National Jazz Festival Tauranga

10/04/2026

WHAT A RIDE! Thanks to Ebbet Prestige, Mount Maunganui, the 2026 National Jazz Festival's Official Drive Partner, the festival team was lucky enough to drive around in a superb Polestar electric car during this year's festival. This car is state-of-the-art. Founded by Volvo and Geely Holding, based in Gothenburg, the Polestar is one of the best drives around. It has so much on-board technology that is easy to use and ensures safety and extreme comfort. The sound system is absolutely fantastic as well! Visit Ebbet Prestige, Mount Maunganui and see the Polestar up close and in person - you will not be disappointed.

10/04/2026

On behalf of the National Jazz Festival Team and the Tauranga Jazz Society, thank you one and all for being involved in the 63rd National Jazz Festival. We had a number of sold-out shows thanks to you, and Tauranga CBD and Mount Maunganui were buzzing leading up to and during Easter weekend with fantastic live music, brought to us by many talented musicians from all over New Zealand and overseas.

We would like to thank our major partners - Port of Tauranga, TECT, Tauranga City Council and a big thank you to The Wright Family Foundation, BOP Tourism, Eves, and Downtown Tauranga. We also thank Baycourt, Hotel Armitage, Kale Print, Legacy Accountants, The Historic Village, The Kollective, Katch Katikati, The Jam Factory, and the participating bars and restaurants for the great support. A big shout out to Dr Toot, Music Planet - Mount Maunganui, SAE Institute, Victoria University of Wellington, The Tauranga Club, Mediaworks, NZME and The Weekend Sun. Thank you to funders MBIE, Pub Charity, The Lion Foundation, NZCT, and our official drive partner Ebbett Prestige.

Thank you to all the very talented musicians. We wish you all the very best and see you real soon.

If you would like to complete a survey relating to the 2026 National Jazz Festival and go into the draw for a prize, click on the link.

https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8757961/National-Jazz-Festival-Tauranga-2026-audience-survey

See you all in 2027, and again, thank you all for making the National Jazz Festival a wonderful platform for inspirational live music.

National Jazz Festival Tauranga 2026 audience survey.

07/04/2026

05/04/2026

Due to the unpredictable weather, the band playing at Mount Maunganui has been cancelled for today. Thanks everyone for the blast that was the 63rd National Jazz Festival and see you all next time.

05/04/2026

Thanks again everyone for making the most of the 63rd National Jazz Festival. The Cocktail Swing at The Cargo Shed is SOLD OUT tonight - but there is still a chance to get tickets to The Hurricane Party at Totara St! See Boogie Nights by Boogie Wonderland and JB3 + 3 tonight from 9pm. GO TO www.jazz.org.nz for all details.

The Port of Tauranga 63rd National Jazz Festival. Join us for an amazing line up of Jazz, blues & funk artists over Easter 27th March to 06th April 2026

05/04/2026

It’s started! C’mon down to Uptown Downtown in the CBD of Tauranga. The first band is underway outside the Barrel Room on the Wharf Street. Crudo are playing and Funky Mama will be starting at 2pm. We’ve got Shake ‘n’ Bake at 12:30pm at Zozo, Magic and 3am are playing at 1.45pm at Rusty’s and The Cornerstone, and at Macau, starting the day at 12:30pm we have Ben Fernandez and Maria O’Flaherty. At Satori we’ve had SMB since midday, and from 2pm outside The Phoenix and Miss Gees in Masonic Park there’s lots of great music too. Don’t miss the great musicians at Manhattan from 2pm and outside Oscar and Otto and The Lonestar it’s also happening from 2pm. The Book Club has *Lott* right now too. If you are in the Mount, go to Sailor, Brew, Cruise Deck and Mount Social across the day to see some great music and finish the day of fun and music at Totara St from 9pm with Boogie Nights and JB3+….
Enjoy great music at the 63rd National Jazz Festival.

04/04/2026

Thanks everyone for great support for the 63rd National Jazz Festival so far. It has been fantastic with super music playing around Tauranga and Mount Maunganui. It’s not over yet! The first band kicks off at the Barrel Room in Wharf Street at 12 midday - C’mon down and continue being amongst it!!

02/04/2026

The Jazz Village is on now! And who better than Saelyn Guylton to kick things off. Saelyn, all the way from Southland and her band are playing beautiful music and it is such a pleasure listening to them - C’mon down - the weather is great, the music is fantastic and the craic is mighty!

01/04/2026

SCHEDULE HAS DROPPED!

Uptown Downtown is set and ready to go! 🎷💥 Don't miss an action packed weekend of LIVE Jazz music across Tauranga's hospitality venues and much more!

More information here
https://jazz.org.nz/events/uptown-downtown/

01/04/2026

🙌🙌🙌

🎷 Uptown Downtown - Easter Weekend Jazz in the city.

Over Easter weekend, Baycourt Community and Arts Centre, along with bars, restaurants and public spaces across Tauranga and Mount Maunganui, will come alive with the sound of jazz as talented musicians transform the city into a vibrant live-music playground.

Gather your friends, enjoy great food and drinks, and soak up the atmosphere as live music fills venues across the city.

Follow National Jazz Festival Tauranga for all the details on where and when.

For all Festival events happening from now until 6 April 👉 tinyurl.com/2ncr7wsz

30/03/2026

🧨TNT! Concert is on tonight (Tues 31 March 8pm). Explosive sounds from Wellington's Capital City Big Band with special guests Lisa Tomlins and Jeremy Hantler. Get your tickets now at Eventfinda or from Baycourt Community and Arts Centre
https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/tnt/tauranga

30/03/2026

3rd show down and what a beauty. Last night our full-house audience had the absolute pleasure of seeing The Lockie Bennett Trio at “Jazz at the Jam Factory”. Class musicians in a great venue. Thanks Lockie and the lads - brilliant musicianship, thanks Nigel and all at The Jam Factory and thanks to the wonderful audience. Three 2026 National Jazz Festival concerts so far and three sell-outs. Make sure you get your tickets to our Baycourt concert series and Jazz Village. We don’t won’t you to miss out!!Go to Www.jazz.org.nz for all information. Right now we have over 800 students playing at Baycourt for the National Jazz Youth Competition. Check them out too!