Charleston Jazz Festival
- Dates
- Apr 11 to 20, 2027
- Status
- Confirmed
- Venue
- Charleston Music Hall, The Establishment, American Theater, Fox Music House
- Price
- Not announced
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Nov 10, 2026
Charleston Jazz Festival returns to Charleston, SC, Apr 11 to 20, 2027. Froligo tracks ticket prices, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
What's special
The Charleston Jazz Festival is a multi-day celebration of the Lowcountry's jazz heritage held each April in Charleston, South Carolina. Running since 2015, it presents headline and homegrown artists across downtown venues, pairing nationally known names with the city's own thriving jazz scene.
How it works
The 2027 festival runs April 11 to 20 in historic Charleston, with performances spread across several venues rather than one site. The organizer describes settings ranging from the intimate Forte Jazz Lounge and the Firefly Distillery stage to the Charleston Music Hall. The 2027 lineup, venues and tickets are still to be announced, and the organizer's newsletter carries the announcements. Charleston Jazz, the nonprofit behind the festival, also runs the Charleston Jazz Orchestra.
Who it suits
The festival is pitched at everyone from seasoned jazz fans to people hearing jazz for the first time, and the organizer describes a program that caters to music lovers of all tastes and ages. Past headliners include Arturo Sandoval, Kenny G, Samara Joy, Joshua Redman and Preservation Hall Jazz Band, so it suits visitors who want big names alongside local players in historic downtown Charleston.
Last time around (2026)
The 2026 festival ran April 13 to 21. On April 16 the American Theater hosted a tribute to Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers led by pianist Abdiel Iriarte, followed by Nina Simone: Rebel With a Cause with vocalist Alva Anderson.
Protect your ears
Dutch-engineered protection for live music.
Alpine PartyPlug Pro earplugs reduce noise by 21 dB while keeping music clear and detailed. Premium, reusable protection for concerts and festivals.
★★★★★ 75,000+ five-star reviews across the Alpine range
100-day satisfaction guarantee.
Advertisement · Froligo may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Listen
Tap an artist to play them right here.
No official playlist linked yet. Find Charleston Jazz Festival on Spotify.
Lineup
Here's who played in 2026:
Getting there
How do I get to Charleston Jazz Festival?
The Charleston Jazz Festival has no single gate. Its concerts are spread across rooms in downtown Charleston, so getting there means getting to whichever room your ticket names, and the rooms for 2027 are yet to be announced. Most visitors park once in a garage near the night's venue and walk, and the free DASH shuttle loops the historic peninsula for the longer hops. Check the address on each ticket, since the rooms are separate buildings. Check out each of the options below.
Nearest airport CHS.
By car
The nearest major airport is CHS, 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
Two daily trains each way (Palmetto daytime, Silver Meteor overnight, New York-Savannah/Miami corridor) stop at the North Charleston Intermodal Transportation Center, 4565 Gaynor Ave, North Charleston, about 8 road miles from the downtown peninsula venues. This is a way to reach the host city from the East Coast corridor, not an airport connection; from the station it's a ~12-15 min rideshare or a CARTA local-bus connection to downtown.
Book / infoBy bus & public transit
Intercity coaches serve Charleston at the same North Charleston Transit Center as Amtrak (4565 Gaynor Ave, North Charleston), not downtown. Budget option for regional travelers; finish the trip with a ~12-15 min rideshare or CARTA connection to the peninsula.
Book / infoCARTA Route 11 Dorchester/Airport picks up at a covered shelter just outside Baggage Claim at CHS and runs directly into downtown Charleston, terminating near the Meeting Street Visitors Center, one block from the Charleston Music Hall cluster where recent festival editions have centered. From there the free DASH (Downtown Area Shuttle) circulates the historic district at no charge, handy for hopping between the festival's multiple downtown venues. Cash only on board, exact change required; free transfers within 2 hours.
Book / infoTaxi & rideshare
Uber, Lyft and local operator KreweCar all serve CHS; app-hail and walk to the covered rideshare shelter at Zones 1, 2 or 3 (across both roadways from Baggage Claim, per the airport's official ground-transportation page). Taxis load from the ground-transportation booth in the center median outside Baggage Claim, with a starter quoting the rate, $17 minimum from CHS per the airport. The drive to the downtown peninsula is ~12 miles. No advance booking URL, hail in-app or at the booth 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 CHS 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. No festival-operated parking, this is a multi-venue downtown festival using existing theaters/clubs, so parking means Charleston's public garages. For the Charleston Music Hall (anchor venue in recent editions), the venue's own parking page points to the Camden Garage directly next door (47 John St, entrances off John St and Hutson St), plus the city's Visitor Center Garage one block north (between Ann St and Mary St) and the garage next to the Francis Marion Hotel at 399 King St; metered street parking throughout. City garages are 24/7, cash and card, no prepay required. 2027 venues are not yet announced, so re-check nearest garages once the venue list drops.
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire at CHS
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
Map shows the center of Charleston. The venue's exact point is not confirmed yet.
Venues
This festival runs across several venues. Map centers on the town; each venue has its own page with capacity, accessibility and parking.
Camping & Accommodation
Where do most people stay?
Most visitors base on the historic peninsula, where the festival's rooms, restaurants and the free DASH shuttle are close at hand. April is one of Charleston's most popular months, and downtown hotel rates run high, so booking early matters. Staying outside downtown lowers the bill but adds a drive or rideshare to each show. Check out each of the options below.
Where can I stay near Charleston Jazz Festival?
No on site camping. Here is where to stay nearby.
Budget stays 1
Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesAirport hotels 2
214 Arthur Drive, North Charleston, SC 29404
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates6100 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29406
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesMore hotels nearby 4
Airbnb & private camping
Downtown-peninsula whole-home inventory is comparatively thin, Charleston's short-term-rental ordinance restricts legal rentals in much of the historic district, and mid-April sits squarely in Charleston's peak spring tourism season, so walkable units price high and go early. Book well ahead for peninsula stays, or widen the search to Mount Pleasant / West Ashley / James Island with a ~10-20 min drive in.
Search AirbnbNo camping on the peninsula itself (urban historic district). Hipcamp's Charleston-area directory lists private-land tent/RV/glamping sites out on the sea islands and rural fringe (Johns Island, Wadmalaw, Awendaw direction), typically a 25-45 min drive from downtown, a budget/scenic alternative to peninsula hotel rates for attendees with a car, not a walkable substitute.
Search HipcampSearch all hotels near Charleston
Hotel links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
What to bring
Ten days of concerts in downtown Charleston rooms in April. The 2027 rooms have not been announced, so these cards cover the Charleston Music Hall, a room the festival uses; other rooms set their own rules.
Full rule
Exceptions are made for necessary medical equipment and bags for nursing mothers.
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
Got fresher info? Tell us, a real person checks every tip, and we love fresh info.
Quick answers
When is Charleston Jazz Festival 2027?
Apr 11 to 20, 2027