The Atlanta Jazz Festival is back for 2024!
The iconic event is one of the largest FREE jazz fests in the nation, and it’s happening Memorial Day Weekend at Piedmont Park. All the details are below.
This is a permanent page.
We will update each year around mid-March with the current year’s details.
Over the years the Atlanta Jazz Festival has been backdrop to musical legends such as Miles Davis, Dizzie Gillespie and Nina Simone.
The festival includes an Artist Market, featuring arts and crafts, collectibles, vintage items, and local goods.
There will also be plenty of food vendors throughout the festival.
Check out our complete guide to all the spring festivals this year in Atlanta & suburbs!
You may also be interested in our big list of FREE outdoor concerts in 2023.
Here’s what’s new at Jazz Fest for 2023
The 45th Atlanta Jazz Festival will return to Piedmont Park from Saturday, May 27th thru Monday, May 29th, 2023.
This year’s event has extended to three days, but everything is happening on just one stage, to highlight the individual musicians.
You’ll have the opportunity this year to access a special viewing area by buying a Jazz Pass — a major change to a festival that has always been completely free. We’ll update with more info when we can find out the price, etc.
Other highlights of the 2022 Atlanta Jazz Festival:
- Expanded Kid Zone led by two-time Grammy-nominated trumpeter, composer, and bandleader Russell Gunn
- Jazz 101 Education Workshops at Park Tavern
- Late Night Jazz Concert at Park Tavern
Photo by Terence Rushin, courtesy of City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. Used with permission.
31 Days of Jazz in May
As a kickoff to the Memorial Day Weekend events, the Atlanta Jazz Festival has organized jazz concerts every day in May for 2023. The concerts take place in multiple venues. Some are ticketed events ranging from $25 to $80. But many are FREE.
View the list of FREE concerts in the 31 Days of Jazz series
Atlanta Jazz Festival 2023 Lineup
This year’s event uses just one stage, the Meadow Stage in Piedmont Park.
See the musician line-up online
Saturday, May 27th
1:00 p.m.
Lakecia Benjamin
3:00 p.m.
Tony Hightower
5:00 p.m.
David Sanchez
7:00 p.m.
Samara Joy
9:00 p.m. – HEADLINE ACT
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
Sunday, May 28th
1:00 p.m.
Selene Saint-Aime
3:00 p.m.
Brandee Younger
5:00 p.m.
Javon Jackson and the Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni
7:00 p.m.
Jose James
9:00 p.m.
Stanley Clarke N 4-EVER
Monday, May 29th
1:00 p.m.
Satya
3:00 p.m.
James Francies Trio
5:00 p.m.
Brenda Nicole Moorer
7:00 p.m.
Chief Xian Atunde Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott)
9:00 p.m.
Ledisi
Get more info on the festival website
Photo by Terence Rushin, courtesy of City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. Used with permission.
Getting there and parking
As always, it’s better not to bring a car into Midtown on a festival weekend, if you can possibly avoid it. Not only is the traffic congested, but parking is difficult.
If you don’t want to be towed or ticketed, PLEASE don’t park illegally.
If you live in one of the BeltLine-connected neighborhoods, it’s an easy walk along the Eastside Trail to Piedmont Park.
But it’s quite easy to take MARTA to the festival.
MARTA has an excellent, detailed guide with step-by-step walking directions from the rail stations, as well as the bus routes that get you closer to the park. View it online.
It’s an easy 15 to 20 minute walk to Piedmont Park from either Arts Center Station or Midtown Station.
You can park your car for FREE at the following rail stations:
- Lindbergh
- Lenox
- Brookhaven
- Chamblee
- Doraville
- Dunwoody
- Sandy Springs
- North Springs
- College Point
- East Point
- Lakewood
- West End
TIP: Purchase a Breeze Card in advance if you don’t have one. If you do, add a round trip fare online, so you don’t have to wait at a fare machine. Remember, trains run every 20 minutes on the weekend. The MARTA ON THE GO app can put train schedules in your pocket!
You may also be interested in these FREE summer concert series:
Wine Down Weekends at City Winery
Norcross Summer Concert Series
Avalon Nights Live
Oakhurst Jazz Nights
Concerts by the Springs in Sandy Springs
Sunset Sessions at Park Tavern
Block Party on Main in Duluth
First Fridays in Canton
Chamblee Summer Concert Series
Brooke Street Park Summer Concerts in Alpharetta
