8 things you need to know about TD JazzFest 2026

The TD Victoria International JazzFest is almost here!

Taking place from Friday, June 19th to Sunday, June 28th, this festival is one of the most highly-anticipated events in the city and offers some of the best music you’ll hear in Victoria all year long.

With acclaimed international musicians, outdoor and indoor venues all across the city, and more great music than you can shake a tambourine at, there’s a lot to love.

With so much going on, there’s also a lot to know before you jump into it. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of everything you need to know to make sure you have the best experience possible at this year’s festival.

So without further ado, here are 8 things you need to know about the TD Victoria International JazzFest 2026:

The festival is a 10-day event

The TD Victoria International JazzFest is quite the affair!

The festival is a 10-day event, starting on Friday, June 19th and ending on Sunday, June 28th, with performances taking place all over the city.

The earliest events start at 7:30 p.m. on the 19th, and the final shows start at 7 p.m. on the 28th.

If you can’t make it to one of your favourite shows, there will be plenty more opportunities to experience great music.

You don’t want to be caught wandering the city wondering where and when the best shows are happening, so be sure to check out a full schedule of events here.

Pick your ideal venues and artists, and make a plan to get to all of them!

There are venues all over the city

The whole city will be feeling the excitement, with venues all over Victoria and Esquimalt participating in the action.

Outdoor stages include the TD Main Stage at Bullen Park and the Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park.

The marquee concert series will be held at the Royal Theatre, where high-end international and Canadian artists will be performing in the seated environment you know and love.

If you’re a dancer, the club venues are going to be your vibe. Studio 919, The Coda, and Encore Victoria will have the lights dimmed, the music loud, and the dance floor full. For an experience reminiscent of how jazz made its mark on history and how it all got started, these will be the places to be.

The primary venue is going to be the TD Main Stage at Bullen Park. This is going to offer the festival experience we associate with Victoria summers, with sunshine, local vendors, great company, and some of the best live music in the city all year.

There are even some events taking place at the Hotel Grand Pacific and in the lounge at the Archie Browning Sports Centre.

For a full list of participating venues, head to the venues portion of the festival website here.

There are free and paid concerts

One of the best parts of the festivities is its accessibility.

Bullen Park and the Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park will both be offering free shows throughout the festival, meaning there’s no barrier to entry for people to enjoy great music and feel the groove.

The lounge in the Archie Browning Sports Centre will also be putting on free events.

Other venues will be hosting paid shows, with incredible musicians to get you feeling groovy at any of the stages you decide to make an appearance at.

Groups are coming from all over the world

This year’s lineup is stacked with talent from all across the globe.

With artists from England, Niger, Colombia, Mexico, the US, Canada, and everywhere in between, festival go-ers will experience cutting-edge international music culture.

Headliners include London group Kokoroko, blending West African high life with funk pop and neo-soul and SNACKTIME, a seven-piece band from Philadelphia known for funky, genre-bending tunes that pulls from jazz, rap, rock, punk, and R&B.

Etran de L’Aïr is also an exciting get for the festival, with a focus on Saharan rock and desert blues coming all the way from Agadez, Niger.

The list of artists goes on and on. Get your tickets and try to soak up as much great music as possible!

You can mix and match ticket options

With so many different concerts and shows happening, there are a lot of options for how you can experience the festival.

You can purchase individually-priced single day passes, $99 3-day weekend passes, a non-marquee festival pass for $339 to hit shows at every venue except the Royal Theatre, as well as several other options.

You can save big by buying tickets to three or more shows, with discounts ranging from 15% to 40%.

For all your ticketing options, be sure to visit the ticketing page of the TD JazzFest website here.

You can volunteer and get to free shows

If you want to be a part of the magic of this festival (and get to some shows for free) you can volunteer to help out.

Volunteers will work a minimum of three shifts during the festival and receive a festival ID, allowing holders free entry to any non-marquee show. Volunteers also receive one ticket to a marquee show and a free T-shirt.

For more information and to volunteer with the TD JazzFest, check out the application form here.

You can attend free workshops

If you’re an aspiring musician or someone who wants to learn from some of the best in the business, the festival will be offering free workshops from acclaimed artists in the lounge at the Archie Browning Sports Centre that you’ll want to check out.

Artists Kristin Korb, Isaiah Collier, and Mark Lettieri will all be holding workshops to help spread the sound of jazz music throughout the city and keep the genre growing.

For more information on these workshops and to learn more about each of these artists, visit the festival’s workshop page here.

The festival has over four decades of history in the city

Finally, it’s important to acknowledge the history and importance of the festival to Victoria.

The TD Victoria International JazzFest has been one of Victoria’s favourite parties, and will be celebrating it’s 42nd anniversary.

Put on by the Victoria Jazz Society, which was founded in 1981, the festival’s goal is to enrich our community by presenting all types of jazz, blues and world music.

Every year, attendees get the opportunity to listen to cool music and participate in a fantastic community celebrating jazz and all of its associated genres.

Let’s all show some love to the Victoria Jazz Society!

TD Victoria International JazzFest

• Where: Multiple locations throughout Victoria and Esquimalt
• When: Various times from June 19th to 28th