manchester jazz festival 2025

Johnny James, Managing Editor
Rina Srabonian.
manchester jazz festival by Rina Srabonian.

16 — 25 May 2025 Tickets from £0-£30 — Book now

Jazz lovers rejoice – manchester jazz festival is back with a bumper edition in 2025, as the festival celebrates its 30th anniversary.

Lighting up venues across the city, mjf2025 will sees hundreds of northern, national and international jazz musicians descend on Manchester, showcasing the genre’s leading lights alongside its most exciting emerging talent.

mjf was first staged in the summer of 1996, hosting nine bands in one venue over the course of a single day. Who could have known that this would mark the start of what is now Manchester’s longest running music festival, sprawling across the city for 10 whole days each year. And yet for all it’s grown, mjf’s spirit remains the same, rooted in the joyful celebration and genuine support of the contemporary jazz world’s diverse artists.

The newly announced line-up features some incredible musicians, with headliners including John Helliwell’s Super Big Tramp Band, ganavya, Small Print (Winstone/Iles/Walker/Watts), Yazz Ahmed Quartet, Richard Iles, Alice Zawadzki, James Pearson Trio, Emma Rawicz & Gwilym Simcock, Camilla George Quartet, Mammal Hands, Sylvain Rifflet, Elliot Galvin and Steam Down.

But what we really love about this festival is the light it shines on emerging artists, while also making these shows incredibly accessible. Enter the opening weekend, which is entirely free.

Located in the vibrant neighbourhood of First Street, mjf2025 will kick off with a celebration of the depth and breadth of Manchester’s home-grown talent (including bands emerging through mjf’s artist development programmes) alongside national and international acts. You’ll also find a host of family-friendly activities, a sneak-peek food & drink offer from First Street’s forthcoming House of Social food hall, and all-round lovely festival vibes.

manchester jazz festival
Rina Srabonian.

After that, the pace quickens as stages around the city light up – including a few newcomers for mjf2025: Aviva Studios, Low Four Studios, Flawd and Stage & Radio. As in previous years, there’ll also be nightly gigs at jazz institution Matt & Phreds and many, many shows at RNCMStoller Hall, Forsyth Music Shop, St Ann’s Church and The Carlton Club.

Each year, the festival hosts an ‘mjf originals’ commission, with northern artists responding to a call-out for contemporary, boundary-pushing new work. This year’s commission has been awarded to Richard Iles’ Miniature Brass Emporium, whose New Futures II revisits mjf’s first ever commissioned work from 25 years ago. Reinvented for 2025, this performance brings together players from the original line-up with emerging players of today, supported by Granada Foundation and PRS Foundation.

Another new work comes courtesy of sound artist Verity Watts, who’s performing as part of the PRS Foundation’s 2025 New Music Biennial. Airing at mjf, Bradford UK City of Culture and South Bank Centre, her radical work City of P E A C E uses turntables, spoken word, bassline improv and archive audio samples to ask us what peace sounds like in 2025.

Manchester Jazz Festival by Rina Srabonian.
Rina Srabonian.

Towards the end of the festival, the action condenses around Band on the Wall for a weekend-long closing party, with an all-new afternoon showcase of international debuts at Aviva Studios. Giving you a taste of the finest artists from across the continent, performers include Sylvain Rifflet’s We Want Stars (France), Nabou (Belgium) and Sanem Kalfa’s Miraculous Layers (The Netherlands).

You should also keep your eye out for activities surrounding the much-loved, city-wide piano trail, which sees mjf and Forsyth Music Shop install 15 pianos around the city, for anyone to play. From 20 March to 30 May, they’ll be the focus of a competition for the title of Manchester’s best street pianist, with a Yamaha electric piano just one of many prizes.

There are over 60 free and ticketed events taking place this year – a huge line-up, which you can explore in full by hitting the ‘Book now’ button below.

16 — 25 May 2025 Tickets from £0-£30 Book now

Where to go near manchester jazz festival 2025

GET BAKED Opening Day
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
GET BAKED

Newly opened cakery in Stevensons Square, Northern Quarter Manchester. Get Baked brings all the Yorkshire charm and sweetness one of the city’s most popular squares.

Discover Lotherton, a country estate, historic hall and Wildlife World zoo. Our Edwardian estate is truly a great place for a family day out, with plenty to keep children and grown ups entertained! The expansive grounds and gardens are lovely walking spots, with or without four-legged companions. Each season brings new surprises including wild garlic in the spring, a sea of colourful blooms in summer in the formal gardens and stunning autumnal colours later on in the year. We have two playgrounds which means there's plenty of space for running about and letting off steam, with zip wires for older children to enjoy. Our evolving zoo, Wildlife World, is a real highlight of any visit and we'd highly recommend popping by to see the Humboldt penguins splash and swim in their pool. Other colourful characters include Arthur the tapir, our resident porcupines and a flamboyance of pink flamingos. Stop in at the shop on your way to pick up your very own version of one of our Lotherton
Café or Coffee Shop
Lotherton Hall and Estate

A truly great place for a family day out, discover Lotherton, a country estate, historic hall and Wildlife World Zoo.

Winsome
Manchester
Restaurant
Winsome

Winsome delivers modern British food, cooked beautifully by chef-owner Shaun Moffat and his team.

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Manchester
Event venue
Altogether Otherwise

Altogether Otherwise is a haven of activity where all are encouraged to make, do, dance, read and enjoy pursuing creativity with no pressure.

Chapel Allerton Library
Leeds
Event venue
Chapel Allerton Library

Chapel Allerton library is a place where history meets a love of reading, where visitors can borrow books, eBooks, eAudio, and more.

Renae Logo
Manchester
Restaurant
Renae

Introducing Renae: A new music-led bar and creative hub in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

Chakalaka
Manchester
Restaurant
Chakalaka

The very best of South African cuisine in an intimate, friendly space in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

The Daisy
Manchester
Restaurant
The Daisy

The Daisy is one of Manchester’s more in-demand basement bars, offering an underground Paris-inspired night out.

Manchester
Restaurant
Sampa

Colourful Brazilian fine dining at Caroline Martin’s intimate restaurant, Sampa.

Hinterland bar and cafe
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Hinterland

Alcohol-free bar and cafe in the heart of Northern Quarter. Serving mocktails, 0% beer and all your alcohol free favourites.

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