BroadStage, SM Festivals, and the City of Santa Monica Present

Santa Monica International Jazz Festival Logo

Stay tuned for information about Year 2!

About the Festival

Born from the mind of visionary jazz legend Stanley Clarke and inspired by the rich legacy of festivals from Montreux to Monterey, the Santa Monica International Jazz Festival emerges as a new force for the celebration and advancement of jazz. The inaugural festival promises world-renowned headlining performances, star-studded tributes to jazz legends, and multiple stages for emerging talent.

Visit Jazz Festival Website

The Santa Monica International Jazz Festival main stage at Tongva Park, framed by truss and festival signage, with a trumpet player center stage and a crowd seated in the sunshine.
Two musicians, a bassist and a drummer, perform energetically on an outdoor stage framed by pink bougainvillea.
A performer in a red dress leans over a red keyboard on a dark stage.
An aerial view of a band performing on an outdoor stage to a massive crowd stretched across a grassy park.
A saxophonist in a gold metallic jacket and silver pants performs on a darkened stage, with a pianist visible and a Steinway grand piano in the background.
A trumpeter in a bold patchwork coat performs with their back to the camera before a large outdoor festival crowd.
A packed crowd fills Third Street Promenade lined with trees and string lights.
A saxophonist wearing sunglasses and a white embroidered tunic performs on stage next to a table of percussion instruments, with a pianist in the background.
A saxophonist in green zebra-print pants and a colorful kufi plays saxophone on a festival stage, surrounded by bandmates.
A lone performer in red sits at a grand piano and keyboard rig on a darkened stage, silhouetted against cool blue lighting, facing an audience in a large hall.
A drummer with white hair performs at an outdoor festival, looking out at a large seated crowd surrounded by trees.
A wide shot of a jazz quartet performing on a concert stage to a packed house, with a drummer in the foreground and a double bassist, pianist, and saxophonist visible behind.
A keyboardist in a black track jacket plays a red keyboard on an outdoor stage.
A bassist performs with his back to the camera, facing a vast outdoor crowd seated on a grassy lawn.
A performer with a microphone faces a cheering outdoor crowd, with audience members raising their hands.
A trio performs on an outdoor stage on a pedestrian promenade lined with blooming jacaranda trees, with a large crowd gathered around them.
A bassist with gold-rimmed glasses plays a green electric bass guitar outdoors, palm trees visible against a blue sky in the background.
Five musicians take a bow on a concert stage, facing an applauding audience, with instruments including a cello and guitar visible in the foreground.

Thank You To Our 2026 Partners

The City of Santa Monica

Telacu Industries

Concord Records

Fairmont Hotel

Santa Monica Travel & Tourism

Downtown Santa Monica

Support the Festival as a donor or corporate sponsor, contact development@broadstage.org

Past Lineups

Festival poster for the Santa Monica International Jazz Festival, May 1–9, 2026. Headliners: Kamasi Washington, Stanley Clarke & Friends feat. Stewart Copeland, Kiefer & Keyon Harrold, Hiromi's Sonicwonder, Miles Electric Band, and Knower. Additional artists include Isaiah Collier, Lakecia Benjamin, and more. Venues: Tongva Park, BroadStage, Third Street Promenade, The Orpheum Theatre. smjazzfest.com.

May 1-9, 2026

Artistic Director
Stanley Clarke

Produced by
BroadStage
SM Festivals
The City of Santa Monica

Executive Producers
Martin Fleischmann
Rob Bailis, BroadStage Artistic and Executive Director
Matthew Rimmer, BroadStage Managing Director