Welcome to the Montreal International Jazz Festival. A basic guide to enjoying one of the world’s leading music festivals.

One of the most important music festivals in the world, and probably the most important in Canada, the Montreal International Jazz Festival, celebrates its 44th edition in 2024, from Thursday, June 27 to Saturday, July 6.

The first edition of the festival was held in 1980 on Île-Sainte-Hélène, with a total of 12,000 jazz lovers attending to enjoy performances by Chick Corea, Gary Burton, Vic Vogel and the legendary Ray Charles.

Two years later, the festival became an autonomous non-profit organization and moved its headquarters to Saint-Denis Street. In 1986, the festival presented its first major free event and a line-up of over 1,000 musicians.

In 1988, the Montreal International Jazz Festival was established at Place des Arts, the cultural heart of the city. The following year, it attracted 1 million visitors.

In 2001, the festival introduced the musical cycle: Jazz all year round. In 2004, the festival reached 2 million visitors, and in its 25th edition, it entered the Guinness World Records as the largest jazz festival in the world.

In 2009, La Place des Festivals, the new epicentre of the event, was inaugurated. At the same time, the FIJM opened La Masion du Festival de Jazz, an organisation in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles, the city’s cultural district.

After several successful editions, in 2020 the festival is being held in a 100% digital format due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.

In 2022, a new space will be added to the festival on the Place des Arts esplanade, Le Club Montréal TD, with open-air concerts, lights, and a relaxed urban atmosphere.

The first and most reliable platform to purchase tickets for different events is the festival’s official website, where clicking on the image of each band or artist will take you to the website of the theater or venue where they will perform.

The programme for this new edition is ready and tickets are on sale. Below are some of the most well-known and interesting artists.

The first artist featured on the official site is American pianist, composer and arranger Brad Mehldau, winner of 12 Grammy Awards in various categories such as “Best Instrumental Solo”, “Best Jazz Improvisation”, and “Best Instrumental Jazz Album”.

Another interesting guest musician at MIJF is the French pianist Sofiane Pamart, famous for standing out in the rap scene, with a delicate, impeccable technique, with which he has also been breaking the rules of classical piano.

American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and television personality Jon Batiste is another of the festival’s big names. Batiste has recorded with such great artists as Stevie Wonder, Prince, Ed Sheeran, Willie Nelson, Lenny Kravitz and Lana del Rey, among others.

As in any self-respecting jazz festival, the Brazilian touch cannot be missed, which on this occasion is provided by the musician, composer, multi-instrumentalist and arranger Rodrigo Amarante.

And among so many musicians from different backgrounds and musical styles, I would like to highlight one of my favorites, the multifaceted Lebanese musician, composer, arranger, producer and trumpet teacher Ibrahim Maalouf, whom I have listened to from hip-hop, oriental music, rock, and of course, playing a very vital jazz.

And to close this short list of foreign artists at this magnificent jazz festival, we cannot forget the performance of the wonderful band Pink Martini; the British pianist, composer and producer of hip-hop and R&B Alfa Mist; the American saxophonist and composer Joshua Redman; and the captivating singer and guitarist from Mali, Vieux Farka Touré.

Local stars include guitarist Jesse Cook, winner of the Juno Award, the Acoustic Guitar Player’s Choice in the Flamenco category, and the Canadian Smooth Jazz Guitarist of the Year on 3 occasions.

Another recommendation, Elisapie, a singer, film director and singer-songwriter with Aboriginal roots with a beautiful voice and a repertoire inspired by great pop classics.

The Montreal International Festival takes place in different locations, theatres, concert halls, and open spaces in various areas of the city.

Below are the main venues of the festival:

• The Place des Arts, the main venue in the Quartier des Spectacles, is Canada’s largest cultural complex. It offers open spaces, 6 concert halls with capacities ranging from 128 to 3,000 seats, and an amphitheatre.
• The Maison Symphonique, the main hall of the Place des Arts complex, follows the highest standards of acoustics, stage design and architecture, and is home to the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (OSM) and other major musical groups in the city.
• Théâtre Maisonneuve, with some 1,400 seats, offers a programme of comedy, dance, ballet, theatre and, of course, concerts by musicians from all over the world.
• Club Soda, at 1225 Saint Laurent Boulevard, another key cultural spot for Montreal’s music scene.
• Le Gesù, at 1200 Rue de Bleury, offers a concert hall, theatre and amphitheatre for nearly 500 people. Since 1992 it has hosted numerous artistic events in music, visual arts, theatre and other creative events.

See all the venues on this map of the Montreal International Jazz Festival.

One of the characteristic elements of this festival since its first edition is the possibility of enjoying free open-air concerts.

Listen to the artists and groups that have participated in the different editions of this festival, in our selection on Spotify: