 21–24 Apr | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2033 | Thu–Sun 28 Apr – 1 May | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2034 | Thu–Sun 27–30 Apr | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2034 | Thu–Sun 4–7 May | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2035 | Thu–Sun 26–29 Apr | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2035 | Thu–Sun 3–6 May | Usual pattern, not announced |
"Usual pattern" rows project the timing described above onto each year. They are not dates: organisers set them, and they sometimes break the pattern (see how often the patterns held).
Recent: 2024: 25 Apr – 5 May 2024; 2025: 24 Apr – 4 May 2025; 2026: 23 Apr – 3 May 2026.
Sources
- jazzandheritage.org/new-orleans-jazz-heritage-festival-2024-lineup/ (2024 dates; producers; venue; checked 2026-10-26)
- jazzandheritage.org/2025-new-orleans-jazz-fest/ (2025 dates; checked 2026-10-26)
- jazzandheritage.org/2026-new-orleans-jazz-fest/ (2026 dates; checked 2026-10-26)
- nojazzfest.com/tickets/ (no 2027 dates posted; checked 2026-10-26)
- neworleans.com/things-to-do/festivals/music-festivals/the-ultimate-ja… (first festival 1970, Congo Square; checked 2026-10-26)
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