Music
Tucson Jazz Festival: nine days of jazz downtown
Every January, the Tucson Jazz Festival brings headliners and local players to historic downtown venues. How to plan your festival nights.
By Eric & David · October 31, 2026 · 1 min read
- When
- January 15–23, 2027
- Where
- Mostly downtown venues, plus La Rosa in midtown
- Cost
- Ticketed shows, plus a downtown street fiesta on MLK Day
- Good for
- Music lovers and a winter getaway
January is one of the best months to be in Tucson, and since 2015 the Tucson Jazz Festival has made it even better. For nine days, venues like the historic Fox Tucson Theatre, Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, The Century Room and the Rialto fill with jazz. Past years have brought Jon Batiste, Kamasi Washington and Sheila E.
On the 2027 schedule
- Magos Herrera's "Antonio Carlos Jobim at 100" opens the festival at The Grand Tucson on January 15.
- Lakecia Benjamin plays La Rosa on January 17, and Keyon Harrold plays The Century Room on January 18 and 19.
- Rick Braun Plays Chuck Mangione is at the Fox on January 22.
- Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue close the nine-day festival at the Fox on January 23, and a Ron Carter Special Encore Event follows at the Rialto on January 28.
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 18, the Downtown Jazz Fiesta takes over the street at Corbett's on North Sixth Avenue. It was free in 2026, so check the festival site for this year's details.
Planning your nights
- Tickets are on sale now on the official site. Pick your shows early.
- Pair a show with dinner downtown. Eric's pick is Penca, for local Mexican dishes and an awesome ambiance.
- Bring a jacket. Desert nights get chilly in January.
