Toronto 
Toronto’s Yorkville neighbourhood will once again turn into an open-air concert space this summer as the Toronto Jazz Festival rolls out its free programming for 2026.
Credit: Toronto Jazz Festival
The festival’s 39th edition runs from June 19 to 28, pairing ticketed concerts with a large lineup of no-cost performances spread across parks, sidewalks and public gathering spaces throughout Bloor-Yorkville. Organizers say nearly 60 artists will take part in the outdoor programming alone.
At the centre of the festival is the OLG Village at Village of Yorkville Park, which will host daily performances throughout the event. Music will also spill into nearby streets through the Sidewalk Sessions series, featuring smaller acoustic sets along Bloor Street West, Yorkville Avenue and Hazelton Avenue.
Artistic Director Josh Grossman said the goal is to make live music part of the neighbourhood experience, especially as Toronto welcomes visitors during the FIFA World Cup period.
The lineup reflects a wide mix of jazz and jazz-influenced sounds, with artists representing Indigenous, Latin, soul, folk and global music traditions.
Featured performers include Indigenous singer-songwriter Amanda Rheaume, Mexican-Canadian artist Quique Escamilla, jazz vocalist Irene Torres, Orbital Ensemble, Beny Esguerra and New Tradition Music, DJ Moussa, Polky and Just Prince and Friends.
The festival will also continue its “Sounds Like Toronto, Sounds Like the World” series at the OLG Village. Five guest curators — Uma Nota Culture, Tlalli Festival, Sweet Beets Music, Small World Music and Batuki Music Society — will each present an evening focused on different musical traditions and communities.
Educational programming is also returning, including The Big Band Slam with trombonist Christian Overton and the Jazz Musician Intensive Ensemble led by JUNO-nominated saxophonist Allison Au.
Meanwhile, Sidewalk Sessions performances will feature artists including Tak Arikushi, Swamperella, El Ceibo, Nii Osabu, FreePlay and the Toronto Klezmer Society All Stars, creating what organizers describe as a walkable live music experience throughout Yorkville.
Free Concerts – Toronto Jazz Festival:
Friday, June 19
- Venue: OLG Village at Yorkville Park
- Trash Panda Brass @ 6:30 p.m.
- Gareth Burgess @ 8:30 p.m.
- Venue: Sidewalk Sessions presented by OLG
- Tak Arikushi Trio @ Multiple performances
- Swamperella @ Multiple performances
- Venue: The Rock at Yorkville Park
- El Ceibo @ 5:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.
- Venue: The Pilot Tavern
- Michael Shand Trio @ 10:30 p.m. (Late Night)
Saturday, June 20
- Venue: OLG Village at Yorkville Park
- Nancy Walker Quartet @ 4:30 p.m.
- Jonathan Nvita @ 6:30 p.m.
- DJ Moussa @ 7:45 p.m.
- Rhythm Section @ 8:30 p.m.
- Venue: Sidewalk Sessions presented by OLG
- Dieufaite Charles @ Multiple performances
- Hassan el Hadi @ Multiple performances
- Venue: The Rock at Yorkville Park
- Nii Osabu @ Multiple performances
- Venue: The Pilot Tavern
- Lorie Wolf & Friends @ 10:30 p.m. (Late Night)
Sunday, June 21
- Venue: OLG Village at Yorkville Park
- Isy Aboagye @ 4:30 p.m.
- Neda Mohamadpour @ 6:30 p.m.
- Just Prince and Friends @ 7:45 p.m.
- Duck Society @ 9:00 p.m.
- Venue: The Rex Hotel
- The Big Band Slam feat. Christian Overton @ 1:00 p.m.
- Venue: Sidewalk Sessions presented by OLG
- Mir Kashif Iqbal @ Multiple performances
- Eunice Keitan @ Multiple performances
- Venue: The Rock at Yorkville Park
- KOPI Trio @ Multiple performances
- Venue: The Pilot Tavern
- Ernesto Cervini’s “The Next Set” @ 10:30 p.m. (Late Night)
Monday, June 22
- Venue: OLG Village at Yorkville Park
- Jean-Michel Pilc Trio @ 6:30 p.m.
- MA:Q @ 8:30 p.m.
- Sidewalk Sessions presented by OLG
- The West End Riverboat Band @ Multiple performances
- Trio da Rua @ Multiple performances
- Venue: The Rock at Yorkville Park
- FreePlay @ Multiple performances
- Venue: The Pilot Tavern
- Kae Murphy @ 10:30 p.m. (Late Night)
Tuesday, June 23
- Venue: OLG Village at Yorkville Park
- Roshane Wright and the Rosh Riddims Band @ 6:30 p.m.
ADHD (Iceland) @ 8:30 p.m.
- Roshane Wright and the Rosh Riddims Band @ 6:30 p.m.
- Venue: Sidewalk Sessions presented by OLG
- Stuart Brignell Organ Trio @ Multiple performances
- Rudy Ray @ Multiple performances
- Venue: The Pilot Tavern
- Roshane Wright and the Rosh Riddims Band (Late Night Jam) @ 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 24
- Venue: OLG Village at Yorkville Park
- Polky @ 6:30 p.m.
- Selçuk Suna Quartet featuring Dia @ 7:45 p.m.
- Tamar Ilana and Ventanas @ 9:00 p.m.
- Venue: Sidewalk Sessions presented by OLG
- Tangi Lion and Imi Oto @ Multiple performances
- Medusa Quartet @ Multiple performances
- Venue: The Rock at Yorkville Park
- Ori Shalva @ 7:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
- Venue: The Pilot Tavern
- The Ale Nuñez Quartet @ 10:30 p.m. (Late Night)
Thursday, June 25
- Venue: OLG Village at Yorkville Park
- Irene Torres @ 6:30 p.m.
- Beny Esguerra and New Tradition Music @ 7:45 p.m.
- Orbital Ensemble @ 9:00 p.m.
- Venue: Sidewalk Sessions presented by OLG
- Gaucho Jazz Project @ Multiple performances
- Venue: The Pilot Tavern
- Ostara Project @ 10:30 p.m. (Late Night)
Friday, June 26
- Venue: OLG Village at Yorkville Park
- Ostara Project @ 6:30 p.m.
- Curtis Nowosad’s Noisy World feat. Joanna Majoko @ 8:30 p.m.
- Venue: The Pilot Tavern
- Virginia MacDonald Quartet @ 10:30 p.m. (Late Night)
Saturday, June 27
- Venue: OLG Village at Yorkville Park
- Jazz Musician Intensive Ensemble with Allison Au @ 4:30 p.m.
- Amanda Rheaume @ 6:30 p.m.
- Quique Escamilla @ 8:30 p.m.
- Venue: Sidewalk Sessions presented by OLG
- JD Crosstown @ Multiple performances
- Lancelot Knight @ Multiple performances
- Venue: The Rock at Yorkville Park
- Zamira Lacosta & Friends @ Multiple performances
- Venue: The Pilot Tavern
- Tyler Emond’s Teenage Wasp @ 10:30 p.m. (Late Night)
Sunday, June 28
- Venue: OLG Village at Yorkville Park
- Toronto Blues Society Talent Search Finals @ 2:45 p.m.
- Charley Rose Trio (France) @ 6:30 p.m.
- Agneya @ 8:30 p.m.
- Venue: Sidewalk Sessions presented by OLG
- Joseph Funk @ Multiple performances
- Venue: The Rock at Yorkville Park
- Toronto Klezmer Society All Stars @ Multiple performances
- Venue: The Pilot Tavern
- Jen Lo Trio @ 10:30 p.m. (Late Night)
