The 48th annual Manly Jazz Festival is ready to soar

• The 48th annual jazz festival returns for another perfect spring weekend, mixing world-class music and beachside bliss.
• Felons Manly joins the program as one of the venues with afternoon jazz sets each day.
• Manly Jazz is one of the longest running music festivals in Australia.

The 48th annual Manly Jazz Festival is right around the corner, set for September 19-21 across four main stages as well as venues scattered all around the iconic beachside suburb.

Manly locals look forward to three days of high-quality music from some of the best in the business each year, and it’s always proven such a popular event during spring that it’s constantly growing and reshaping, while finding new ways to mesh world-class jazz with Manly’s easy, breezy lifestyle.

Headline acts this year include The Great Ladies of Jazz, Nec Jeffries Funkin’ Soul Review, and the Dan Barnett Big Band featuring some of Australia’s top big band musicians. A highlight is always the Jazz Stars of the Future stage, located near Manly Town Hall, with a focus on encouraging emerging talent in the very wide, diverse world of jazz music.

Of course, the popular Jazz Garden is the place to be, given it’s always such an idyllic weekend. Local brewer Bucketty’s returns to curate the pop-up, which sits in the heart of The Corso and has its own small stage for intimate jazz performances while people knock back some cold ones.

Felons Manly enters the chat

Everyone has their favourite stage or venue during Manly Jazz. This year, the scope is widening with the addition of Felons Manly as one of the venues. The dazzling waterside brewpub will host three sets through the weekend, giving people a great spot for some afternoon jazz while they tuck into the full Felons Manly offering (think seafood towers and some of the best beer in town).

On Friday, head along to Felons Manly from 5pm for a set from DINK. Saturday will welcome in singer-songwriter Mâite Inaê, while Sunday wraps up with a set from 11-piece jazz and funk band END NOTES.

Manly Jazz Festival

Where: Manly Corso (and surrounds)
When: September 19-21, 2025
Price: Free

manlyjazz.com.au