Festival Internacional Canarias Jazz & Más 2026: The Canary Islands' Greatest Musical Adventure
There are very few music festivals in the world where you can sit under an open sky, feel the warm Atlantic breeze on your face, and hear a Grammy-winning jazz legend play to a crowd of thousands with an orchestra filling in every note between the stars. The Festival Internacional Canarias Jazz & Más 2026 is that kind of festival. And this summer, it is better than it has ever been.
Now in its 35th edition, this is one of the longest-running and most prestigious jazz events in southern Europe. It spreads across all eight islands of the Canary Islands archipelago through July 2026, turning the region into a living, breathing stage for some of the most extraordinary jazz talent on the planet. From the concert halls of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to the Castillo de San Felipe in Puerto de la Cruz, the festival transforms every corner of these islands into a music venue worth flying in for.
Three Decades of Jazz Under the Canary Islands Sun
The Origins of a Festival That Refused to Stay Small
The Festival Internacional Canarias Jazz & Más was born in 1992, a time when the Canary Islands had a thriving tourism industry but a cultural calendar that still had enormous room to grow. A group of musicians, promoters, and cultural institutions decided to change that, bringing international jazz talent to the islands in a format that was simultaneously accessible and genuinely world-class.
What set it apart from the beginning was the word "Más" in the title. Jazz, and more. That simple addendum opened the door to gospel, soul, Latin rhythms, electronic influences, world music, and everything in between, making the festival a broader artistic celebration rather than a strictly genre-defined event.
Over more than three decades, the festival has grown into something that music lovers across Europe plan their summer holidays around. It attracts artists who would comfortably headline festivals in London, Paris, or New York, and it places them in venues that those artists cannot find anywhere else: open-air stages beside the Atlantic, historic fortresses, and volcanic landscapes that create a backdrop unlike anything in mainland Europe.
"The festival transforms every corner of these islands into a music venue worth flying in for."
A Multi-Island Celebration
One of the things that makes this festival genuinely unique is how it spreads itself across the archipelago. The main programme takes place across Gran Canaria and Tenerife, the two largest islands, but concerts and events reach all eight islands during the festival period. That means smaller islands like La Gomera, Lanzarote, El Hierro, La Palma, Fuerteventura, and La Graciosa all get a piece of the programme too. The festival is not just serving the major cities; it is extending its reach to places where live jazz at this level would otherwise never arrive.
In previous years, the Tenerife leg has featured iconic venues including the Lago Martiánez in Puerto de la Cruz and the historic Castillo de San Felipe, while Gran Canaria has hosted concerts at the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus in Las Palmas, one of the most visually striking concert halls in Spain.
Festival Internacional Canarias Jazz & Más 2026: What Is Confirmed
Headline Acts and a 35th Edition to Remember
The 35th edition has already made some major announcements, and the headline act alone is enough to make serious music lovers book their flights immediately.
Jacob Collier, the British musical prodigy and multi-Grammy-winning polymath who has become one of the most talked-about artists in contemporary music, will perform with the Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria in concerts on:
July 21, 2026 at the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
July 22, 2026 at the Auditorio de Tenerife Adán Martín, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Collier's shows are the kind of event that generate conversation for years afterward. He builds entire orchestral arrangements on the fly, harmonises with himself across dozens of vocal layers, and plays virtually every instrument on stage. Putting him together with the Gran Canaria Philharmonic Orchestra in one of Spain's finest auditoriums is the kind of artistic ambition this festival has always been known for.
Beyond Collier, other confirmed artists for the 2026 edition include:
Dee Dee Bridgewater, one of the great divas of contemporary jazz, member of the Memphis Music Hall of Fame and multiple Grammy winner
Lakecia Benjamin, the American saxophonist who has emerged as one of the most vibrant and revolutionary voices in the contemporary jazz scene
Take 6, the legendary vocal jazz ensemble with 10 Grammy Awards and 10 Dove Awards, performing with the Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria
Rita Payés, the celebrated Spanish singer-songwriter presenting her new album, De Camino al Camino
Yellowjackets, the iconic jazz fusion band with over four decades of history in the genre
Tigran Hamasyan, the Armenian pianist who has carved out a completely singular space at the intersection of jazz and ancient Armenian music
Lucía Rey, one of the most exciting Spanish jazz voices of her generation
Dates and Schedule
The main festival programme runs throughout July 2026, with the confirmed Tenerife concerts on July 21 and 22 at the auditoriums in Gran Canaria and Tenerife respectively. Additional concerts in Las Palmas and across the other islands are scheduled throughout the month of July, with the full programme available at canariasjazz.com.
The Tenerife leg of the festival has historically spread across multiple venues in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Puerto de la Cruz, with concerts at the Castillo de San Felipe and Lago Martiánez confirmed for previous years, and strong expectations of the same in 2026.
Tickets and Pricing
Ticketed concerts for the 35th edition are priced between €15 and €60 depending on the artist and venue. Tickets are available through the official festival website at canariasjazz.com.
Alongside the ticketed auditorium events, the festival traditionally programmes a series of free outdoor concerts in public squares, harbour areas, and open-air venues across the islands. These free events are a long-standing feature of the festival's commitment to making jazz genuinely accessible, and they are just as beloved by locals and visitors alike as the headline shows.
The Festival Experience: More Than Just Concerts
Masterclasses and Music Education
The Festival Internacional Canarias Jazz & Más has always been more than a series of performances. Since its founding, it has placed enormous value on music education, offering workshops, masterclasses, and seminars led by visiting artists and local musicians during the festival period.
These sessions attract students and professional musicians from across Spain and beyond, giving young jazz players the chance to learn from some of the world's leading practitioners in an informal and inspiring setting. Many artists who have passed through the festival over the years have cited the educational programme as one of the things that makes it stand out from similar events in Europe.
The Rincón del Jazz Series
One of the most beloved features of the festival is the Rincón del Jazz (Jazz Corner) series, a programme of smaller, more intimate concerts that runs alongside the main auditorium events.
Confirmed Rincón del Jazz concerts for 2026 include:
July 9: Estelle Perrault 5tet
July 16: Marco Mezquida Trio
July 17: José James with Célia
These shows offer a very different experience from the large-scale concerts. They place you much closer to the artists, in settings where the music feels more conversational and immediate. For jazz purists who love the intimacy of a small club set, the Rincón del Jazz programme is essential.
The Islands as a Stage: Iconic Venues You Need to See
Part of what makes attending the Festival Internacional Canarias Jazz & Más such a remarkable experience is the quality of the venues themselves. The Canary Islands offer a range of settings that most European jazz festivals simply cannot match.
Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is one of Spain's most architecturally celebrated concert halls, designed by Óscar Tusquets Blanca and sitting directly beside the sea at Las Canteras beach, a crescent-shaped strip of golden sand that is regularly voted one of the best urban beaches in Europe.
Auditorio de Tenerife Adán Martín, Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the dramatic Santiago Calatrava-designed landmark that has become the architectural symbol of modern Tenerife. Its sweeping white canopy over the water is genuinely stunning in person.
Lago Martiánez, Puerto de la Cruz is a unique open-air seawater complex designed by the legendary Canarian artist and architect César Manrique, whose influence on the visual identity of the islands is impossible to overstate. Watching live jazz in this setting, with the Atlantic stretching behind the stage and Teide visible in the distance on clear nights, is not something you forget easily.
Castillo de San Felipe, Puerto de la Cruz is a 17th-century coastal fortress that transforms into an intimate outdoor concert space during the festival, creating an atmosphere that blends history, architecture, and music in a way that feels almost theatrical.
Travel Tips for Festival Visitors
Getting to the Canary Islands
Gran Canaria and Tenerife both have busy international airports with direct routes from across the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, and other European countries. Book flights at least two to three months in advance for July travel, as prices rise steeply once summer approaches.
Where to Stay
For Gran Canaria concerts, Las Palmas offers a range of hotels and apartments near the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus and the Canteras beachfront. The Triana neighbourhood, with its charming pedestrian streets and local restaurants, is a fantastic base for exploring the city.
For Tenerife concerts, Santa Cruz has plenty of central accommodation close to the Auditorio. Puerto de la Cruz is an excellent base for the northern Tenerife leg of the festival.
Book well in advance. July is peak season across the Canary Islands, and accommodation fills fast.
Practical Advice
Buy tickets early. The Jacob Collier concerts especially are expected to sell out well in advance.
Mix ticketed and free events. The free outdoor concerts offer a fantastic atmosphere and a chance to discover artists you might not have known before.
Explore beyond the venues. A trip to the Canary Islands in July is a chance to visit the Maspalomas Dunes, hike in Teide National Park, explore the Cueva del Viento lava tube on Tenerife, or simply spend a day at Las Canteras beach.
Check the official programme regularly. The full schedule for all eight islands is released in stages, and new concerts are announced right up to the start of the festival. Follow @canariasjazz on social media for updates.
Why the 35th Edition Is a Milestone Worth Witnessing
Reaching 35 editions is a remarkable achievement for any cultural institution. The Festival Internacional Canarias Jazz & Más has done it by never settling into predictability. Every edition brings a lineup that surprises, a programme that challenges, and an atmosphere that reminds you why live music is one of life's most irreplaceable experiences.
The 2026 edition combines milestone celebrations with a lineup that stands comparison with any jazz festival in the world. Jacob Collier and the Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria. Dee Dee Bridgewater. Take 6. Tigran Hamasyan. All of it, on the sun-washed stages of the Canary Islands, against a backdrop that no European capital can offer.
If you love music at the level where it genuinely moves you, get your tickets, book your flights, and head to the Canary Islands this July. The 35th Festival Internacional Canarias Jazz & Más is waiting for you, and it is going to be extraordinary.
Verified Information at a Glance
Event Name: Festival Internacional Canarias Jazz & Más 2026
Edition: 35th Edition
Event Category: International Jazz and Contemporary Music Festival
Main Dates: Throughout July 2026 (main confirmed dates: July 21 and July 22, 2026)
Venues (confirmed):
Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (July 21)
Auditorio de Tenerife Adán Martín, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (July 22)
Castillo de San Felipe, Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife
Lago Martiánez, Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife
Islands Covered: All eight Canary Islands
Headline Artist: Jacob Collier with the Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria
Other Confirmed Artists: Dee Dee Bridgewater, Lakecia Benjamin, Take 6, Rita Payés, Yellowjackets, Tigran Hamasyan, Lucía Rey
Rincón del Jazz Series: July 9 (Estelle Perrault 5tet), July 16 (Marco Mezquida Trio), July 17 (José James with Célia)
Ticket Prices: €15 to €60 (ticketed concerts); many outdoor concerts are free
Tickets: Available at canariasjazz.com
Free Events: Yes, free outdoor concerts scheduled alongside ticketed shows
Age Suitability: All ages
Educational Programme: Workshops, masterclasses, and seminars during the festival period
Festival Website: canariasjazz.com
Social Media: @canariasjazz
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