Following an announcement of a fallow year for 2026 the Adelaide International Jazz Festival is bringing three world-class acts for October 2026.

The Jazz festival has announced AIJF Presents, a special series bringing three world-class jazz acts to Adelaide for three unforgettable nights in October, offering audiences a taste of what’s to come when the Adelaide International Jazz Festival returns bigger and stronger in 2027.

Taking place from 16–18 October 2026, AIJF Presents will showcase the genre-defying sounds of Don Glori, the powerhouse improvisation of Resonance: Berardi, Evans, Keller, Barnes, and internationally acclaimed Japanese keyboardist and composer BIGYUKI.

Rather than letting a year without a festival mean a year without exceptional jazz, Adelaide International Jazz Festival continues to connect Adelaide audiences with some of the most exciting artists working nationally and internationally today.

Adelaide International Jazz Festival CEO and Artistic Director Kaya Blum says the decision to take 2026 as a fallow year is about investing in the future of the festival, while ensuring Adelaide audiences continue to experience outstanding jazz in the meantime.

AIJF CEO and Artistic Director Kaya Blum says these shows ensure world-class jazz artists don’t bypass Adelaide, while the festival prepares for a stronger return spotlighting South Australian jazz in 2027.

“We’re thrilled to bring some of the most exciting jazz talent to Adelaide, from Don Glori’s grooves to Resonance’s powerhouse quartet and BIGYUKI’s genre-defying sound,” Ms Blum said. “Taking 2026 as a fallow year lets us put everything into building a bigger, stronger festival for October 2027. But we didn’t want Adelaide audiences to miss out on artists of this calibre in the meantime.”

The three AIJF Presents shows will provide audiences with an opportunity to experience exceptional local, national and international jazz while the organisation prepares for the festival’s full return.

DON GLORI

Friday 16 October 2026 | Nexus Arts

UK-based Australian artist Don Glori returns to Australia for one show only in Adelaide, bringing his distinctive blend of jazz, funk, soul and samba to the stage with a four-piece band.

Known for his deeply rhythmic, genre-crossing sound, Don Glori promises an energetic opening night for AIJF Presents.

More information and tickets:
AIJF Presents: Don Glori

RESONANCE: BERARDI, EVANS, KELLER, BARNES

Saturday 17 October 2026 | Nexus Arts

Four of Australia’s world-renowned improviser-composers, Kristin Berardi, Sandy Evans, Andrea Keller and Jenny Barnes, come together as Resonance for a performance that pushes against convention and expectation.

Bringing four powerful individual voices into a collective musical conversation, Resonance promises an evening of adventurous, boundary-pushing contemporary jazz.

More information and tickets:
AIJF Presents: Resonance

JAPAN JAZZ NIGHTS: BIGYUKI

Sunday 18 October 2026 | Oddio

AIJF Presents is proud to bring Japan Jazz Nights to Adelaide, with one show only from New York-based Japanese keyboardist, synthesiser virtuoso and composer BIGYUKI.

Blending jazz with electronic music, hip-hop, soul and experimental sounds, BIGYUKI has developed a reputation for creating an electrifying and genre-defying live experience.

More information and tickets:
AIJF Presents: Japan Jazz Nights — BIGYUKI

The Adelaide International Jazz Festival will return in October 2027 with a full festival program celebrating and spotlighting South Australian jazz talent, alongside leading national and international artists.

The festival’s on pause this year. But the music plays on in 2026.

Image Credit: Deneka