Ottawa Jazz Festival Information

What began as a weekend of outdoor jazz in Major’s Hill Park back in 1980 has evolved into Canada’s second largest jazz festival and one of the National Capital Region’s most highly anticipated musical events of the summer. Founded in 1980 by local musicians who wanted to celebrate the popular jazz scene in Ottawa, the Festival quickly grew, attracting such international names as Stan Getz, Sonny Rollins, Herb Ellis, Bob Brookmeyer, Wynton Marsalis and Milt Jackson. Larger and larger crowds came out each year, and the Festival began to stretch beyond traditional jazz and attract new supporters. Expanding beyond its outdoor venue the Festival ventured into indoor satellite events and introduced the late night jam sessions so popular today. Spanning all genres and inspirations of jazz, diverse cultures, traditions and an array of styles that covers the spectrum from pop, rock to lush harmonies, as the only outdoor music festival with a grand presence in the city’s downtown core, the Festival highlights consummate and celebrated artists with international reputations, as well as, new and emerging talent. Set against the stunning backdrop of downtown Ottawa, audiences have a selection from ticketed and free shows.