Durham Jazz Festival

About

The 2026 Durham Jazz Festival will run from Friday 23rd October through to Sunday 25th October, with the following outline programme:

Performances will take place across a range of venues, from smaller spaces through to headline shows including:

- the Gala Studio and Gala Theatre
- the Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms
- the historic Durham Miners Hall (‘Redhills’)
- the Old Cinema Launderette in Gilesgate

Opening the weekend on Friday afternoon will be Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord in Gala Studio, bringing vintage swing and Gypsy jazz inspired by Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli to Durham audiences.

The evening’s headline show at Redhills will see musicians from London’s world-famous Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club Present: The Ronnie Scott’s Soho Songbook – promising big tunes, virtuoso solos and the unmistakable buzz of one of the world’s most iconic jazz venues.

Saturday and Sunday offer a packed programme, including pianist Dean Stockdale leading his quartet in a celebration of the legendary Oscar Peterson at Durham University Music School.

Jazz vocalist Marvin Muoneké - who was recently announced as one of the nominees for Vocalist of the Year 2026 by JazzFM - will join forces with the North East’s very own Strictly Smokin’ Big Band for Saturday evening’s headline act at Durham Gala Theatre.

Visitors will also get the chance to see the Abbie Finn Quintet. Led by one of the UK’s most dynamic drummers, audiences can expect bold contemporary jazz filled with groove, energy and improvisation.

Alongside the main programme - where more artists are set to be announced - organisers are also working with bars, restaurants and businesses across Durham to stage pop-up performances throughout the weekend, helping bring a festival atmosphere to the whole city.