Close
newsletters Newsletters
X Instagram Youtube

All you need to know about 32nd Istanbul Jazz Festival

Brassist on the Jazz Boat in Istanbul, Türkiye — A mesmerizing Bosphorus voyage turned into a musical journey on July 14, 2021. (Photo via IKSV)
Brassist on the Jazz Boat in Istanbul, Türkiye — A mesmerizing Bosphorus voyage turned into a musical journey on July 14, 2021. (Photo via IKSV)
May 05, 2025 03:19 PM GMT+03:00

Istanbul Jazz Festival is a yearly event that takes place every July across various historic landmark venues in Istanbul, featuring a wide spectrum of jazz styles along with related genres like rock, pop, blues, and world music.

This festival has been organized since 1994 by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV) and is one of Europe’s prominent jazz festivals.

It hosts more than 500 concerts in various venues, such as Istanbul's streets and clubs, intending to push the boundaries of jazz and foster intimate relationships between performers and audiences.

Which artists will perform at Istanbul Jazz Festival in 2025

The Istanbul Jazz Festival 2025 will run from July 1 to July 17. It will feature a diverse lineup of over 200 local and international artists across nearly 40 concerts.

Key performers from the festivals will include:

  • Chucho Valdes Royal Quartet, a six-time Grammy-winning Afro-Cuban jazz pianist
  • Max Richter, a British composer and pianist who blends electronic and classical music
  • Jazzmeia Horn, an American jazz vocalist known for innovative compositions
  • Gregory Privat, a French jazz pianist, performing with Turkish trumpeter Tolga Bilgin
  • Meltem Ege, a Turkish jazz musician, presenting her new album
  • Kerem Gorsev Quintet, a prominent Turkish jazz group
  • Hermanos Gutierrez, who are pioneers in Latin guitar-heavy music
  • Roge, a Brazilian bossa nova artist

Additionally, there will be other jazz concerts that take place in the various parks of Istanbul and a jazz boat tour across the Bosphorus.

Are there any free events at Istanbul Jazz Festival

The program of the Istanbul Jazz Festival includes free events. Jazz in the Parks, one of the festival's most popular free events, turns Istanbul's parks into lively festival venues by hosting outdoor jazz concerts there.

These concerts feature talented young musicians from Turkey and international artists, and admission is free to all attendees.

You can purchase tickets for the Istanbul Jazz Festival 2025 primarily through the official ticket provider Passo. Tickets are available on the Passo website or via the Passo Mobile app, or at Passo box offices.

May 05, 2025 03:42 PM GMT+03:00
More From Türkiye Today