About Us
Now in its 27th year, Melbourne International Jazz Festival (MIJF) is Australia’s largest festival of its kind—internationally recognised as one of the world’s great jazz festivals.
The Festival
Across ten days every October, our annual festival brings the joy of jazz to the city streets. With over 100 performances and 450 artists, we draw in crowds of more than 50,000 people each year—taking over Melbourne’s iconic spaces and packing out its concert halls.
The festival’s Modern Masters series brings global icons to Melbourne to play alongside leading and emerging Australian artists at venues like the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Hamer Hall and Melbourne Recital Centre. Each year, we commission new work and present a diverse series of local artists who are actively shaping the definition and future of Australian jazz.
Our commitment to accessibility means that at least 35% of our program is free or low cost, ensuring that anyone can experience world-class, live music.
For more information about the festival, browse past programs and highlights in our Festival Archive.
Sector Development
Artist Development Programs
Honouring the genre’s legacy of social justice, MIJF plays a leadership role in fostering an inclusive and equitable sector. We spotlight work that amplifies the stories of Australia’s diverse communities, and through our artist development programs we strive to address representational deficiencies in the industry.
Our First Nations Artist Residency Program, delivered in partnership with the Australian Art Orchestra, supports the career development of a First Nations musician each year. Each resident artist receives a commissioning fee granted to assist in developing new work, a performance outcome at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival and additional professional and artistic development opportunities. Our gender equity initiative, Take Note, addresses the underrepresentation of women and gender-diverse musicians in jazz by celebrating and promoting women and gender-diverse leaders on stage and in high schools across Victoria.
International Engagement
Spotlighting the strength of the Australian jazz scene and creating opportunities for artists to expand their markets is a central tenet of MIJF’s sector development activity.
Each October, we generate opportunities for local musicians to get their work in front of major international presenters, and year-round we leverage our partnerships with renowned presenters like London Jazz Festival to facilitate international showcasing and touring opportunities.
Education Partnerships
We’re committed to fostering the next generation of Australian jazz. Through partnerships with the University of Melbourne’s Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and Monash University’s Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance, we provide masterclasses, Q&A sessions and workshops, as well as performance opportunities alongside jazz legends.