Nineteen jazz shows, four days, and all of them free.
The Guildhall Jazz Festival runs on 18, 20, 21 and 22 November 2026 at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival. Entry to every event is free.
The festival showcases jazz at Guildhall from Junior Guildhall pupils through students and junior fellows to faculty, alongside visiting artists.
Highlights
- Wednesday 18 November: drummer Natan Kedzierski's NK Collective celebrates Polish jazz (5pm), and Hatchling plays the music of Linda May Han Oh (7pm), both at Milton Court Concert Hall
- Friday 20 November: the Guildhall Jazz Orchestra with soloist Robbie Robson performs Aura, a Miles Davis centenary celebration (8pm, Milton Court Concert Hall)
- Saturday 21 November: Junior Guildhall Big Band and the London Jazz Festival debut of the NYJO Blueprint Orchestra
- Sunday 22 November: a set from the National Youth Jazz Collective, and the closing show, Itiberê Orquestra Família with the Guildhall Improvisers' Ensemble (8pm)
Cleveland Watkiss MBE, a year into his artist residency, also plays, with Neil Charles and Mark Sanders in Dark Days on 18 November.
"This, along with recital season, is my favourite time of year at Guildhall," said Dr Jo Lawry, Head of Jazz.
