Empoli Jazz Summer Festival

Empoli Jazz Summer Festival: Summer sounds in the city center

When summer lights up the Tuscan evenings, the historic center of Empoli, in the Metropolitan City of Florence, becomes the headquarters for one of the region's most beloved jazz festivals. The Empoli Jazz Summer Festival is the summer offshoot of the annual Empoli Jazz Association project, bringing big names in Italian and international jazz, alongside talented new-generation artists, to the city's squares and gardens.

Two settings in the heart of the city

Concerts are split between two iconic Empoli landmarks. The majestic Piazza Farinata degli Uberti, overlooking the Collegiate Church of Sant'Andrea, hosts the major evening concerts: this is where the public gathers beneath the medieval facades for headline performances. The Giardino del Torrione di Santa Brigida offers a more secluded and intimate setting, perfect for auteur projects and the Empoli Jazz Off section, which is dedicated to experimentation and new musical languages.

A festival with an international vocation

For years, the festival has been an active member of the national I-Jazz network and regularly participates in the European Jazz Conference, a sign of its deep roots that extend far beyond Tuscan borders. Every year, the artistic direction builds a program that creates a dialogue between auteur jazz, Mediterranean influences, and emerging talent, while celebrating the region's musical heritage.

More than just a concert

The Empoli Jazz Summer Festival is not just a series of concerts, but a way to experience the city in summer: the evenings in the square become social occasions, with the center of Empoli buzzing until late at night. The event is supported by the Municipality of Empoli, the Tuscany Region, and the Metropolitan City of Florence, confirming the role the festival has assumed in the cultural landscape of the Empoli Valdarno area.

If you love jazz and are looking for a different kind of summer in Tuscany, away from the most crowded destinations but just a few kilometers from Florence, Empoli awaits you with its evenings under the stars.