The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, also known as Jazz Fest by locals, means more than just musical performances to the locals. The festival represents the vital essence that defines a city. Jazz Fest emerged from the streets and gave birth to jazz music, which became New Orleans’ biggest soulful celebration, unifying music with food, art, and community spirit, bringing thousands of musicians to the festival’s lineup.
Since 1970, the event has evolved beyond being a party to become a vital cultural lifeline that sustains local traditions through nonprofit support while delivering an unparalleled musical experience that blends gospel with blues, Cajun, funk, and all other genres. The unique blend of enchantment, disorder, and authenticity exists only at this festival because New Orleans stands alone as the city that gave birth to it.
The Jazz Fest 2025 lineup combines established traditions, unexpected surprises, and musical diversity that will exceed all expectations.
Headliners and Notable Artists by Day
New Orleans Jazz Fest is a massive music festival in the United States. The Jazz Fest 2025 lineup includes more than 120 artists. We are interested in all of them, but in this case, we will break down only the headliners and the most notable artists by day.
| Day | Headliners & Major Acts (Festival Stage & others) |
|---|---|
| April 24 (Thu) | John Fogerty, Goose |
| April 25 (Fri) | Kacey Musgraves, Cheap Trick, Gladys Knight, PJ Morton |
| April 26 (Sat) | Lil Wayne & The Roots, Harry Connick Jr., Irma Thomas, Babyface, Diana Krall, Thank and The Bangas, Big Freedia |
| April 27 (Sun) | Dave Matthews Band, HAIM, Burna Boy, The Revivalists, The Branford Marsalis Quartet |
| May 1 (Thu) | Santana, Cage The Elephant |
| May 2 (Fri) | Luke Combs, Patti LaBelle, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, The Wailers featuring Julian Marley |
| May 3 (Sat) | Pearl Jam, Laufey, Tems, Ledisi Sings Nina |
| May 4 (Sun) | Lenny Kravitz, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, My Morning Jacket, Kacey Musgraves, Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga, Kamasi Washington |
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2025 Schedule by Day and Stage
Jazz Fest in New Orleans is one of the biggest festivals in the United States. It’s an 8-day festival with a significant lineup that we will not provide in this article. One reason is that the organizer provides a clear and concise presentation of the lineup by day on the Jazzfest website. There is a detailed PDF document that categorizes performers by day, hour, and stage. Additionally, the festival’s website features an excellent search and filtering option by artist name and stage (location).
Stages at Jazz Fest 2025
| Stage Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Festival Stage | Main Stage, headliners |
| Gentilly Stage | Secondary Main Stage |
| Congo Square Stage | Afro-centric & World Music |
| Blues Tent | Blues Music |
| WWOZ Jazz Tent | Contemporary Jazz |
| Gospel Tent | Gospel Music |
| Economy Hall Tent | Traditional New Orleans Jazz |
| Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do Do Stage | Cajun & Zydeco |
| Jazz & Heritage Stage | Mardi Gras Indians & Brass Bands |
| Lagniappe Stage | Mixed genres |
| Rhythmpourium Tent | Jazz, blues, rock, etc. |
| Cultural Exchange Pavilion | International & special focus (2025: Mexico) |
| Ochsner Children’s Tent | Children’s music |
| Allison Miner Music Heritage Stage | Interviews, conversations |
| Folklife Stage | Louisiana traditions, demonstrations |
| Food Heritage Stage | Culinary presentations |
There are many interesting locations and stages in the area where the festival is taking place. Check out the map of Jazzfest 2025 to find the locations of your interest.
What Makes Jazz Fest 2025 Unique
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2025 emerges as one of the world’s most vibrant and culturally rich music festivals, deeply rooted in the spirit and history of New Orleans. If you are still a step before you purchase a ticket and visit the festival, here’s what makes Jazz Fest 2025 truly unique. Perhaps the authenticity of the NOJazzFest will pique your interest enough to watch the festival lineup.
- Unmatched Musical Diversity
Jazz Fest 2025 features over 5,000 musicians on 14 stages across 8 days, representing virtually every style of American music-jazz, blues, gospel, rock, hip-hop, country, R&B, zydeco, Cajun, and more. The lineup includes global superstars like Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, Luke Combs, Lil Wayne & The Roots, Lenny Kravitz, Kacey Musgraves, and Santana, alongside New Orleans legends and hundreds of local artists. - Deep Jazz Roots
The festival recognizes New Orleans as the birthplace of jazz with dedicated jazz stages (like the WWOZ Jazz Tent and Economy Hall Tent) and performances by icons such as Trombone Shorty, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and Branford Marsalis. This connection to jazz’s origins is woven into every aspect of the festival. - Cultural Celebration
Jazz Fest represents more than musical entertainment because it honors the distinctive cultural traditions of New Orleans. The festival features Mardi Gras Indians along with brass bands and parades while showcasing local crafts, traditional food, and folk heritage. The 2025 Cultural Exchange Pavilion will celebrate Mexico through performances by Santana and Banda MS and Lila Downs and 19 additional Mexican and Mexican-American groups while presenting authentic food and cultural displays. - Local Flavor and Community Focus
Unlike many large festivals, Jazz Fest is nonprofit and reinvests in the local community, supporting music education and cultural preservation. Special “Locals Thursday” ticket pricing and a focus on Louisiana’s food, crafts, and traditions make it a festival for the city as much as for visitors. - Festival Atmosphere
The festival is renowned for its joyful, communal spirit, featuring second-line parades, spontaneous collaborations, and a welcoming environment that reflects the city’s hospitality and love of celebration.
Similar Jazz Festivals in the U.S.
- Newport Jazz Festival (Rhode Island): The original jazz festival, legendary for historic performances.
- Monterey Jazz Festival (California): One of the world’s longest-running jazz events.
- Chicago Jazz Festival (Illinois): Free, citywide, and jazz-focused.
- Detroit Jazz Festival (Michigan): The largest free jazz festival in the world.
- French Quarter Festival (New Orleans): Focuses on local music and food, free to attend
