The world’s largest jazz festival, the always brilliant annual Montreal Jazz Festival will run June 25 to July 4, 2026. Featuring over 150 indoor concerts and more than 350 free, open-air shows, it is one of Canada’s most popular events. Past festivals have included memorable performances from top international names like Diana Krall, André 3000, Wynton Marsalis and Robert Glasper, as well as plenty of emerging talent. This year’s edition has an equally stellar lineup. And there will be tribute concerts to mark what would be the 100th birthdays of Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Tony Bennett. Here are 10 gigs to secure tickets for in advance, before they sell out.

1.The Headhunters, Théâtre Jean-Duceppe (Place des Arts), June 25

Certain to be a popular gig, this will be the first time at the festival for The Headhunters, the band founded by late pianist Herbie Hancock. Few bands left a bigger mark on the 1970s jazz scene. Their blend of jazz, funk and groove helped shape the emerging jazz-funk movement, while their 1973 debut album continues to rank among the best-selling jazz releases in history.

2.Cécile McLorin Salvant,Théâtre Maisonneuve, June 26

French-American vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant is a three-time Grammy award winner for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Celebrated for her expressive range she moves effortlessly between jazz, blues, folk and cabaret influences. Whether reinterpreting forgotten standards or singing her own material, she is one of the most distinctive voices in modern jazz. In Montreal, she’ll be performing from her new album, “With Every Breath I Take.”

3.Diana Krall, Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts, June 26

This will be the ninth appearance at the festival for the wonderful pianist and singer Diana Krall. The internationally renowned Canadian is notably the only jazz singer to have had eight albums hit number one on Billboard’s Jazz Albums chart as soon as they were released. In Montreal, audiences can expect to be thrilled by a mix of jazz standards, interpretations of the Great American Songbook and selections from her own catalogue.

4.Hiromi’s Sonicwonder, Théâtre Maisonneuve, June 28

Since the early 2000s, this Japanese pianist and composer has moved seamlessly between jazz, classical and fusion, collaborating with artists including Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke. At MJF, she will perform as Hiromi’s Sonicwonder alongside bassist Hadrien Feraud, drummer Gene Coye and trumpeter Adam O’Farrill. The group will expand on Hiromi’s signature blend of jazz-rock fusion, classical virtuosity, deep funk grooves and pop-inflected melodies, while O’Farrill’s trumpet will bring a sharp contemporary edge.

5.Amadou et Mariam: Sons du Mali (film), Cinéma du Musée, June 29

Since the 1980s, Amadou & Mariam have become leading figures in contemporary West African music, known worldwide for their distinctive sound. Guitarist Amadou Bagayoko and singer Mariam Doumbia met in the 1970s at the Institute for the Young Blind in Bamako, where they began making music together. They gained international recognition in the 2000s for their blend of traditional Malian influences with contemporary sounds. The North American premiere of “Amadou et Mariam : Sons du Mali” will be at the festival. The film follows the duo as they record a new album and prepare for a homecoming concert in Mali, capturing their warmth, creativity and enduring belief in music’s power to connect people.

6.Joshua Redman Group, Théâtre Maisonneuve, June 26

Joshua Redman’s gig will feature material from his recent Blue Note album “Words Fall Short,” a set of originals built around a more interactive, conversational approach to improvisation. He will be joined by pianist Paul Cornish, bassist Philip Norris and drummer Nazir Ebo. Guest appearances by saxophonist Melissa Aldana, trumpeter Skylar Tang, and vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa will add depth to select tracks.

7.Chief Adjuah, Théâtre Jean-Duceppe,July 1

Grammy Award-winning trumpeter, composer and multi-instrumentalist Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah, formerly known as Christian Scott, is one of the most innovative figures in contemporary jazz. Over a career spanning more than two decades, he has released a series of acclaimed recordings while developing a sound that draws on jazz, hip-hop, rock, African musical traditions and electronic influences. He has collaborated with artists including Prince, Thom Yorke, McCoy Tyner, Marcus Miller and Robert Glasper, and is also recognised for his work as an instrument designer and producer.

8.Isaiah Collier, Théâtre Jean-Duceppe, July 3

Isaiah Collier will perform John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme in its entirety at the festival. Known for his intense, expressive tenor playing, Collier will bring a contemporary perspective to the work while staying close to its original structure and intent. The performance will move through the suite’s four movements, combining improvisation with its meditative, spiritual core, and reinterpreting Coltrane’s legacy through a modern ensemble sound.

9.Pink Martini, Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts, July 3, 4

Always so much fun, Pink Martini will perform at the Festival with their signature “little orchestra” sound, blending jazz with vintage pop. Led by Thomas Lauderdale, the large ensemble features multiple vocalists and a wide-ranging multilingual repertoire, moving between jazz standards, Latin rhythms and orchestral pop arrangements. The result is a theatrical, genre-crossing set that feels more like a musical revue than a traditional jazz concert.

10.Goat, Mtelus, July 4

Renowned for their intense energy and unclassifiable blend of psychedelic rock, Afro-funk and jazz, the mysteriously masked Swedish band Goat will be stopping by the festival as part of a rare North American tour. Adding to the intrigue, nobody outside the band really knows who all the members are. The group performs in masks and elaborate costumes and has maintained strict anonymity since emerging in 2012. Live, Goat typically appears as a seven-piece or larger ensemble featuring multiple percussionists, guitarists, bass, keyboards and vocalists.