Thursday, March 6, 2025
The Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, with sponsorship from Garanti BBVA, presents the Istanbul Jazz Festival from July 1 to 17, 2025. This edition will feature the Chucho Valdés Royal Quartet, Hermanos Gutiérrez, Max Richter, Grégory Privat, Chiara Civello, and a stellar array of local talent, alongside unique venues and exclusive festival events.
Celebrating its 32nd year, the Istanbul Jazz Festival gathers influential artists known for their pioneering contributions to the music world. The festival will offer a lineup of over 200 local and international artists performing at nearly 40 concerts across 17 days, enriching Istanbul’s cultural scene with the essence of jazz.
Join the celebration of jazz in Istanbul
The festival kicks off with performances from six-time Grammy-winning Afro-Cuban jazz pianist Chucho Valdés, Latin music revivalists Hermanos Gutiérrez, and British composer-pianist Max Richter, known for merging electronic and classical music. The Jazz Boat offers a Bosphorus tour with eclectic musical performances, while the Night Out with +1 event in Kadıköy and the free Jazz in the Parks events bring the festival’s spirit throughout the city.
Festivalgoers can look forward to a variety of shows. Meshell Ndegeocello, a Grammy-winning artist, will showcase her latest album inspired by James Baldwin. Grégory Privat, one of today’s most engaging pianists, will play tracks from his album Phoenix with notable Turkish trumpeter Tolga Bilgin. Chiara Civello will perform from her Canzoni Deluxe Edition, supported by up-and-coming talents Hakan Başar, Michelangelo Scandroglio, and Enes Yeldemir. The festival will also feature performances by Jazzmeia Horn, Brazilian artist Rogê, Meltem Ege, and the Kerem Görsev Quintet.
As the city bursts into life with warmer weather, the festival invites attendees to its historic and scenic venues like the Esma Sultan Mansion, Palais de France, and the Italian Consulate’s garden. The Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theatre, a prime outdoor venue, will host several performances. The traditional Night Out with +1 event will once again light up Kadıköy with excellent music from around the globe.
The Jazz Boat: A unique jazz experience on the Bosphorus
Experience jazz on a ferry, featuring different stages with various performances. The Jazz Boat departs from Kabataş Pier on Sunday, July 13, for a jazz-filled cruise to Anadolu Kavağı, featuring performances by the Brassist brass quintet, Kamucan Yalçın and his band, and blues musician Kaan Arslan Co. This event is organized in partnership with Istanbul City Lines.
Jazz in the Parks
Jazz in the Parks returns, inviting everyone to enjoy live music in the city’s parks with a lineup of bands from Türkiye and beyond. Full details will be available soon on the festival’s website.
Tickets
Purchase tickets online via the festival’s official ticketing partner, Passo. After registration, ticket holders can access their PDF tickets via email or the Passo website under the “my tickets” section.
