As part of Buxton International Festival’s return with another summer of world class performances, the Festival is delighted to welcome back the ever popular Jazz Weekender for 2026, curated by new Jazz Director, Wesley Stephenson. Now firmly established as one of the most anticipated parts of the jazz programme, this special package offers audiences the chance to immerse themselves in an entire weekend of exceptional live music at an unbeatable price. One weekend ticket provides access to 12 gigs across the opening weekend, making it one of the best value ways to experience the Festival’s vibrant offering. Day passes are also available.
Wesley Stephenson says: “Jazz Weekender is all about bringing people right up close to the music. Twelve gigs across one weekend, intimate spaces and some of the UK’s most exciting musicians coming together. It’s a brilliant way to discover new sounds, revisit the classics and feel the real energy of live jazz.”
Across the weekend audiences will step into the intimate atmosphere of the Festival’s own jazz club at The Palace Hotel, right in the heart of Buxton. It is a setting that brings listeners incredibly close to the music, creating the kind of energy and connection that jazz thrives on. The programme features 11 performances in this dedicated space, with one special event taking place in the Buxton Opera House. Whether a long time jazz enthusiast or someone curious to explore the genre, the Weekender offers space to discover new sounds, revisit classics and encounter some of the UK’s most exciting musicians up close.
Now in its fifth year, the jazz programme continues to evolve, bringing together artists whose styles range from soulful and reflective to bold, inventive and rhythmically electric. The Jazz Weekender programme is shaped by world class musicianship, improvisation, storytelling and that unmistakable sense of spontaneity that only live jazz can deliver.
This year’s Weekender features an impressive collection of artists and ensembles, including:
Laura Jurd (Rites and Revelations)
Tony Kofi and Denys Baptiste Quintet (Legacy: Coltrane and Cannonball)
Andrew McCormack Trio
Zoë Gilby with Andy Champion (The Music of Duke Ellington)
Josephine Davies Satori Quartet with special guest Alcyona Mick
Noa Levy, Alan Barnes and the Paul Edis Trio (Portrait in Evans)
Alina Bzhezhinska HipHarpCollective
Fraser Fifield Secret Path Trio
Arun Ghosh Quintet
With more to be announced.
Whether joining for a single day or settling in for the full weekend, audiences will find an atmosphere filled with warmth, creativity and the buzzing joy of live performance. It is a chance to hear music that moves, surprises and celebrates the breadth of the UK jazz scene, all in a unique Buxton setting.
