Erin Lanahan 
The largest outdoor jazz festival in the Tri-State area is returning to the Jersey City waterfront this May, bringing the sights and sounds of several string and brass instruments. The Jersey City Jazz Festival features dozens of performances across multiple stages from May 29th through May 31st. It’s a weekend full of good music, food, and dancing, all with the Manhattan skyline glittering in the background. Here’s what to know about the 2026 Jersey City Jazz Festival.
About Riverview Jazz
Back in 2013, Riverview Jazz began as a small concert at the Riverview Farmers Market in Jersey City Heights. The organization aims to share great music with people in a fun environment, hosting a party where everyone is welcome and the music is bumping.
Riverview Jazz focuses on presenting various forms of Jazz to the community in a combination of traditional and non-traditional spaces. For instance, the concerts include straight-ahead jazz, Latin jazz, and sounds that blend traditional jazz with modern pop songs. No mainstream pop acts will be found at these jazz festivals.
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Over the last few years, Riverview Jazz has produced or partnered in over 100 free-to-the-public performances a year in Hudson County.
The Jersey City Jazz Festival
The Jersey City Jazz Festival is scheduled to run between Friday, May 29th, and Sunday, May 31st. There will be multiple stages set on the Hudson River Waterfront at Exchange Place Plaza. All the details on each show happening throughout the weekend can be found online here. Some of the shows include acts like The Eddie Palmieri Experience, Nelson Gonzalez, Bobby Sanabria + Ascensión, and more.
Plus, there will also be other supporting events leading up to the main festival held in venues across Jersey City between Tuesday, May 26th, and Thursday, May 28th. That includes shows at Pet Shop at 193 Newark Avenue, Junto at 68 Mercer Street, and White Eagle Hall at 337 Newark Avenue.
There will also be plenty of food options available during the festival. There will be a food court set up with flavors from some of the area’s best chefs, food trucks for a quick bite, and a festival bar curated by Jersey City cocktail bar, The Archer.
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During all the music flowing from stage to stage, there will be plenty of opportunities for shopping. Local vendors will be set up near the stages, selling handcrafted jewelry, clothes, and artwork.
The festival is family-friendly, welcoming music fans of all ages to enjoy each set. The festival is even setting up a kid-friendly community zone, presented by the Jersey City Public Library. This zone will have arts and crafts, bilingual storytimes, percussion classes, and more.
Almost all of the events are free to attend. Some events require tickets, and there is a VIP access ticket option available for purchase. VIP is $200 a ticket and includes premium, reserved seating, private lounge access, private restrooms, and a bag full of Jazz Fest merch.
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