Guelph Jazz Festival 2026

Guelph Jazz Festival 2026Dance into a weekend of awe-inspiring collaborations and sonic exploration. The 2026 Guelph Jazz Festival proudly presents The Secret Lives of Colour, an ensemble of exemplary improvisers led by Canadian clarinetist François Houle and featuring a legendary international cast: Gordon Grdina, Gerry Hemingway, Joëlle Léandre, and Myra Melford. Navigating gorgeous, evocative scores inspired by historian Kassia St. Clair, they anchor a phenomenal festival lineup that also includes Tiger Trio, Nicole Mitchell & Slow Pitch Sound, Okavango African Orchestra, Tania Gill, The Plastic Waste Band, Guelph Youth Jazz Ensemble, and more. Based at the stunning Royal City Mission — with additional programming at Art Not Shame, Silence, and the Guelph Youth Music Centre — this is a rare gathering of larger-than-life musical adventurers. Plus, don't miss our special free programming: join us on Saturday morning for the annual Community Parade, Saturday afternoon at Royal City Mission between 1 - 5 PM, for daytime film screenings at Art Not Shame, and on Sunday for a free solo concert and live interview with the legendary Joëlle Léandre at the Guelph Youth Music Centre. Don't miss your chance to be in the room.Royal City Mission has an accessible entrance located on Chapel Ln at the back of the building. All other venues are accessible from the main entrance. For more information please visit - https://guelphjazzfestival.com/accessibility/For information on the Community Parade Route, the lineup and more please go to www.guelphjazzfestival.comScheduleFriday Evening5:00 PM - Doors open at Royal City Mission6:00 PM - Tania Gill with Rob Clutton, Nick Fraser, Brodie West7:30 PM - Gordon Grdina Solo (co-presented by Hillside Festival)8:45 PM Gerry Hemingway Solo: "To Tell a Story - A Collection Of Solo Works For Drums, Electro-Acoustic, Materials, Spoken Word, and Song" with projections by Beth Warshafsky10:15 PM Tiger Trio: Joëlle Léandre, Myra Melford, Nicole Mitchell (co-presented by founding Artistic Director, Ajay Heble)Saturday Afternoon11: 00 AM to 7:00 PM - Christian Pouget Films at Art Not Shame (119 Wyndham Street North)11:30 AM - The Guelph Jazz Festival Community Parade - Meet at the Guelph Farmers' Market (2 Gordon Street)1:30 PM - Guelph Youth Jazz Ensemble with Tania Gill2:30 PM - François Houle Solo: Album Release - "Aerials, Guelph (2008)"4:00 PM - The Plastic Waste BandSaturday Evening7:30 PM - Nicole Mitchell + Slow Pitch Sound8:30 PM - Bass Choir9:00 PM - François Houle's The Secret Lives of Colour with Gordon Grdina, Gerry Hemingway. Joelle Leandre, and Myra Melford10:30 PM - Okavango African Orchestra Sunday 12:00 PM - Joëlle Léandre Solo Concert and Live Interview with Anna Bowen at the Guelph Youth Music Centre (75 Cardigan Street)