Glasgow Jazz Festival celebrates 40th anniversary with special programme
This landmark edition features international stars, Scottish talent and the festival’s return to the Old Fruitmarket
Glasgow Jazz Festival will celebrate its 40th edition this summer with a specially curated programme reflecting the past, present and future of the genre. Taking place from Wednesday 10 to Sunday 14 June, the city’s longest-running music festival will stage 40 performances, featuring more than 175 musicians. Tickets are on sale now. As well as returning to its spiritual home, the Old Fruitmarket, the festival will host events at venues across the city, including Saint Luke’s, Òran Mór and Drygate.
Among the highlights is a Homegrown Showcase spotlighting emerging Scottish jazz talent, including last year’s SAY Award winners Kai Reesu, alongside nu-jazz vocalist Gaïa, Glaswegian musician Pippa Blundell and contemporary group Sekoya. The festival’s New Jazzwegians strand also returns, celebrating Glasgow’s role as a hub for rising artists, with appearances from Azamiah, Nathan Somevi Trio, Sonedo and Unoma Okudo.
Established names feature across the programme. Trumpeter Colin Steele will honour the centenary of Miles Davis’ birth, while saxophonist Courtney Pine headlines at Saint Luke’s. Guitarist Martin Taylor, who appeared at the inaugural festival, also returns with a special performance at Òran Mór.
Mercury-shortlisted pianist and composer Fergus McCreadie, who contributed multiple tracks to the soundtrack of Spike Lee’s 2025 film Highest 2 Lowest, will present his new piano-trio commission, Flight Pass. Elsewhere, Marianne McGregor performs an Amy Winehouse songbook, while Seonaid Aitken and Ben Shankland present an evening dedicated to George Gershwin. International acts include South African group BCUC and Italian soul-jazz singer Mario Biondi, who opens the festival.
Director Jill Rodger said: ‘From transforming the Old Fruitmarket into a much-loved venue, and growing into a city-wide celebration and hotbed for new talent, Glasgow Jazz Festival has always been about connection, discovery and the shared thrill of live music.
‘Forty years on, the festival continues to evolve, bringing together global icons, leading Scottish artists and the next generation of jazz artists. This year’s programme reflects that journey: celebrating some of the music that we’ve shared for four decades, the moments that have defined the festival, and the future of Scottish jazz. It will be a joy to return to our spiritual home for this landmark 40th edition and welcome faces both new and old.’
Glasgow Jazz Festival, various venues, Wednesday 10–Sunday 14 June.