These are the can’t-miss headliners at TD Victoria International JazzFest

Get ready, Victoria!

The TD Victoria International JazzFest is just around the corner!

For 10 days, the festival will take over the city with shows happening all over Victoria and Esquimalt.

This year’s festival will showcase some of the best musical acts in the business with artists coming from all over the world making it truly international.

We’re going to get the best jazz coming out of England, Niger, Colombia, Mexico, Philadelphia, New Orleans and more, all in our own beautiful little city on the waterfront.

Headlining acts are split between two stages, The Royal Theatre and Bullen Park in Esquimalt. They each offer a different kind of vibe.

A premier venue in town, the Royal Theatre will be hosting some of the most talented jazz musicians of this generation. With authentic American jazz lounge bands and alumni of the great Miles Davis, these musicians spread their music like Gospel all around the world.

At Bullen Park, the spirit of jazz music  is going to be palpable. With groups who made their mark on the genre with free shows in places like Niger, New Orleans and Philadelphia, the love of the music is what keeps these bands going.

So without further ado, meet your TD JazzFest 2026 headliners:

Bullen Park

SNACKTIME

SNACKTIME started out by performing free shows on the streets of Philadelphia in Rittenhouse Square, embodying the true spirit of jazz with every show.

Their music pays tribute to some of the old school hip hop legends like A Tribe Called Quest, and takes inspiration from R&B icons like Prince and D’Angelo, all while delivering a funky sound that will get any crowd feeling groovy.

The crowds started to grow and so did the group’s popularity. Soon the group would sell out its first show with over 900 tickets sold, and would become a phenomenon, headlining festivals and supporting artists like Portugal. The Man.

From South by Southwest to Lollapalooza, the group continues to gain momentum and is only getting bigger.

Their stop in Victoria is going to be a riot, and you’re going to want to be a part of history in the making.

• Where: Bullen Park, 527 Fraser Street
• When: Friday, June 26th – 5:30 p.m.

Etran de L’Aïr

One of the most exciting acts at this year’s TD JazzFest is Etran de L’Aïr.

The band says they welcome their listeners to Agadez, Niger, the capital city of Saharan rock.

Etran is a family band, composed of brothers and cousins all hailing from the Abalane neighbourhood in the city of Agadez.

Born from one guitar and a sandal hitting a calabash for percussion, the music is paramount and the passion is real.

The band pieced together equipment slowly, walking to gigs 25 kilometres by foot to play for free. It’s the love of music that keeps them going, and audiences around the world are grateful for it.

• Where: Bullen Park, 527 Fraser Street
• When: Saturday, June 27th – 7 p.m.

The Rumble ft. Big Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr.

The Rumble comes from one of the most rich musical cities in the world, New Orleans.

The frontman for the band is Big Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr., who represents the Young Eagles Black Masking Indian Tribe.

They blend the past, present, and future of New Orleans music into their sound, drawing from Mardi Gras Indian Funk, brass band traditions, jazz, and hip-hop.

The two-time Grammy-nominated band is sure to put on a stellar performance of original songs, and is going to have Bullen Park dancing all night long.

They’ll take to the stage with Vancouver Island’s own James Vickers Band.

• Where: Bullen Park, 527 Fraser Street
• When: Sunday, June 28th – 7 p.m.

Royal Theatre

Pink Martini

Pink Martini isn’t just a band. The band members themselves call it the “little orchestra”; it features some of the best jazz musicians in the United States and around the world right now.

Founded by Thomas Lauderdale in Portland, Oregon in 1994, Pink Martini crosses genres of classical, jazz and old-fashioned pop.

With China Forbes and Storm Large on lead vocals, the band will blow listeners away with an old-school feel and is backed by some of the most talented musicians in the genre.

The band is composed of a dozen musicians with songs in over 25 languages, exemplifying what TD JazzFest and jazz in general is all about.

Every Pink Martini show is a worldly experience with an authentic American jazz bar feel.

• Where: The Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton Street
• When: Wednesday, June 24th – 7:30 p.m.

Kokoroko

Hailing from London, England, Kokoroko was first formed in 2014 when Sheila Maurice-Grey and Onome Edgeworth met on an arts trip to Kenya and bonded over their shared tastes in music.

With a desire to connect more young people in the African diaspora to genres like Afrobeat and Highlife, the band now brings those genres to shows all over the world.

More than a decade after the band’s inception, it is now a septet with Anoushka Nanguy on vocals and trombone, Ayo Salawu on drums, Duane Atherley on bass, Tobi Adenaike-Johnson on guitar, and Yohan Kebede on keys.

The band has a busy summer ahead of them, with tour dates all across the United States and Canada, bringing their talents to Victoria for a show that is going to be one to remember.

• Where: The Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton Street
• When: Monday, June 22nd – 7:30 p.m.

BEATrio

BEATrio is the all-star trio of banjoist Béla Fleck, harpist Edmar Castañeda and drummer Antonio Sánchez.

Fleck is a 39-time GRAMMY nominee and 19-time winner, and a legend in the bluegrass community for his ability to blur genres and expand the possibilities of the banjo more than anyone in history.

Sánchez grew up in Mexico City, and is himself a five-time Grammy award winner as well. He’s made a name for himself as one of the great jazz drummers during his work on the solo-drumming film score of the hit 2014 film Birdman.

Castañeda hails from Colombia, and is one of the most gifted musicians of this generation.

Together, the group’s album BEATrio redefines the possibilities of their instruments and creates a sound that is unique and unforgettable.

• Where: The Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton Street
• When: Tuesday, June 23rd – 7:30 p.m.

M.E.B. (Miles Electric Band)

M.E.B. (formerly the Miles Electric Band) features a collection of Miles Davis alumni that is changing the framework of modern jazz improvisation.

Endorsed by the Miles Davis Estate, the band pays homage to The Chief himself, and performs repertoire from Davis’ electric period.

The band has two generations of players, encompassing Davis’ contemporaries and the next generation of gifted jazz musicians.

They do the dirty work and continually push the boundaries of jazz music while honouring the classic music that inspired the world.

They’ll be joined on stage by Victoria’s own David Santana Duo.

• Where: The Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton Street
• When: Friday, June 19th – 7:30 p.m.

If you’re ready to grab your tickets, head to the TD JazzFest website here.

Who are you looking forward to most at this year’s festival? Let us know in the comments below!