Festival Internacional de Jazz de Barcelona – Spain 2026

Background & History

The Festival Internacional de Jazz de Barcelona, also known as Voll-Damm Festival Internacional de Jazz de Barcelona or simply Barcelona Jazz Festival, was established in 1966 by the Catalan promoter Josep Maria Flotats and the Amics del Jazz association as Spain’s first dedicated jazz event, emerging during Franco’s regime as a subversive underground gathering for American expatriates and local intellectuals in smoky Barcelona basements. The inaugural edition in late October drew 500 attendees to venues like Jamboree club, featuring expatriate legends like Chet Baker and local trios, laying the foundation for a genre that blended Catalan rumba with bebop, evolving into a global reference by the 1980s under the direction of Joan Anton Carroll as the city’s longest-running music festival. Organized by The Project Music Company S.L. (C/ Cristóbal de Moura, 49, 08019 Barcelona) since 2010, it has hosted 2,000+ artists from 50+ countries across 57 editions by 2025, generating €5–8 million annually for Barcelona’s economy through tourism, hospitality, and cultural synergies with institutions like the Palau de la Música Catalana and Liceu Conservatory, while aligning with Catalonia’s UNESCO City of Literature and Music status.

Over nearly six decades, the festival has chronicled jazz’s diaspora—from Miles Davis’s 1989 fusion sets to Esperanza Spalding’s 2015 Latin explorations—pausing briefly during COVID-19 (hybrid 2021 with 100,000+ online streams via jazz.barcelona) but rebounding with 2025’s 57th edition (October 10–December 16, 20+ concerts, themes like “Barcelona Meets the World” with Sullivan Fortner Trio, Marta Sánchez Trio, and Leonor Watling & Leo Sidran). The 2026 edition (58th), estimated October 9–December 15 (historical late-October to mid-December pattern, 10 weeks), will continue this legacy amid Barcelona’s 2026 EU cultural initiatives, potentially expanding masterclasses at Liceu Conservatory (October–December, €10 ~$11 per session) and collaborations with Sónar for electronic-jazz fusions, featuring 25–30 acts across 15+ venues. As a beacon of post-Franco freedom, it promotes inclusivity (50%+ female/non-binary artists since 2015) and sustainability (zero-waste Jamboree since 2019), embodying Barcelona’s “pulse of jazz” where Gaudí’s curves meet improvisational riffs in a city of 1.6 million.

Event Highlights

Festival Internacional de Jazz de Barcelona 2026, the 58th edition estimated October 9–December 15 (10 weeks, late-October to mid-December pattern), will resonate across 15+ Barcelona venues with 25–30 international/local acts for 50,000+ attendees, blending classic bebop, Latin fusion, and electronic jazz in a “Barcelona Meets the World” odyssey of concerts, masterclasses, and cultural dialogues.

Main activities or performances: Evening concerts (8pm–midnight, €10–50 ~$11–$55): Palau de la Música Catalana for headliners (lineup TBA Q3 2025 via jazz.barcelona, building on 2025’s Barcelona Jazz Orchestra opener October 10, Sullivan Fortner Trio October 14, Miguel Poveda October 15, Tomato October 24, Kris Davis Trio November 3, Brandee Younger Trio November 4, Janis Siegel-Yaron Gershovsky November 6—expect 2026 fusions like Nubya Garcia’s Afro-jazz or Hiromi’s virtuosic piano with Catalan talents like Carme Canela).

Jamboree club for intimate trios (e.g., La Vella Dixieland October 11/24, William Klein & Associates November 5, €10 ~$11). Daytime masterclasses (Liceu Conservatory, October–December, €10 ~$11/session, e.g., 2025’s Sullivan Fortner on piano improvisation, Carlos Aguirre on Latin rhythms). Off-stage: FITS Talks-style conferences (November 10–15, free, on jazz’s societal role); film screenings at Cines Verdi (e.g., jazz docs, €8 ~$8.80); family workshops (ages 5+, free bouzouki-jazz at Palau, December 1–5). 2026 may include hybrid streams (100,000+ viewers like 2021) and EU-funded “Jazz Without Borders” collabs with Sónar (electronic fusions, June crossover).

Special traditions or features: “Barcelona Jazz Orchestra” opener (since 2015, October 10, free Palau concert with 50 musicians blending Catalan rumba and bebop); masterclasses by headliners (Liceu, €10 ~$11, since 2001, 500+ sessions honoring Chet Baker’s 1966 influence). Sustainability: Zero-waste Jamboree (90% compostable since 2019), solar lighting at Palau; inclusivity: 50%+ female/non-binary (e.g., 2025’s Marta Sánchez, Leonor Watling), quiet zones, sign language for select shows. 2026’s milestone: “58 Years of Riffs” retrospective with archival Miles Davis footage (€5 ~$5.50, December 15 gala).

Unique attractions for visitors: Palau de la Música Catalana tours (€18 ~$19.80, pre-concert, Modernist gem with stained glass); Jamboree club’s “Dixieland Nights” (October 11/24, €10 ~$11, 1947 basement history); Liceu Conservatory open days (November 15–20, free, student-jazz jams). 2026 speculative: AR app for virtual 1966 Baker sets (€5 ~$5.50); pop-up markets with Catalan cava-jazz pairings (€10 ~$11, 20+ regional wines).

Date & Duration

Dates: October 9 – December 15, 2026 (Friday to Tuesday; estimated historical late-October to mid-December 10-week pattern; confirm via jazz.barcelona Q3 2025) Duration: 10 weeks (evening concerts 8pm–midnight, 2–3 per week; masterclasses October–December, 2pm–5pm)

Venue / Location

Festival Internacional de Jazz de Barcelona 2026 spans 15+ venues across Barcelona’s cultural heart, centering on Palau de la Música Catalana (C/ Palau de la Música, 4–6, 08003, 2,300 seats, Modernist gem with Gaudí-inspired acoustics for openers) and Jamboree club (Plaça Reial 17, 1947 basement for intimate trios), with Liceu Conservatory (Rambla 51–59, 1,500 seats, masterclasses) and Cines Verdi (Verdi 32, indie screenings). Layout: Palau for symphonic (metro L4 Urquinaona, €2.40 ~$2.64, 5-min walk); Jamboree in Gothic Quarter (L3/L4 Liceu, 10-min walk). Capacity 50,000+; eco: Solar lighting (Palau 100% renewable since 2018), bike racks (200 spots, Bicing €4.20/day ~$4.62). Accessibility: 90% ramps/audio, tactile guides—apply theproject@theproject.es.

Google Maps Address: C/ Cristóbal de Moura, 49, 08019 Barcelona, Spain (HQ: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jazzbarcelona).

Ticket Information

Evening concerts €10–50 ~$11–$55 (presale Q3 2025 via jazz.barcelona/Fnac, e.g., Palau €30–50 ~$33–$55, Jamboree €10–20 ~$11–$22); masterclasses €10 ~$11 (Liceu, October–December). Festival pass €150–250 ~$165–$275 (all shows, early bird Q3 2025). Under-26 €5–25 ~$5.50–$27.50 (50% off); under-12 free with guardian. Disability: Reduced €5–25 ~$5.50–$27.50 + companion free, ramps—apply amicsdeljazz@theproject.es 4 weeks prior. 2025 sold 50,000; 2026 presale September 2025. No refunds; resale via platform.

Ticket Pricing (USD, based on 2025 EUR rates, €1 ≈ $1.10):

• Minimum: Under-12 ~$0 USD (free).
• Maximum: Festival pass ~$275 USD (€250). Concert €10–50 ~$11–$55 USD; masterclass €10 ~$11 USD; under-26 €5–25 ~$5.50–$27.50 USD.

Special Seating or VIP Options: VIP pass €300 ~$330 USD (reserved Palau seats, lounge with cava); accessible platforms/ramps/audio (free with application, sign language for select). Family: Kids’ zones with seating.

Contact Information

Email: amicsdeljazz@theproject.es (general/program); theproject@theproject.es (tickets/access); press@theproject.es (media). Key Staff: The Project Music Company S.L. team (Josep Maria Flotats legacy curators). Phone: +34 93 215 27 89 (English/Spanish/Catalan, Mon–Thu 9am–6pm; Fri 9am–2pm); WhatsApp +34 93 215 27 89 (instant queries). Website: https://jazz.barcelona/en/; https://www.theproject.es/es (The Project). Social Media: @jazz.barcelona (Instagram/Facebook, 50k+ followers); @FestivalJazzBCN (X/Twitter); @jazzbarcelona (TikTok). Press/Volunteers: Press kits via press@theproject.es; volunteers via theproject.es (Q3 2025, €10/hour ~$11 stipends). Note: Response time ~24–48 hours; multilingual.

Cultural Experience

Festival Internacional de Jazz de Barcelona 2026 immerses 50,000+ in Catalonia’s rhythmic soul, where Palau de la Música Catalana’s Gaudí-esque mosaics and Jamboree club’s 1947 basement—once a Franco-era speakeasy—resonate with bebop brasses, Latin fusions, and electronic pulses amid olive-shaded courtyards and the Gothic Quarter’s whispers, evoking Barcelona’s post-Civil War jazz underground fused with Mediterranean improvisation from Chet Baker’s 1966 exile sets to 2025’s Sullivan Fortner trio explorations.

Attendees in breezy linen and jazz fedoras sway to Marta Sánchez Trio’s flamenco-jazz hybrids, blending Eixample’s Modernist curves with global dialogues—2025’s “Barcelona Meets the World” theme highlighting 21 acts from 19 countries like Kris Davis’s avant-garde piano and Brandee Younger’s harp virtuosity. Inclusivity resonates: 50%+ female/non-binary artists (e.g., Leonor Watling & Leo Sidran’s November 2025 duo), family bouzouki jams (free, ages 5+ at Liceu), quiet zones for neurodiverse, tying to Barcelona’s UNESCO City of Design status where rumba catalana meets Harlem bebop.

The 10-week odyssey fosters serendipity: Strangers share patatas bravas (€6 ~$6.60) during La Vella Dixieland’s October Dixieland nights, reflecting Spain’s post-dictatorship freedom. For globals, it’s transformative—learning flamenco palmas (€10 workshops at Liceu) or tracing Plaça Reial’s 19th-century arcades, celebrating the festival’s 58-year legacy as Barcelona’s jazz phoenix where history improvises with harmonic liberty in a city of 1.6 million.

Food & Drinks

The festival’s 15+ pop-ups across Palau, Jamboree, and Liceu curate Catalan-Mediterranean jazz symphonies, €5–15 (~$5.50–$16.50) items with hyper-local/sustainable sourcing (Penedès wines, Ebro Delta seafood) for €2–3 million impact, blending meze with improvisational flair like “bebop tapas” flights. Must-tries: Patatas bravas with alioli (€6 ~$6.60, spicy potatoes evoking 1966 Baker gigs); escalivada roasted veggies (€7 ~$7.70, Catalan salad with Penedès olive oil); vegan fideuà noodle paella (€8 ~$8.80, saffron-Valencia rice alt). Global: Afrobeat jollof rice with Catalan romesco (€9 ~$9.90); New Orleans gumbo fusion (€10 ~$11). Drinks: Cava brut (€5 ~$5.50/glass, Freixenet from Penedès); vermut with orange twist (€4 ~$4.40, Gothic Quarter aperitif); non-alcoholic granizado de limón (€3 ~$3.30, lemon slush).

Intolerances: 50% vegan/gluten-free/lactose-free/nut-free zones with cross-contamination protocols; dedicated Liceu stalls for severe allergies (e.g., sesame-free pan con tomate €4 ~$4.40). Eco: Reusable cups (€1 ~$1.10 deposit, 90% return rate since 2018), 100% compostable plates from Catalan biodegradable sources, solar-powered food carts (20% stalls, 100% renewable), rainwater-harvested hydration stations (15+ free fountains with herbal infusions like rosemary-lemon). Late-night: Churros con chocolate (€4 ~$4.40, Jamboree after-hours with cinnamon dust) or jazz-inspired tapas flights (€12 ~$13.20, 5 mini-dishes pairing with lineup themes like “rhythm rice” for Latin nights).

Getting There

By Air: Barcelona-El Prat (BCN), 12 km southwest, serves 100+ EU/US hubs (e.g., Vueling London, 2 hours, €50+ ~$55 USD; Iberia NYC, 8 hours, €400+ ~$440 USD). From BCN: Aerobus A1/A2 (€6.75 ~$7.43, 35 min to Plaça Catalunya) + Metro L4 Urquinaona (€2.40 ~$2.64, 5 min to Palau); T1/T3 to Gran Via (€4.60 ~$5.06, 20 min to Jamboree). By Train: Barcelona Sants (AVE Madrid, 2.5 hours, €50 ~$55); 10-min metro to Plaça Catalunya (€2.40 ~$2.64). Public Transport: TMB day pass (€10.50 ~$11.55 unlimited metro/buses/trams); L4 to Urquinaona (Palau, every 5 min); L3/L4 to Liceu (Jamboree, 10-min walk).

Bike: Bicing rentals (€4.20/day ~$4.62, 200+ stations, racks at Palau). Parking: Limited at Palau (€20–30/day ~$22–$33, 100 spots, pre-book firabarcelona.com); Eixample garages (€5/hour ~$5.50, 5-min walk). Eco-Tip: E-metro L4 (€2.40 ~$2.64, every 5 min); e-bikes (€5/day ~$5.50 via Lime); free festival shuttles from Plaça Catalunya to Jamboree (every 20 min, 6–11pm); 85% public transport (2025 data). Nearby: Sagrada Família (2 km, €26 ~$28.60, Gaudí’s jazz-inspired curves, 10-min metro).

Accommodation Options

Book 3–6 months ahead for October–December peak—prices rise 30–50%. Budget: Hostal Centric (~€50–70/night ~$55–$77 USD, Eixample dorms, 15-min metro to Palau, shared kitchen). Mid-Range: Hotel Catalonia Eixample 1864 (~€100–140 ~$110–$154 USD, rooftop bar near Liceu, breakfast included). Boutique: Hotel Brummell (~€120–160 ~$132–$176 USD, Poble Sec, near Jamboree, spa access). Splurge: Mandarin Oriental (~€250–350 ~$275–$385 USD, Passeig de Gràcia luxury, concierge for concert shuttles).

Apartments: Airbnb Gothic Quarter (~€90–130 ~$99–$143 USD/night, 1-bedroom with Plaça Reial views, kitchen for meze). Via Booking.com or barcelonaturisme.com; many include TMB day pass (€10.50 ~$11.55) or free Aerobus from BCN (€6.75 ~$7.43 value). Eco-options: The Serras (~€150 ~$165 USD, solar-powered boutique near Palau). For families: Hotel Acta Antibes (~€100 ~$110 USD, 2-bedroom suites, kids’ breakfast, 10-min metro to Liceu).