Italy has jazz in its blood, and there are no shortage of jazz festivals in Italy for jazz fans either, as you will discover from this list of what’s coming up, or on now, plus what to keep an eye out for next year.
There are jazz festivals pretty much all year round in Italy, although it is in the months June, July and August when Italy’s jazz festival season is in full swing.
You’ll find Italy’s warm summer evenings ideal for catching acts outdoors, though indoor shows could be on the hot and sweaty side.
Book accommodation in good time or else there may not be much accommodation left to book. While you are here, don’t forget to sample Italian cuisine, wine, and Italian beer too.
If you play an instrument, you might like to bring it along as some of the events include workshops.
The Jazz Italia website also has lots of details of jazz events in Italy.
Jazz Festivals in Italy in 2014
Note that very few of the Festivals listed below have fixed dates for 2014. You can assume that the festivals will be held around the same dates in 2014 as they were in 2013 – but be sure to check before making travel arrangements. Once dates become clearer, a new list will be published and a link to the new list will appear here.
A list of Jazz Festivals all over Italy
Click on the name of the festival to go to the festival website.
If there’s a jazz festival which is not on this list and you think it should be, let us know via a comment and supply a link too.
June/July
- Festival Adda & Martesana Dates: May 24 – June 22, 2013 Location: Bergamo, Italy
- Iseo Jazz Festival Dates: May 25 – July 20, 2013 Location: Iseo, Italy
- Fasano Jazz Dates: June 1–12, 2013 Location: Fasano, Italy
- Alba Jazz Festival Dates: June 6–9, 2013 Location: Alba, Italy
- Jazz in’It Dates: June 7–9, 2013 Location: Vignola, Italy
- Vittoria Jazz Festival Dates: June 8–23, 2013 Location: Vittoria, Italy
- Montagnola Music Club Dates: June 12 – August 3, 2013 Location: Bologna, Italy
- Jazz al Popolo Dates: June 14 – July 12, 2013 Location: Rome, Italy
- Concerti in Abbazia Dates: June 14–28, 2013 Location: Monastier di Treviso, Italy
- PercFest Laigueglia Jazz Festival Dates: June 18–23, 2013 Location: Laigueglia, Italy
- Treviso Jazz Festival Dates: June 18–22, 2013 Location: Treviso, Italy
- Salotto del Jazz Dates: June 19 – August 10, 2013 Location: Bologna, Italy
- Clusone Jazz Festival Dates: June 20 – July 27, 2013 Location: Clusone, Italy
- Udin&Jazz Dates: June 21 – July 2, 2013 Location: Udine, Italy
- Massarosa Jazz Fest Dates: June 21 – July 12, 2013 Location: Massarosa, Italy
- Multiculturita Summer Jazz Festival Dates: June 22 – July 13, 2013 Location: Capurso (near Bari), Italy
- Verona Jazz Dates: June 22–25, 2013 Location: Verona, Italy
- Artusi Jazz Festival Dates: June 25–29, 2013 Location: Forlimpopoli, Italy
- Il Ritmo delle Città Dates: June 25 – July 25, 2013 Location: Milan, Italy
- Garda Jazz Festival Dates: June 26 – July 14, 2013 Location: Arco, Drena, Nago, Torbole sul Garda, Riva del Garda, Tenno, Italy
- Bari in Jazz Dates: June 26–28, 2013 Location: Bari, Italy
- The Nightfly Jazz Festival on the Beach Dates: June 27–29, 2013 Location: Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy
- Südtirol Jazz Festival Dates: June 28 – July 7, 2013 Location: Alto Adige, Italy
- Casa del Jazz Festival Dates: June 28 – August 4, 2013 Location: Rome, Italy
- Jazz by the Pool Dates: June 28 – September 6, 2013 Location: Montegrotto Terme, Italy
- Vivere Jazz Festival Dates: June 29 – July 19, 2013 Location: Fiesole, Italy
July/August
- Baronissi Jazz Dates: July 1–7, 2013 Location: Baronissi, Italy
- Ambria Jazz Dates: July 4 – August 4, 2013 Location: Valtellina, Italy
- Umbria Jazz Dates: July 5–14, 2013 Location: Perugia, Italy
- Valsugana Jazz Tour Dates: July 5–19, 2013 Location: Pergine Valsugana, Tenna, Calceranica al Lago, Grigno, Italy
- Blues in Villa Blues & Jazz Festival Dates: July 5–12, 2013 Location: Brugnera, Italy
- Pescara Jazz Festival Dates: July 8–28, 2013 Location: Pescara, Italy
- Merano Jazz Festival Dates: July 8–13, 2013 Location: Merano, Italy
- Ortaccio Jazz Festival Dates: July 11–14, 2013 Location: Vasanello, Italy
- Jazz On Alps Dates: July 11–15, 2013 Location: Alpette, Italy
- Venezia Jazz Festival Dates: July 16–31, 2013 Location: Venice, Italy
- Albinea Jazz Festival Dates: July 16–19, 2013 Location: Albinea, Italy
- Gezmataz Festival & Workshop Dates: July 17–25, 2013 Location: Genova, Italy
- Piazza Jazz Dates: July 17–21, 2013 Location: Piazza Armerina, Italy
- Bassano Jazz Festival Dates: July 17–20, 2013 Location: Bassano del Grappa, Italy
- Fano Jazz by the Sea Dates: July 22–28, 2013 Location: Fano, Italy
- Siena Jazz Summer Festival Dates: July 24 – August 7, 2013 Location: Siena, Italy
- Atina Jazz Festival Dates: July 24–28, 2013 Location: Valcomino, Italy
- Cala Gonone Jazz Festival Dates: July 24–30, 2013 Location: Cala Gonone, Italy
- Eddie Lang Jazz Festival Dates: July 29 – August 4, 2013 Location: Monteroduni, Italy
- Taormina Jazz Festival Dates: August 2–6, 2013 Location: Taormina, Sicily, Italy
- Jazz in Laurino Dates: August 4–8, 2013 Location: Laurino, Italy
- Jazz al Castello Dates: August 7–9, 2013 Location: Gaeta, Italy
- Time in Jazz Dates: August 13–15, 2013 Location: Berchidda, Italy
- Jazz a Nuoro Dates: August 21–31, 2013 Location: Nuoro, Italy
- Ai Confini tra Sardegna e Jazz Dates: 22 – 31 August, 2013 Location: Sant’Anna Arresi, Italy
Here’s a list of jazz festivals which have already ended for 2013, but should take place in 2014 or 2015.
Jazz festivals in Italy next year and beyond:
Umbria Jazz Winter
When: December – January
Location: Orvieto, Italy
Siena Guitar Festival
When: January
Location: Siena, Italy
Jazz Wide Young
When: January- April
Location: Pisa, Italy
Crossroads
When: February – May
Location: Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Giotto Jazz Festival
When: March
Location: Florence, Italy
Bia’ Jazz Festival
When: March
Location: Abbiategrasso, Italy
Jazzflirt Festival
When: March 3–24, 2013
Location: Formia, Italy
Dolomiti Ski Jazz
When: March
Location: Cavalese, Castello, Tesero, Predazzo, Ziano, Moena, Italy
Jazznostop
When: March
Location: Fiesso d’Artico, Italy
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Stop translating in your head and start speaking Italian for real with the only audio course that prompt you to speak.
Bergamo Jazz
When: March
Location: Bergamo, Italy
Open Jazz Festival
When: March
Location: Ivrea and Canavese, Italy
Tuscia in Jazz Spring Festival
When: March – April
Location: Ronciglione, Italy
Mantova Jazz
When: April
Location: Mantova, Italy
Piano Jazz
When: April – May
Location: Pordenone, Italy
Itinerari Jazz
When: April – May
Location: Trento, Italy
Forma e Poesia nel Jazz
When: April – June
Location: Cagliari, Italy
La Fabbrica del Jazz
Dates: April
Location: Schio, Italy
Torino Jazz Festival
When: April – May
Location: Turin, Italy
Ravenna Jazz
When: May
Location: Ravenna, Italy
Lana Meets Jazz
When: May
Location: Lana, Italy
Vicenza Jazz Festival
New Conversations
When: May 10–18, 2013
Location: Vicenza, Italy
Correggio Jazz
When: May
Location: Reggio Emilia, Italy
Young Jazz Festival
When: May
Location: Foligno, Italy
Ah-Um Milano Jazz Festival
When: May
Location: Milan, Italy
Zola Jazz’n Wine
Bla Bla Jazz
When: May– July
Location: Bologna, Italy
Novara Jazz
When: May – June
Location: Novara, Italy
Semiana Jazz
When: May – June
Location: Semiana, Italy
Remember to let us know via a comment if there’s a jazz festival in Italy we’ve missed! Thanks.
