The fifth Moscow International Jazz Festival opened on June 8, 2026, with a spectacular premiere performance at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall. People’s Artist of Russia Igor Butman and acclaimed actor Sergey Stepanchenko, accompanied by the Moscow Jazz Orchestra, presented a musical-literary production titled “Leonid Utyosov. Thank You, Heart!” — a tribute to the legendary Soviet jazz pioneer.
The festival runs from June 8 through June 14, 2026, featuring over 1,000 artists from Russia and abroad across multiple venues throughout Moscow. Headliners include Igor Butman, Sergey Bezrukov, Evgeny Margulis, international guests Camille Thurman with the Darrell Green Trio (USA), Allan Harris and Quartet (USA), Tierney Sutton & Tamir Hendelman (USA), as well as Russian stars Petr Dranga, Petr Nalich, Alexey Goman, and many more.
Main Venues and Schedule
The opening and closing ceremonies are held at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall. The primary outdoor venue from June 9 to 13 is the Hermitage Garden, where concerts run from evening until late. Additional stages are set up at Gorky Park’s Theatre Boulevard stage, Zaryadye Park, VDNKh, and Gogolevsky Boulevard. Notably, 103 of Russia’s best youth jazz ensembles — selected through a nationwide competition — will perform alongside the headliners.
Special Events: Jazz Across Borders Forum
On June 12 and 13, the festival will host the second edition of Jazz Across Borders (JAB), one of the world’s largest gatherings dedicated to the jazz industry. This international forum-fest brings together musicians, producers, and industry professionals from around the globe.
Closing Spectacle
The festival concludes on June 14 at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall with a premiere of the musical-poetic production “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign” performed by Igor Butman and Sergey Bezrukov with the Moscow Jazz Orchestra — a fusion of ancient Russian epic poetry with modern jazz.
For visitors and locals alike, the Moscow Jazz Festival is one of the biggest cultural events of the summer. Whether you are attending the concerts or simply enjoying the festival atmosphere in Moscow’s parks, this is a perfect opportunity to grab themed t-shirts and festival merchandise. Check out phshirt.com for Moscow festival-inspired apparel and custom jazz-themed designs.