Atlanta Jazz Festival
- Dates
- Expected May (Memorial Day weekend) 2027
- Status
- Expected
- Venue
- Piedmont Park
- Price
- Free
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Oct 18, 2026
The last Atlanta Jazz Festival was May 23 to 25, 2026, in Atlanta, GA. Its 2027 dates haven't been announced yet. Froligo tracks free-entry details, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
Last time around (2026)
The 49th annual Atlanta Jazz Festival was held over Memorial Day weekend, May 23-25, 2026, in Piedmont Park, remaining free to the public. The main-stage bill featured Kamasi Washington, Christian McBride, Nate Smith, Aja Monet and Buddy Red, part of a lineup attendees described as stacked with titans of jazz. Rain during the weekend left standing water and mud across parts of the park, prompting advice to wear boots for anyone heading close to the stage, but the event proceeded rain or shine and the crowd was described as busy but awesome.
What's special
The Atlanta Jazz Festival is regarded as one of the largest FREE jazz festivals in the country: a free, open-to-the-public celebration held every Memorial Day weekend in Piedmont Park, produced by the City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs. The single main-stage weekend caps a month-long lead-up of programming, a Friday kickoff concert, late-night jazz jams, Jazz 101 workshops, a kids zone, a neighborhood jazz series and '31 Days of Jazz' across the city. Attendees spread blankets, chairs and canopies on the lawn to hear an internationally drawn lineup for free, with a paid VIP lounge layered on top. In 2026 it reached its 49th annual edition.
What people love
Attendees consistently describe a fun, easygoing atmosphere and a world-class jazz lineup that costs nothing to attend, with a chill, diverse crowd and a family-friendly feel that keeps regulars coming back year after year. The programming quality draws particular praise, with headline sets repeatedly called sensational and the bill described as stacked with major names. The most common gripes are practical rather than about the music: parking near the park is widely called impossible, so seasoned attendees strongly advise arriving by transit or on foot; on-site drinks are considered pricey enough that many bring their own food and drink; and a rainy edition left parts of Piedmont Park muddy. A minority also debate whether recent, genre-crossing lineups still count as 'jazz.'
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Listen
Tap an artist to play them right here.
No official playlist linked yet. Find Atlanta Jazz Festival on Spotify.
Lineup
Here's who played in 2026:
Getting there
Nearest airport ATL.
How do I get to Atlanta Jazz Festival?
By car
Most people drive to Atlanta Jazz Festival. The nearest major airport is ATL, and from there it is a straightforward drive to the venue. Check current road and traffic conditions before you set off, and see parking below.
By train
The Amtrak Crescent (New York-New Orleans) makes one stop each way per day at Atlanta Peachtree station, 1688 Peachtree St NW, roughly 2 mi northwest of Piedmont Park in Midtown. Realistic only for travelers already routing through the Crescent corridor rather than as an airport connection; from Peachtree station it is a short rideshare or bus hop to the park. Note the station is unstaffed with limited daily service.
Book / infoBy bus & public transit
Intercity coaches serve Atlanta at 232 Forsyth St in downtown (~3 mi south of Piedmont Park). From downtown, connect via MARTA rail (Garnett or Five Points to Midtown/Arts Center) or rideshare to the park. A budget option for fly-in-alternative regional travelers, not an airport transfer.
Book / infoATL is one of the few US airports with rail directly inside the terminal. Take the MARTA Gold or Red line northbound from Airport station to Midtown station or Arts Center station (both ~24 min), then walk 15-20 min east to Piedmont Park's 12th/14th St gates. No transfer needed for the train leg; the festival's own info page names Midtown and Arts Center as the nearest stations. Pay with a reloadable Breeze card (one-time $2 card fee) or the Breeze Mobile app.
Book / infoTaxi & rideshare
Uber and Lyft both operate at ATL and citywide. ATL has a dedicated rideshare pickup zone (follow airport signage; a per-trip airport fee applies). During the festival, the official rideshare drop-off/pickup point is 1071 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309 (per the festival info page) rather than curbside at the gates, because surrounding residential streets are closed to stopping. No advance booking URL, hail in-app on arrival.
Taxis and rideshare such as Uber and Lyft can be limited near the venue, especially late at night or in rural areas. Agree a pickup point and time in advance and keep a backup plan.
Affiliate Flying in? You can book an airport transfer from ATL in advance rather than joining the taxi queue on arrival. Transfer links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
🅿 Parking
No on site parking. Use nearby lots or transit. Prepay via SpotHero. No festival-operated onsite parking. Piedmont Park is an urban park with no dedicated event lot. The official info page recommends SpotHero and warns: 'Do NOT park on the residential streets surrounding Piedmont Park!' with $75 fines for violations. The festival links attendees to a dedicated SpotHero Atlanta Jazz Festival page for prepaid garage/lot reservations in Midtown. A free bike valet operates on 10th St near Park Tavern for cyclists.
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire at ATL
There is no on site parking at the venue, so if you are hiring a car it is worth sorting nearby parking or a park and ride before you go.
Search car hireCar hire links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Where
Venue
Piedmont Park
Camping & Accommodation
Where can I stay near Atlanta Jazz Festival?
No on site camping. Here is where to stay nearby.
Budget stays 3
1641 Peachtree Street Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30309
Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates1231 West Peachtree Street Northwest, Atlanta, GA 30309
Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates975 West Peachtree Street Northwest, Atlanta, GA 30309
Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesMid-range hotels 7
Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesTypically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesTypically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates1365 Peachtree Street Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30309
Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates53 14th Street Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30309
Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesTreat yourself 2
75 14th Street Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30309
Typically $350-700 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates45 Ivan Allen Junior Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30308
Typically $350-700 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesAirport hotels 2
1888 Sullivan Road, College Park, GA 30337
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates1270 Virginia Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30344
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesAirbnb & private camping
Midtown and adjacent Virginia-Highland / Old Fourth Ward have dense Airbnb inventory within walking or short-MARTA distance of Piedmont Park. Expect meaningful surge pricing over Memorial Day weekend, which coincides with the festival and the broader holiday-weekend demand in Atlanta; book early for walkable Midtown units.
Search AirbnbNo private-land camping inside the urban core (Piedmont Park is a public city park with no camping). Hipcamp inventory for the Atlanta area is rural/exurban, private-land tent sites, cabins and glamping an hour-plus out (north Georgia foothills, Chattahoochee Hill Country), so it's a scenic-alternative-to-a-hotel option only for attendees willing to drive in, not a walkable substitute. Link points to the statewide Georgia directory.
Search HipcampSearch all hotels near Piedmont Park
Hotel links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Accessibility & comfort
The organizer does not publish accessibility details. Ask them directly before you travel about step-free access, accessible toilets, seating and anything else you need.
Pricing
While you're in Atlanta
AffiliateTiqets sells timed entry to Atlanta's museums, towers and tours, booked on your phone, worth a look if you have a spare day either side of the festival.
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Quick answers
When is Atlanta Jazz Festival 2027?
Not announced yet. The last festival was May 23 to 25, 2026. The next one is expected in May (Memorial Day weekend).
How much are Atlanta Jazz Festival tickets?
Entry is free.
Where is Atlanta Jazz Festival held?
Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA.