Five Days ● Featuring Michigan Composers ● Fish Ladder Stage
JazzFest 2026
Many amazing performers taking the stage at JazzFest Michigan!
PICKLE MAFIA • PHILLIP MANUEL • CAT DADDY
DETROIT JAZZ EXPERIENCE • CLIQUE VOCALS
MAX GAGE • THE LANSING CONCERT BAND-BIG BAND
MSU NONET play JEFF HAAS • SCHOOL OF ROCK
800G • JEFF BALDORI plays MOSE ALLISON
TOM DUFFIELD • JAMM SCHOLARSHIP BAND
Schedule and performers subject to change
Immerse yourself at JazzFest in the Music Capital of Michigan - Historic Old Town!
Over thirty years ago, when you walked through north Lansing, you would see mostly empty and boarded-up buildings. In the 1980s, a handful of artists set up studios and opened a few art galleries in the vacant buildings.
In 1995, the Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art (MICA) produced the first JazzFest Michigan, which placed a spotlight on the historic commercial district we now know as Old Town.
The journey has been steady. MICA helped establish Old
Town as one of the first urban Main Streets in the nation.
Now there are myriadthriving businesses, galleries, restaurants, boutiques, nightclubs, restored and new buildings, loft apartments and waiting lists of people wanting to live here.
MICA is thankful to be able to serve as the catalyst for this community transformation and recognizes the significance that arts and artists play in sustainable economic development of a region.
3 VENUES & 5 DAYS
Besides the kickoff concert on Wednesday night, we added a Gospel Festival on Sunday! There are three venues: the Cold Plunge stage, Fish Ladder stage and UrbanBeat stage.
ENJOY THE SOCIAL DISTRICT
Old Town’s designation as a Social District means festival-goers can buy, consume and walk on the streets with appropriately labeled alcoholic beverages from sponsor UrbanBeat and other bars and restaurants while experiencing all the Festival has to offer.
Thank You To Our Sponsors
History
Over the years, the scope of the festival — with paid performers, including those of national and regional stature; two stages and 20 hours of programming; addition of clinics, workshops and children’s activities — has grown to bring in close to 5,000 attendees per year, making sponsors and volunteers more important than ever!
Since its inception, JazzFest has welcomed such renowned artists as TS Monk, Stanley Jordan, Hot Club of Detroit, Tim Cunningham, Johnny O’Neal, Rayse Biggs, Mose Allison, Michael Kaeshammer, the Professors of Jazz at MSU (Derrick Gardner, Randy Gelispie, Diego Rivera, Rick Roe, Rodney Whitaker, Sunny Wilkinson), Terell Stafford, Marcus Belgrave, Dr. E, Nicole Mitchell, John Douglas, Francis Kofi, Betty Joplin, Tyrone Johnson, Straight Ahead, Orrick Ewing, and numerous regional and local acts.
Please take a look at our outdoor mural that showcases a history of JazzFest and BluesFest posters in Old Town Lansing.
JazzFest is produced by MICA (Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art). WLNZ and MessageMakers remain founding supporters of JazzFest, along with other corporate sponsors and a committed team of over 150 volunteers.
JazzFest is THE place to enjoy the soothing rhythms and contagious beat of cool jazz tunes on a hot summer weekend!