SOUTHPORT Jazz Festival is going international for the 1st time, with 3 outstanding overseas musicians joining an exciting line-up. 

There are 10 superb shows you can enjoy at The Grand in Southport between:- Friday, 29 January and Sunday, 31 January 2026. 

Performers include US star Curtis Stigers, with 1 of the most distinctive voices in music, who will be appearing live, up close and personal. 

You can see Grammy-nominated Acantha Lang, born in New Orleans, and her 7- piece band. 

Tara Minton is an Australian-born harpist, vocalist and composer, who was a Finalist in the World Harp Competition. 

There are many more highlights. Friday night’s finale will be Swingtime Big Band featuring Matt Ford & Emma Holcroft for those who love the big band sound. 

The festival always gives a platform to talented young performers, and the Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra are back performing in their 50th anniversary year. 

There are 3 shows on Friday, 4 on Saturday and 3 on Saturday, with music lovers able to buy tickets for either individual shows, full day passes, or festival passes to see the whole event. 

The festival is organised by Emma Holcroft, Jez Murphy and Clifford Ray, with visitors travelling from all over the UK. 

The 3 took over the running of the festival 5 years ago, relocating it to The Grand, on Lord Street in Southport town centre.

Ticket holders will be able to enjoy special offers and menus at The Grand while the festival is taking place, with accommodation at places including sister venues The Bold and the Lord Street Hotel. 

This year, organisers are keen to expand the reach of the festival with a number of Fringe Events, and are keen to hear from local businesses owners about potential venues. 

Emma Holcroft, Jez Murphy and Clifford Ray said:- “We are very excited to be taking Southport Jazz Festival international in 2027! We are honoured to have Curtis Stigers, Acantha Long and Tara Minton with us next year, alongside a fantastic line-up of artists who audiences are going to love. We are all up and running, with details of all our acts on our Southport Jazz Festival website. Tickets are already selling extremely well, following a record-breaking year this year, when we had our biggest ever numbers of guests. "

They continued:- “We welcome visitors from all over the UK, which is brilliant for local hotels, guest houses, restaurants, shops and other local businesses, at a time when it is traditionally off-season. People who came to our gigs earlier this year were from places including Kirkcaldy, Bournemouth, the Isle of Man, London, Liverpool, Sussex, Kent, Scarborough, Glasgow, Lytham, Preston, Blackpool and elsewhere. Many of them stay over in Southport throughout the festival, which is fantastic for the town." 

They added:- “We had brilliant feedback from festival-goers this year who loved the shows, the music, and The Grand, which is a spectacular venue.Our musicians play in all sorts of salubrious places but when they, and our guests, walk into The Grand for the 1st time, it has that real wow factor which is just perfect for a jazz festival. We cannot thank James and Jeanette and their team enough, who have been hugely supportive throughout the five years we have been here. This year all 3 of our headline acts were female and once again we are providing a platform for some fantastic female jazz musicians, as well as to talented young performers through the Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra. We want to encourage everyone of all ages to get involved in enjoying jazz and other forms of music, whether that’s through performing or listening. People are able to buy tickets for single shows or full days or just £169 for the full Weekender Pass, which is fantastic value, saving more money the more shows they come and see. We’re very grateful to the ongoing support of our festival volunteers and to the brilliant team at The Grand. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone there.”

Southport Jazz Festival 2027 

Friday, 29 January 2027
1:30 pm - 5 Way Split – Modus Operandi, £16
3.45pm - Tara Minton Quintet, £16 
8.30pm - Swingtime Big Band feat. Matt Ford & Emma Holcroft, £28 

Saturday, 30 January 2027
11.45am - Alex Clarke Quartet, £16
2pm - Dennis Rollins & Tony Kofi play Bob Brookmeyer and Gerry Mulligan, £16 
4.15pm - Nigel Price Quintet – Jazz Samba, £16 
8.30pm - Acantha Lang – Nina Simone, £29

Sunday, 31 January 2027
11.45am - Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra in Concert, £15
3pm - Jamie Safir Trio ft. Liane Carroll, £2015
8pm - Curtis Stigers, £47.50 

The 2027 Southport Jazz Festival will take place at The Grand, Lord Street, Southport town centre, from:- Friday, 29 January 2027 to Sunday, 31 January 2027. For more details and tickets visit this website.