New Orleans Jazz Festival is the best music festival you’ve either never heard of, or haven’t been to. It is a MUST for any music lover!
I have been to the NOLA Jazz Fest twice in the past 5 years, and I can safely say this is my absolute FAVORITE music festival. There are a few reasons for this:
- It takes place in New Orleans, a city I love more with each visit.
- This is one of the best managed festivals you’ll attend, as it’s been taking place for over 50 years.
- The pricing, while higher than my first visit in 2019, still remains cheaper than most of the large festivals happening throughout the country. Even lesser known local festivals in Seattle cost more for a single day ticket than going to New Orleans Jazz Fest.
- The show ends early, so there is plenty of time to explore NOLA before or after you go to jazz fest each day.
When is New Orleans Jazz Festival?
The annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage festival takes place over two weekends, the last weekend of April and the first weekend of May. Each jazz fest weekend is 4 days, Thursday through Sunday. You can buy individual tickets or a full weekend pass.
New Orleans Jazz Fest 2025 weekend 1 is April 24-27 and weekend 2 is May 1-4th.
If you want an extended New Orleans Jazz Festival experience, plan your visit for 10-14 days and attend both weekends. This way you have time to enjoy all the rest that New Orleans has to offer during the week without the crowds.
The festival opens each morning at 11am with the first bands starting shortly after. The final headliner ends promptly at 7pm each night. The benefit with this, is that it will still be light out when you leave the fairgrounds. You’ll also be able to go out into the city for food, drinks and more music.
Where does the New Orleans Jazz Festival take place?
The festival is held annually at the New Orleans Fair Grounds Race Course. The Fair Grounds are located just east of the SE entrance to City Park. From the French Quarter it is about a 15 minute drive, or 30 minute bus ride.
How to get to the Fair Grounds
If you are not staying within close (30 min or less) walking distance, you can either Uber/Lyft to the fairgrounds or take a street car. For Uber and Lyft, prepare for surge pricing and long wait times, specifically after the show ends.
The streetcar is a fun and low cost way to get to and from the fairgrounds. The fare is only $1.25 each way. However, the number 48 streetcar does not stop at the fairgrounds, you will still have to walk 10-15 minutes to get to and from the stop. You can purchase tickets online or through the Le Pass app.
Is the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage festival only jazz music?
No, this festival has a broad range of music from jazz to hip hop, rock and folk, gospel and brass bands. There are 14 stages and tents so there’s something for everyone! Even if you end up with a weekend where you only know a few bands, there’s still plenty to see.
The music lineup is completely different for each weekend, so unlike a Coachella, weekend 1 and 2 will not have the same artists.
When does the New Orleans Jazz Fest lineup get released?
The Jazz fest lineup is released in January, but this is not a schedule, only a list of which bands are set for each weekend. The daily schedule is not available until around late March. Unfortunately this means you have to be flexible with your schedule if there is a band you really want to see, or you go without an agenda and see whoever is there on the day (or days) you plan to attend.
See the 2025 Jazz fest lineup.
What else is there besides music?
It’s not just jazz fest, it’s the New Orleans Jazz AND Heritage Festival. This encompasses a wide array of local art and culture.
Check out the Louisiana Folklife Village and Native American Village. At the Louisiana Folklife Village learn more about Mardis Gras floats and Mardi Gras Indian beading crafts, as well as French Quarter ironworking, fishing culture and more.
The Native American Village features different handicraft demonstrations, but do not miss out on the different powwow and dance performances held each day.
For the 2024 Cultural Exchange, Jazz Fest New Orleans celebrated Columbia. This included different artists and performers and food tents with empanada, ceviche and other Columbian inspired dishes.
What type of food is at the New Orleans Jazz Festival?
While you can bring in your own food and snacks, there is no need because you will find more food options than you can manage for the day or the whole weekend. The festival has multiple food areas with vendors from all over the New Orleans area and Louisiana.
At the festival you’ll find NOLA staples like Po’ Boys, cajun jambalaya (strongly recommend), crawfish dishes, and red beans and rice, among many other options. The mango freeze is popular to ward off the heat. Smaller dishes are in the $8-10 range, while larger plates cost $12-14.
Beware of the daquiris and jungle juice, they are more dangerous than they taste. These run $12-14 per drink.
When should you buy tickets for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival?
Tickets typically go on sale right after the weekend lineup is announced in January. The early bird tickets will be on sale online through the end of February. After that the advance tickets are available for purchase online 1-2 days prior to the first day (Thursday) of the festival for each weekend. After that prices increase again, and can be purchased at the gate.
Once you book your flights and accommodations, you should book your tickets. This will likely save you money, especially if you are doing this in January or February.
If you know in advance that you plan to go to jazz fest, book your accommodations right away. Although not as crowded as other festivals, it is still very popular. Hotels and vacation rental prices are higher during these weekends and will sell out.
Flights to New Orleans can also be extremely expensive. On every trip I’ve taken to NOLA, the flight has been the biggest expense. If you see a good deal, book ASAP. Otherwise set a google alert and hope you either find a cheap deal, or can cancel and rebook at the lower price.
It is better to book prior to the lineup announcement if you know which weekend you can attend, because once the bands are announced, there may be more competition for flights and stays one weekend over another.
Where to stay during New Orleans Jazz Festival?
Where you choose to stay in the big easy really depends on a few things. Do you want to be within walking distance to the fairgrounds or would you prefer to stay closer to the French Quarter where more of the action and activity is? Do you have a large group and need a house vs. a hotel?
Here are some highly rated hotels and vacation rentals.
The links below contain affiliate links. What does that mean you ask? I may earn a small commission, but you won’t pay any extra.
Hotels in/near the French Quarter
Mid-Range
The Frenchmen
Old 77 Hotel
Hotel St Pierre
Luxury
Bourbon Orleans Hotel
Omni Royal Orleans Hotel
Hotel Mazarin
Four Seasons
Rentals near the French Quarter
Small groups
Large Groups
Vacation Rentals in walking distance to the fairgrounds
Small groups
Large groups
What to wear to New Orleans Jazz Festival?
Unlike Coachella, the New Orleans Jazz Festival is not all about festival attire. The only “festival” attire you’ll see is actual Jazz Fest merch. Be prepared to see an assortment of brightly colored graphic short sleeve button down Jazz Fest shirts from various years.
The main focus of what to wear is comfort and heat. You will be walking, standing or sitting for anywhere from a few hours to 8-9 hours. Weather in NOLA can be unpredictable, you might have a beautiful 80 degree day that quickly turns to rain a few hours later.
Bring light layers that you can easily add or remove. Wear comfortable shoes. Always bring a hat to protect from the sun. And keep a travel poncho on hand if the forecast calls for rain.
Read more: What to Wear to New Orleans Jazz Fest
What to bring to New Orleans Jazz Festival
Unlike stadiums, there are (as of 2024) no clear bag restrictions. Here are a list of items you can, and should bring into the festival with you
What to bring
- Small bags or backpacks (17” x 12” x 10” or smaller)
- Sunscreen – it gets HOT, don’t get burned while enjoying the show
- Sealed water bottles – NO LIMIT! Pack your bag/backpack full of water. There are limited refill stations inside the fairgrounds
- Coozie – you can never go wrong with a coozie
- Blankets and tarps – for setting up on the lawn
- Portable chairs, must be collapsible
- Snacks – there are a ton of food vendors inside, but if you’re saving money, bring your own snacks
- Umbrellas and parasols – personal sizes only
- Flags – this is a big part of Jazz Fest for large groups. You establish your location and flag, then the group can find you later in the day
What not to bring
- Cash – the festival is cashless for tap and go. Yes, even the beer wagons.
- Wagons and carts
- Any chair larger than a collapsible camping chair
- Tents or large beach umbrellas
Jazz Fest FAQs
Does jazzfest sell out?
No jazz fest generally does not sell out. Single day tickets are good for any day during that weekend. The only time this is different is for large bands, such as the Rolling Stones. For these days, you have to purchase a ticket specifically for that day, and those may sell out.
Is the New Orleans Jazz Festival safe?
Yes, this is a very safe festival that is attended by all ages. I have been to the festival twice, with friends that have attended 5+ times with no issues aside from sunburn and hangovers.
Is New Orleans Jazz Fest kid friendly?
While most of the crowd is adults, you will see kids and families attending New Orleans Jazz Festival. Children ages 2-10 only cost $5 for a ticket, which can only be purchased at the gate.
Make sure to plan in time to see the city while you are at the New Orleans Jazz Heritage Festival.
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Some of the links in this post contain affiliate links. What does that mean you ask? I may earn a small commission, but you won’t pay any extra. These links also help fund and support my page.
