Baku Jazz Festival

Bakı Caz Festivalı

View on map
MusicBaku
Dates15–20 October 2026Confirmed listing
Duration6 daysListed event span
Crowd-About 20,000 people
Best forLive music, late nightsThe festival's defining feature is
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: AZN
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Baku Jazz Festival in Baku

Baku's jazz scene dates to the 1930s, when the city became an unlikely Soviet haven for a genre banned elsewhere in the USSR. Founded in 2005 by saxophonist Rain Sultanov, the Baku International Jazz Festival revives that history each autumn, mixing international headliners with Azerbaijani musicians and the mugham-jazz fusion style pioneered by pianist Vagif Mustafazadeh.

Jazz took root in Baku earlier than almost anywhere else in the Soviet world, and the modern Baku International Jazz Festival draws directly on that unlikely history.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The festival's defining feature is Azerbaijani mugham-jazz fusion, the style pioneered by pianist Vagif Mustafazadeh, who blended mugham's modal scales and vocal-style ornamentation with jazz improvisation in the 1960s and 70s

02

The mystery stays covered

Tribute performances and Azerbaijani ensembles working in this idiom appear alongside international touring acts, giving programming a genuinely regional sound rather than imported jazz standards

03

The city starts moving

Past lineups have included Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Al Jarreau, and Diana Krall performing alongside Baku Jazz Center musicians, often in venues connected to the city's Soviet-era jazz underground history

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival draws on Baku's distinct Soviet-era jazz history and the mugham-jazz fusion pioneered by Vagif Mustafazadeh

Water and renewal

Living ritual

giving performances a regional improvisational style found nowhere else

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

15–20 October 2026

Getting around

Stay close enough to the part of Baku you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.

What to wear

Smart-casual attire suits indoor concert hall performances; lighter clothing works for open-air autumn evening shows, with a light jacket for cooling temperatures after dark.

Safety

At Baku Summer Jazz Days, agree on a meeting point and plan food, water and the return route before crowds thicken.

Where to stay

Base yourself where the last trip of the day stays easy, especially if Baku Jazz Festival runs late.

Tickets/cost

Official ticket link is available. Confirm access rules before booking.

Language/currency

AZN

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map40.38 N, 49.89 EOpen in Google Maps

Baku, Baku, Azerbaijan

Nearest airportGYD — Heydar Aliyev
TransportStay close enough to the part of Baku you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.
Stay areaBase yourself where the last trip of the day stays easy, especially if Baku Jazz Festival runs late.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Baku via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Baku, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for October.Compare faresFestival gearSmart-casual attire suits indoor concert hall performances; lighter clothing works for open-air autumn evening shows, with a light jacket for cooling temperatures after dark.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Azerbaijan and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

We may earn a small commission from trusted travel partners at no extra cost to you.

FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Baku Jazz Festival?

Baku Jazz Festival is listed for 15–20 October 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Baku Jazz Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Baku, Azerbaijan. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

6 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Baku, Baku, Azerbaijan

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLbakujazzfestival.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed dates15–20 October 2026
Source statusOfficial source linked
Related festivals

Continue the route.

Photo pending

Rock in Rio

4–13 September 2026

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Photo pending

Montreal International Jazz Festival

Past edition: 25 June–4 July 2026

Montreal, Canada
Photo pending

Tomorrowland Brasil

Past edition: 10–12 October 2025

Itu, Brazil
Photo pending

Glastonbury Festival

23–27 June 2027

Pilton, United Kingdom

Spotted something out of date? Submit a correction →