Noosa Jazz Festival 2026
Picture yourself drifting along the Noosa River at golden hour, a cold glass of something local in hand, the warm brass of a trumpet drifting across the water. That’s the Noosa Jazz Festival — and in 2026, it returns for what promises to be one of its most memorable editions yet.
Running from 28 August to 6 September 2026, the festival brings with it a rich history of over 30 years of live jazz in Noosa.
In 2026, the Noosa Heads Jazz Club will organise and stage the Noosa Jazz Festival, with the Noosa Jazz Party at The J Theatre as its centrepiece event — a festival of performances every day over ten days in concert theatres, on river cruises at sunset, in restaurants and bars, and at an outdoor concert in a riverside park.
The festival attracts between 15,000 and 20,000 attendees each year, drawing people from across Australia and around the world to Noosa Heads.
If you’re planning a Sunshine Coast getaway this late winter, you’ll want to time it perfectly for this one.
Noosa Jazz Festival 2026 — Quick Reference
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Dates | Friday 28 August – Sunday 6 September 2026 |
| Duration | 10 days |
| Location | Noosa region — multiple venues |
| Key Venues | The J Theatre, Majestic Theatre Pomona, Lions Riverstage, Noosa Marina, Noosa Springs Resort |
| Headlining Event | Noosa Jazz Party at The J Theatre |
| Closing Concert | Free Father’s Day picnic concert, Gympie Terrace Riverstage, Noosaville |
| Tickets | Via noosajazzclub.com — early bird & member discounts available |
| Organiser | Noosa Heads Jazz Club |
What Is the Noosa Jazz Festival?
The Noosa Jazz Festival is a vibrant celebration of music, community, and coastal culture, held annually in the heart of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Showcasing an eclectic mix of jazz styles — from traditional New Orleans swing and big-band classics to contemporary and fusion sounds — the festival has become a must-attend event for music lovers across Australia. Its relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere perfectly complements Noosa’s reputation as both a cultural hub and a world-class holiday destination.
It’s a unique gathering of leading Australian and overseas-based jazz musicians coming together for a feast of exciting, classic jazz.
The festival is run entirely by the passionate volunteers of the Noosa Heads Jazz Club, a not-for-profit organisation that has kept the jazz flame burning on the Sunshine Coast for over three decades.
The Full 2026 Program: What’s On Each Day?
The 2026 festival opens with the Noosa Jazz Ensemble and Noosa Chorale once again bringing a memorable blend of music and voices, before the music continues with a programme of events on the water, lunches,
and evenings across some of Noosa’s finest venues.
Food and wine in some of Noosa’s best locations are in the planning stages, with sunset cruises and ferry trips, indoor and outdoor events all featuring live jazz. The J Theatre and the Majestic are lined up for the popular jazz sessions once again.
Here’s how the 10-day program is structured:
🎷 The Noosa Jazz Party at The J Theatre
In 2026 the Noosa Jazz Party at The J Theatre will serve as the festival’s centrepiece event.
Located at 60 Noosa Drive, Noosa Junction, The J Theatre is the spiritual home of the Jazz Party — an intimate, electric venue where each session runs for five hours of back-to-back sets. Based on the format established in previous years, expect multiple bands performing in the same evening, building to a legendary final jam session with all the musicians still standing.
You might also like:
🎶 Majestic Theatre Pomona — Afternoon Jazz Concert
The program includes afternoon concerts at the historic Majestic Theatre in Pomona.
The Noosa Jazz Festival continues at this fabulous venue with a traditional jazz concert, where many of the festival’s favourite musicians will be playing in the line-up to entertain and delight you with an unforgettable afternoon of favourite toe-tapping tunes as you sit back and relax in the historic space.
Doors and the bar typically open at 12:30pm, with the show running from 1:30pm to 4pm.
🚢 Sunset Jazz River Cruise
One of the festival’s most iconic experiences — the sunset cruise — returns in 2026.
Based on the established program format, the cruise departs Noosa Marina (2 Parkyn Court, Tewantin) in the late afternoon for a sunset river cruise, with multiple jazz bands entertaining passengers on board, before a two-course dinner concert at the Marina Bar follows in the evening.
This is the event that sells out fastest — book early.
🍽️ Jazz Lunches & Dinners at Noosa’s Best Restaurants
The festival program also includes Jazz Party concerts at The J Theatre, afternoon concerts at the historic Majestic Theatre in Pomona, a sunset jazz cruise on the river with a dinner concert, and a selection of lunch and dinner events in local restaurants with live jazz.
Based on the well-established festival format, past restaurant venues have included:
- Lucio’s Marina Restaurant, Tewantin
- Trattoria Benati, Noosa Junction
- Noosa Boathouse, Noosaville
- Noosa Springs Golf & Spa Resort — sunset experience
- Miss Moneypenny’s, Hastings Street
Smooth rhythms and soulful sounds await across multiple venues, river cruises, outdoor stages, and intimate jazz sessions.
You might also like:
🌿 Free Father’s Day Finale — Lions Riverstage
The festival wraps up in the most Noosa way imaginable.
The final event is a free concert at the Lions Riverstage, opposite the Noosa Yacht Club on Gympie Terrace, Noosaville.
Pack a picnic rug, bring the family, and settle in along the banks of the Noosa River for a relaxed afternoon of live jazz under the early spring sunshine. It’s a perfect Father’s Day outing — and it doesn’t cost a thing.
How to Get Tickets
Tickets for the Noosa Jazz Festival 2026 are available through the Noosa Heads Jazz Club website at noosajazzclub.com.
Early bird prices and member discounts are available for bookings made before 1 August for the Jazz Party concerts at The J Theatre and the special concert at The Majestic Theatre, Pomona.
Ticket pricing guide (based on established rates):
- Jazz Party at The J Theatre — ticketed; early bird savings apply
- Majestic Theatre afternoon concert — ticketed (tickets from around $46.75 in recent years)
- Sunset River Cruise + Dinner — ticketed; limited capacity, books out early
- Restaurant jazz lunches & dinners — varies per venue
- Lions Riverstage Father’s Day concert — FREE
The club offers special ticket prices for members and also welcomes non-members as guests.
Becoming a member is a great way to save across multiple events.
Where to Stay for the Noosa Jazz Festival
With 10 days of programming spread across Noosaville, Noosa Heads, Noosa Junction and the hinterland, you’ll want to base yourself centrally.
The festival takes place across Noosa’s warm and welcoming natural beauty — its beaches, national parks, river and hinterland.
Top areas to stay:
- Noosaville — walking distance to the Lions Riverstage, the Noosa Marina, and Gympie Terrace restaurants. This is the most convenient base for the sunset cruise and riverside events.
- Noosa Heads / Hastings Street — ideal for the Hastings Street restaurant events and a short drive or walk to The J Theatre.
For luxury, the 5-star Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort is a standout option near the marina.
- Noosa Junction — closest to The J Theatre; great for festival-goers focusing on the Jazz Party sessions.
For the hinterland fan: If you’re attending the Majestic Theatre Pomona concert, consider combining it with a night or two in the Noosa hinterland before heading back to the coast.
You might also like:
Accommodation books out quickly during festival week. If you’re travelling from Brisbane or interstate, lock in your stay now — the festival falls in late August which is peak season for Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Getting to Noosa for the Jazz Festival
Noosa sits approximately 150 km north of Brisbane on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Brisbane Airport (BNE) is situated approximately 109 km away, while Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY) at Maroochydore is only 22.5 km from Noosa Heads — making it by far the easiest gateway if you’re flying.
Getting there:
- By air: Fly into Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY), then hire a car or take a transfer to Noosa (approx. 25 minutes)
- By car from Brisbane: Follow the Bruce Highway north, then the Sunshine Motorway — allow around 1.5–2 hours
- By bus: Sunbus and Greyhound services connect Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast
Once in Noosa, most festival venues are walkable or a short drive from each other. The Noosa Ferry is a scenic way to move between Noosaville and Noosa Heads during your stay.
Why the Noosa Jazz Festival Is Unlike Any Other
The Noosa Jazz Festival is a vibrant celebration of music, community, and coastal culture. Showcasing an eclectic mix of jazz styles — from traditional New Orleans swing and big-band classics to contemporary and fusion sounds — the festival has become a must-attend event for music lovers across Australia. Its relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere perfectly complements Noosa’s reputation as both a cultural hub and a world-class holiday destination.
The real magic is in the variety. One evening you’re in a plush theatre watching a world-class ensemble, the next you’re watching the sun go down over the Noosa River with a cocktail and a live band. The musicians play intimate sets, take requests, and often stick around to chat between performances. It’s one of those rare festivals where you leave feeling like you’ve genuinely connected with the music.
For the local community, the festival is more than entertainment — it’s a source of pride and economic vitality, drawing visitors who often return year after year. For audiences, it’s a chance to immerse themselves in world-class jazz while soaking up the relaxed, sun-drenched charm of Noosa.
Plan Your Visit: Tours & Experiences in Noosa
The Noosa Jazz Festival is the perfect anchor for a longer Sunshine Coast escape. Between jazz sessions, Noosa offers some of Queensland’s most spectacular beaches, world-class dining, Noosa National Park walks, and river adventures. Browse our curated Queensland tours to add kayaking, whale watching, or hinterland day trips to your itinerary. For more inspiration across Queensland’s events, festivals, and destinations, head to our Queensland travel blog.
You might also like:
Noosa Jazz Festival 2026 — Your Top Questions Answered
When is the Noosa Jazz Festival 2026?
The Noosa Jazz Festival 2026 runs from Friday 28 August to Sunday 6 September 2026 across multiple venues in the Noosa region.
Where is the main venue?
The Noosa Jazz Party at The J Theatre serves as the centrepiece event of the 2026 festival.
The J Theatre is located at 60 Noosa Drive, Noosa Junction.
Is any of the festival free?
Yes — the closing Father’s Day concert at the Lions Riverstage, Gympie Terrace, Noosaville is free to attend and open to the whole community.
Who organises the Noosa Jazz Festival?
The Noosa Heads Jazz Club creates memorable concerts and events to showcase and celebrate live jazz in various locations around the Noosa Region.
Where can I buy tickets?
Visit noosajazzclub.com for the full program, ticket bookings, and member discounts. Book early — the sunset river cruise and Jazz Party sessions sell out well in advance.
