Atlanta Jazz Festival — Free Memorial Day Weekend

The 49th Atlanta Jazz Festival returned to Piedmont Park from Saturday, May 23, through Monday, May 25, as a free Memorial Day weekend event produced by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. The festival ran from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day, with live performances scheduled from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. on the main stage. Organizers describe it as one of the country’s largest free jazz festivals, and the event again paired national acts with Atlanta artists, educational programming and an artist market. Georgia Tech’s News Center listed the festival among Memorial Day weekend events around Atlanta and noted that workshops were free, though registration was required. ### When and where is the festival happening? Piedmont Park in Atlanta hosted the three-day festival over Memorial Day weekend, with dates set for May 23 through May 25, 2026. The official festival site said the event was free and open to the public, and the city’s festival announcement said gateside activity stretched across the day even before performances began. (atlantaga.gov) The City of Atlanta said the festival was presented by Design Essentials and powered by Bank of America. Atlanta Jazz Festival, Inc., a nonprofit tied to the event, said the broader festival season begins in April and culminates with the outdoor Piedmont Park weekend. ### Who is on the lineup each day? Saturday, May 23, opened with Buddy Red at 1 p.m., followed by Aja Monet at 3 p.m., Nate Smith at 5 p.m., Christian McBride & Ursa Major at 7 p.m. and Kamasi Washington at 9 p.m., according to the festival schedule. (atlantaga.gov) Sunday, May 24, featured Cleveland P. Jones, Myron McKinley Trio, Donnie performing “The Colored Section,” Esperanza Spalding and The Roots in the closing slot. Monday, May 25, closed with Cody Matlock at 1 p.m., Nicole Zuraitis at 3 p.m., Destin Conrad at 5 p.m., Butcher Brown at 7 p.m. and PJ Morton at 9 p.m. Adriane Jefferson, executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, said in the city announcement that the lineup mixed national and local talent across traditional, smooth, contemporary, hip-hop, R&B, soul, funk and modern jazz. (atlantaga.gov) ### What else is there besides the main stage? Georgia Tech’s News Center said the festival included artists and vendors in addition to the music lineup. The official information page said patrons could visit an Artist Market featuring local artists, artisans and entrepreneurs between performances. The festival site also listed Jazz 101 workshops as part of the weekend program. (atlantaga.gov) The workshops were described as free educational sessions for audiences at different levels of familiarity with jazz, and the site said registration was encouraged because space was limited. ### What do organizers say about this year’s program? Adriane Jefferson said in the city’s February announcement that the 2026 program created “a true full-circle moment” by opening with an Atlanta artist and closing with an artist whose career first gained traction in Atlanta. (news.gatech.edu) She said the weekend was designed to offer “something for every music lover.” (atljazzfest.com) Cornell McBride, chief executive of Design Essentials, said the company’s support for the festival for a third straight year reflected its Atlanta roots and its connection to the city’s culture and community. The city included that statement alongside the lineup release. ### What should visitors know before going? The official festival information page said the event operated under Class A festival rules in Piedmont Park. (atlantaga.gov) Those rules barred pets inside the festival footprint and prohibited grilling in the park during the festival, while the Piedmont Park Dog Park remained open. The festival website said more planning information, artist details and schedule updates were available through its site and companion web app. (atlantaga.gov) Georgia Tech’s News Center directed readers to the festival’s information pages for lineup and workshop details. May 26 and the days after Memorial Day remain part of the broader Atlanta Jazz Festival calendar, which lists additional jazz events around metro Atlanta after the park weekend. (atljazzfest.com) The festival website said its event calendar continues beyond May 25, and the city’s main festival site remains the central place for schedules, workshops and future announcements. (atljazzfest.com) (app.atljazzfest.com)