New Orleans Cigar Box Guitar Festival 2025

The New Orleans Cigar Box Guitar Festival is a unique celebration of the art, music, and cultural significance of homemade stringed instruments in the city where those simple devices played a key role in the early development of both Jazz and Blues.

Running January 16-18 (24 total hours of performances and programming) and utilizing the world-class listening and exhibit spaces at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, the festival always presents an unsurpassed lineup of CBG artists.

Hyperactive rockers Memphis Lightning will return in 2025 to lead the international slate of professional entertainers, which includes April Mae and the June Bugs, Cigar Box Serenaders, Captn Catfish, Mahmoud Chouki, Riccardo Ferrini, Steve Arvey, Meg Williams, Ed Wills & Blues 4 Sale, Rumsey Kadar, John Nickel, Amzie Adams, Elgordeaux, and more!

The Thursday Evening Symposium will be comprised of performances, a cultural history presentation, and the final voting in the International Cigar Box Guitar Video Playoffs.

Instrument builders from far and wide will gather at the Builders' Forum on Friday and Saturday to compare notes and compete for prizes.

Check out the for Schedule and latest news. (NewOrleansCBG.com)

ONLY 150 OF THESE ALL-INCLUSIVE LIVE-AUDIENCE TICKETS WILL BE SOLD, providing attendees with the enjoyment of a uniquely intimate and comfortable experience in the Performance Center of the New Orleans Jazz Museum. The Early Bird rate will be in effect until November 1. A few standing-room-only single-day tickets may be added later if space allows.

Ticket holders are entitled to:

• Seated admission to every event on the 3-day schedule

• Chances to win one of 3 cigar box guitars to be given away

• Official poster

• Refrigerator magnet

• Event laminate

Host or Publisher New Orleans Jazz Museum