The Monterey Jazz Festival has filled the oak-studded Monterey County Fairgrounds every third weekend of September since debuting on October 3, 1958, championed by Dave Brubeck and co-founded by critic Ralph J. Gleason and disc jockey Jimmy Lyons. Now spanning nine stages and roughly fifty concerts over three days, it is widely regarded as the longest continuously running jazz festival in the world.
In October 1958, jazz critic Ralph J.
Few jazz festivals can claim an unbroken run stretching back to the Eisenhower era, and Monterey's origins are tied directly to specific, named figures in jazz history rather than a corporate booking agency: pianist Dave Brubeck championed the idea, while jazz critic Ralph J
Gleason and radio disc jockey Jimmy Lyons built the first lineup in 1958
The festival takes place on the Monterey County Fairgrounds, a 20-acre fairground shaded by oaks rather than a purpose-built festival site, giving it a fixed, intimate geography unlike touring or rotating-venue events
Filmmaker and musician Clint Eastwood, a Monterey Peninsula resident, has served on the festival's board since 1992, an unusual long-term celebrity tie for an American jazz institution
The festival continues a lineage tracing to the founding generation of American jazz criticism and radio
honoring the genre through a nonprofit structure rather than a purely commercial promoter model
Its jazz education programs
including workshops and clinics held alongside performances
reflect a long-standing festival commitment to mentoring younger musicians that dates back to its earliest years
25–27 September 2026
Plan routes around set times, late-night exits, and crowded transport after headline acts.
Casual outdoor festival attire works well; September evenings on the Monterey Peninsula can turn cool and foggy, so layers are more useful than any particular dress standard.
Monterey Jazz Festival is easier with a small bag, charged phone and group plan that survives poor signal.
Choose lodging by the part of Monterey you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.
Official ticket link is available. Confirm access rules before booking.
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Monterey Jazz Festival is listed for 25–27 September 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.
The festival is listed in Monterey, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.
3 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.
Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.
Monterey, CA
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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.
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