Festival
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2027
A landmark spring festival celebrating the music, food, art and heritage of New Orleans and Louisiana, drawing musicians, artisans and hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
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About the Event
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2027 celebrates the music, food, art and cultural traditions of New Orleans and Louisiana at the historic Fair Grounds Race Course. The 2027 edition is structured across two long weekends: Thursday, April 22 through Sunday, April 25, and Thursday, April 29 through Sunday, May 2.
Founded in 1970 by producer George Wein as the Louisiana Heritage Festival, the event began at Congo Square with a lineup that included Mahalia Jackson, Duke Ellington and Fats Domino. Today it is coordinated by the Jazz & Heritage Foundation and has grown into one of the country's most significant cultural gatherings, welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors each spring.
Music anchors the festival across more than a dozen stages and tents. The 2027 lineup will be announced closer to the event, typically in December, with daily schedules published in late winter. Past programming has paired major touring artists with New Orleans legends, brass bands and Mardi Gras Indians, while dedicated areas showcase traditional jazz, contemporary jazz, blues, gospel, Cajun and zydeco music.
Food and craftsmanship are central to the experience. Attendees can explore two dedicated food areas and stalls offering Louisiana specialties such as crawfish Monica, crawfish bread and mango freeze, along with vegan and vegetarian options. The Louisiana Folklife Village features artisans and musicians demonstrating regional traditions, and arts and crafts marketplaces present work by local and regional makers.
Daily general admission includes access to all performances, food and craft vendors, and festival exhibits. Single-day tickets and weekend passes are available, alongside VIP packages such as GA+, Big Chief, Grand Marshal and Krewe of Jazz Fest that add lounges, shaded areas and premium stage viewing. Since 2023, festival booths have been cashless, with cash exchange booths on site.
The festival maintains broad accessibility through an Access Center, accessible seating, ASL interpretation on request, and permission for wheelchairs and service animals. Its sustainability efforts earned gold certification from the Council for Responsible Sport, and the Shell Recycling program supports waste diversion. Visitors can reach the grounds via RTA buses or the official Jazz Fest Express shuttle from the French Quarter, Downtown, South Market District and City Park.
Key Highlights
- Multi-stage music program spanning jazz, blues, gospel, Cajun, zydeco, R&B and rock
- Two dedicated food areas serving crawfish Monica, crawfish bread and mango freeze
- Louisiana Folklife Village with live craft and cultural demonstrations
- Mardi Gras Indian and brass band performances
- Congo Square Stage featuring Afro-centric and world music
- Cultural Exchange Pavilion with daily cultural programming
- VIP packages with shaded lounges and premium stage viewing
- Official Jazz Fest Express shuttle from four city departure points
Venue
Fair Grounds Race Course
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, 1751 Gentilly Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70119, United States
Fair Grounds Race Course is a historic thoroughbred racing venue in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans, with racing on the site dating back to 1852. Each spring its infield, grandstand and surrounding open grounds are transformed into a multi-stage festival site for Jazz Fest, offering shade tents, food areas and cultural villages across the grounds. The venue is served by RTA bus routes and the official festival shuttle from several points around the city.
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