Plan your weekend at Manly Jazz 2026
When places become synonymous with music events, you know they must be hitting the right note.
For country music, that’s Tamworth. Elvis might have Graceland but he also has Parkes. And when it comes to jazz, that place is Manly.
Coming up faster than a pivot arpeggio in a bebop jazz piece, Manly Jazz 2026 will be striking up the band from Friday 18th September to Sunday 20th September.
Shake off the winter blues and get into the spring swing of things in Manly.
Get the pitch right
Whether you’re talking music or sales, Manly Jazz has the perfect pitch.
So what’s the pitch for why you should attend?
As the longest-running jazz festival in Australia, having kicked off in 1978, we really know what we’re doing when it comes to entertainment and music events.
You’ll be spoilt for musical choice – an incredible 95+ acts will be performing across 4 stages and multiple official venues around Manly, plus there will be numerous roving performers providing little pops of musical colour.
This event always attracts a crowd, meaning the place will be jumping.
This year features amazing acts including Monica and the Moochers with Monica Trapaga, soulful groove band Soul Station, funky jazz fusion Back to Back, and a celebration of Miles Davis and John Coltrane.
Even our local schools get to showcase their talent on the Jazz Stars of the Future stage. Get your toes tapping to music from schools such as St Augustine’s College Big Band 1 as well as Mosman High Jazz Ensemble and Newtown High School of Performing Arts Jazz Orchestra.
Improvise
If you know your jazz, you’ll know that improvisation is at its heart, involving spontaneous musical creation that makes each performance unique.
While Manly Jazz is organised for a seamless experience, it’s also the ideal event for embracing the spirit of improv by figuring it out as you go.
Stage-hop as the mood takes you between the 4 stages – Beachfront, Sydney Rd, Jazz Stars of the Future and St Matts (on Saturday only) – it’s a quick and easy stroll between each.
Get carried away, literally, by the roving performers. Don’t be afraid to abandon your seat and let the music lead you in a new direction in the true spirit of improvisation. Kid Hank and his Ockerstra will transport you to the early 20th century French Quarter of New Orleans, while Sentosa Trio will entertain you with an eclectic blend of music ranging from 1920s jazz classics through to Frank Sinatra and Glen Miller.
Pop in to Bucketty’s Jazz Garden for one (or more) of their award-winning brews and a smash burger while enjoying Manly’s lively atmosphere.
Try some syncopation
Syncopation in music refers to the accentuation of unexpected beats, creating a sense of surprise and vitality.
Bring that concept to Manly Jazz by interspersing your big stage experience with local business venues offering live music as well as their own unique theme and atmosphere.
Pubs and hotels
Iconic Hotel Steyne will feature DJs and local live musicians across the entire three days, as will Ivanhoe Hotel just down the Corso, while New Brighton Hotel will come alive with jazz beats over the three days. Also have a look at Felons at Manly Wharf for jazz with a water view.
Bars
Enjoy world-class jazz and cocktails on Friday night at Cibaria 55 North Bar. Keep an eye out for other local bars that usually add a jazz flavour to their offerings for this musical weekend, such as Henry G’s Wine Parlour, The Cumberland, The Gopher, Donny’s, Insitu and The Hold.
Books and music
Head to Manly Library on Friday for its Open Mic Night. Get in on the action with your own performance or simply sit back, enjoy and support our local talent. Open to anyone aged 16 years and over.
Good for the soul
Music and religious worship go together like a saxophone and a trumpet. On Saturday, head to St Matthews Manly, which will showcase local school and community bands. On Sunday, St Matthews will hold jazz services throughout the day, while Manly Presbyterian Church will start the day off with a beautiful and uplifting jazz gospel service. Hallelujah!
Take an interlude
In jazz, an interlude is a musical section bridging 2 parts of a piece and offering a contrast or moment of reflection.
With such a packed program, you might also need your own interlude during the weekend. And there’s no better place for a moment or 2 of reflection than Manly.
With the village in full swing, why not get away from it all on a relaxing and scenic walk?
Stroll to Shelly Beach, continue through the carpark on the headland and enjoy a fresh ocean breeze from the clifftop lookout. If it’s a warm day, take a quick dip at Shelly before heading back to the party.
Walk across to the harbour and do a short and easy section of the Manly Scenic Walkway from West Esplanade and around to Fairlight Beach. Along the way pop in to Manly Art Gallery & Museum for some quiet time among the inspirational artworks and Manly memorabilia.
Take the 161 bus from Manly Wharf to North Head’s Fairfax Walk. This 20-minute loop walk punctuated by 2 award-winning lookouts will amaze you with its (calming) rhythm and (ocean and harbour) blues.
And all that jazz
With its fascinating and colourful evolution, from its origins in late 19th Century New Orleans and through big bands, bebop, cool jazz and free jazz, as well as fusions with funk and rock, it’s no surprise that jazz also has a very fun and lively vocabulary.
If you want to fully immerse yourself in jazz culture, even if just for the weekend, here’s a sample of terms you can throw casually into conversation and impress your friends (Source: The Doyle Collection).
Axe: Any instrument, even the voice.
Bad: Good. Get it?
Cat’s meow: Even better than bad. Which is good. Confused yet?
Eight to the bar: No, it has nothing to do with drinking – it’s actually a continuous eight-note rhythm, typically on boogie-woogie piano.
Java: Coffee. Keep your energy up all weekend with a regular java!
Lick: A solo.
Noodlin’: Playing random notes without direction.
Oliver Twist: A good dancer.
Smokin’: Playing well.
Tubs: A set of drums.
Zoot: Nice clothes.
So put on your zoot and head to Manly Jazz 2025. It promises to be the cat’s meow!