170+ gigs across 98 venues over 10 days. I don’t know how you even begin describing the epic Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival, which returns from Friday, July 24 to Sunday, August 2, for an incredible 42nd edition. But I will try my best to give you a taster of what’s to come.
England’s longest-running jazz and blues festival, as well as one of Europe’s biggest free jazz parties, is famed for taking over the whole city—with performances often taking place anywhere from nightclubs to art galleries, libraries to railway stations, and even sometimes on buses and trains.
This year’s headline acts include King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys—one of the world’s greatest jump, jive and swing bands—performing at the Botanical Gardens on Friday, July 24; and Val Wiseman, performing with The Lady Sings the Blues orchestra—the leading Billie Holiday tribute—at The Core Theatre in Solihull on Friday, July 31.
But from Bournville Village Green to Brindleyplace’s Bandstand at the Water’s Edge and Bullring Rag Market, Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival will soundtrack the city everywhere you turn in pubs, restaurants, museums, etc.—no other festival could have Winterbourne House & Garden and Snobs as key venues!
All-time blues great Buddy Guy will also celebrate his 90th birthday in the middle of the festival—making Thursday, July 30, officially Buddy Guy Day. The legendary blues guitarist (who you may best know from Ryan Coogler’s 2025 period horror film Sinners) will be honoured through film, music and first-hand tales from musicians.
You will find jazz musicians from throughout the UK, as well as from France, Estonia, Venezuela, the USA and Japan—with 162 out of a total of 174 gigs free to watch. “Real Music – Properly Played is our mantra,” says Jim Simpson, Festival Director. “That’s another reason that we present free performances in unlikely places, to bring it to the attention of folk as they go about their daily life.”
To read 2026’s in-depth programme for the Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival, head here.
