The CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival in Rochester, New York, is one of the nation's most popular and most respected music festivals. The festival is 9 days and held in the east end cultural district of downtown Rochester, New York. All venues are within walking distance. Enjoy more than 100 free shows, our headliner series and the unique Club Pass Series.
June 19 - 27 for 9 days! Shows start daily at 3:45PM and go through 11PM. Jam Sessions start nightly at 10:30PM.
The festival is held in 20 different venues in Downtown Rochester's East End Cultural District between East Ave and East Main street centered on Gibbs Street. You can walk to all venues! See Travel page for more details.
It varies.
Free shows – no tickets are required!
Headliner shows at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – reserved seating; tickets required.
Club Pass Series shows – require either a Club Pass or $30/($35 Kilbourn Hall) at the door.
See Tickets for more information.
The festival Ticket Office will open in early June. Stay tuned for hours, to be annoucned in May.
The Ticket Shop is located at 100 East Avenue at the corner of Gibbs Street.
More than 1500 artists representing all aspects of creative improvised music. See the schedules for the headliner, free shows and Club Pass Series shows under RIJF 2020.
The Club Pass is Hottest Ticket in American Jazz!!! We offer 3-day Club Passes and 9-Day Club Passes. It's a value pass that allows multiple access to more than 228sets of music for either any 3 days or all 9 nine days of the festival, June 19-27, 2020 at 12 official club pass series venues on a first come-first served seating basis. Venues may fill to capacity prior to shows. To ensure a better chance of a seat, arrive early and wait in line. Doors open 30 minutes before each show.
There are many surface lots and parking garages around the festival. See Travel/Getting Around for details on where to park.
Restrooms are located inside every venue. There are also portable bathrooms outside of the Rochester Regional Health Big Tent, the alley adjacent to Kilbourn Hall, alongside the Avangrid RG&E Barclay Damon Fusion Tent, on Chestnut Street and near Parcel 5 for Friday and Saturday concerts and the M&T Pavilion.
You can buy tickets in advance online or at the door if not sold out for headliner concerts at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. No advance tickets are available for Club Pass shows. Entry is $30 or $35 (Kilbourn Hall), cash only at the door, first-come, first-served entry and seating for everyone. Shows sell out, so arrive early to avoid disappointment! No tickets are required for free shows.
You can take pictures at any outdoor concert. But the use of cameras (still, video, cell phones) and recording devices are strictly prohibited at all indoor concerts. Photography is permitted only by credentialed photographers in designated areas. Concertgoers are asked to please abide by these guidelines out of respect for the artists and others in the audience. Anyone not abiding by these rules will be asked to leave the venue.
It depends on the show. To reduce wait times in three venues with the longest wait times, Kilbourn Hall, Max of Eastman Place and Geva, we have a numbering system. See Save Time in Line System info here. Sometimes people line up two or more hours ahead of time. As we say, "Learn to love the line." Shows do sell out so if you want to get in, stand in line and enjoy the company of other jazz fans. You can purchase a tripod stool at the Merchandise Tent to sit on while you wait.
The Rochester Riverside is the official hotel. Call (585) 546-6400 or for reservations call +1 (800) 333-3333 (US/Canada Toll-free ). For other places to stay see more at: http://www.rochesterjazz.com/php/travel.php#sthash.j3I1NTVP.dpuf
Everywhere! There are food trucks; food is served at many venues and lots of great restaurants in the festival area.
Yes for iPhone and Android. It's easy, free, plan your schedule, set reminders, get all the latest festival info anywhere, anytime! iPhone and Android downloads. The App will be updated in April 2020 for the 2020 festival lineup.
Visit this page for how to apply. Thanks for your interest.
In order to be considered, you must send an Electronic Press Kit (EPK) between September 15 and October 15 of each year. See our web site for specific instructions. Due to the extremely high volume of submissions, suggestions, and requests, we are unable to acknowledge submissions via phone or email. If you submit an EPK, please do not contact the festival asking about the status of the submission. We will make contact if you or your artist/group is chosen. NO submissions are accepted through Facebook. Thanks for your interest in RIJF.
Contact Marc Iacona, Executive Director/Producer, marc@rochesterjazz.com
No, there are no discounts for students or seniors.
We will announce when you can begin to redeem your Club Pass Ticket for a Pass in May. Sign up for our emails to get all thre latest news.
Pick up tickets ordered by phone or online at Will Call at Eastman Theatre one hour before the show starts in the Eastman Theatre lobby. Look for the Will Call Table.
Yes, several streets are closed: see Travel for details.
Yes, bike racks are conveniently located in the parking lot of the Rochester Regional Health Big Tent at the corner of Main and Chestnut. Please lock your bike.
Pace bikes for rent are also availale throughout the festival area. See Travel / Gettign Around