The Chicago Jazz Festival returns August 28–31, 2025, bringing four days of world-class performances to Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center. A Labor Day weekend tradition, the festival is completely free and celebrates the full spectrum of jazz—from hometown treasures to international icons. This year’s headliners include Grammy-winning bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding, piano legend Monty Alexander, New Orleans favorite Kermit Ruffins, Afro-Cuban guitar great Eliades Ochoa of Buena Vista Social Club, and visionary saxophonist Gary Bartz with NTU Troop.

Alongside these global stars, the spotlight will shine brightly on Chicago’s own vibrant scene with performances by Patricia Barber, Ari Brown, Ernest Dawkins, Sarah Marie Young, Ava Logan, G. Thomas Allen, the Natalie Scharf Quintet featuring Paul Asaro, and Silvia Manrique & Marcel Bonfim. With daytime stages at the Chicago Cultural Center, the Von Freeman Pavilion, and the Harris Rooftop, plus the next generation featured in the Jazz Links student program, the 2025 Chicago Jazz Festival once again proves why Chicago stands as one of the world’s great jazz capitals.

READ the Official Program Book published by Chicago Jazz Magazine