Garda Jazz Festival
Great international jazz on the lake, featuring concerts at the Palacongressi in Riva del Garda
About Garda Jazz
The Garda Jazz Festival in Riva del Garda
The Garda Jazz Festival is one of the most anticipated musical events of the summer in Garda Trentino, in the province of Trento, within the autonomous region of Trentino-Alto Adige. Established in the early 2000s and organized by the Scuola Musicale Alto Garda (SMAG), the festival is a traveling showcase that distributes concerts and meetings across the municipalities of Arco, Torbole sul Garda, Tenno, Dro, Nago, and Riva del Garda. Riva, the main hub of the Alto Garda area, hosts some of the event's headline concerts.
The Palacongressi, stage for the big names
In Riva del Garda, the festival finds its largest venue in the Palacongressi, overlooking Parco Lido just a stone's throw from the lakeshore. This is where evening concerts by international stars take place, featuring soloists and ensembles ranging from contemporary piano to blues, swing to post-bop, and grand tributes to Italian song. Alongside the main concerts, the city welcomes atmospheric Jazz Cafés in local hotels and resorts, as well as free events in the historic center.
Music, lake, and territory
The hallmark of the Garda Jazz Festival is the encounter between top-tier jazz and the most beautiful locations in Alto Garda. In Riva del Garda, the Jazz Cafés enliven refined spaces like the Villa Nicolli Romantic Resort and the Hotel Du Lac et Du Parc Grand Resort in the morning and evening, while the SMAG Auditorium hosts educational workshops open to enthusiasts. Many events are free, making the festival a perfect opportunity to experience the city and the lake to the rhythm of great African-American and European music.
A local festival
The Garda Jazz Festival enjoys the support of the Trentino-Alto Adige Region, the Autonomous Province of Trento, and the participating municipalities, which recognize it as a cultural excellence capable of enhancing the identity of the Alto Garda area. Each edition revolves around a theme: after "Reflections" in 2025, the 2026 edition is titled "De Rerum Natura" and offers a musical journey spanning from swing to funk-fusion, and contemporary jazz to pop influences.
Why attend
- Concerts by Italian and international artists at the Palacongressi in Riva del Garda
- Jazz Cafés in hotels and gardens overlooking the lake
- Numerous free events, workshops at the SMAG Auditorium, and appointments in the historic center
- Free admission for those under 18 to paid concerts and discounts for under-27s
Garda Jazz — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Garda Jazz Festival, the 27th, revolves around the theme "De Rerum Natura": music as a universal language and a space for encounter. In Riva del Garda, the festival concentrates some of its most important events, hosted primarily at the Palacongressi.
On August 2, the Joey Calderazzo Trio takes the stage at the Palacongressi with a repertoire that weaves together original compositions, reinterpretations, blues, swing, and post-bop. On August 8, it is the turn of Fabrizio Bosso and Julian Oliver Mazzariello in "Il cielo è pieno di stelle", a tribute to Pino Daniele, while the closing on August 9 is entrusted to the voice of British singer Emma Smith. The city also hosts Jazz Cafés at the Villa Nicolli Romantic Resort and the Hotel Du Lac et Du Parc Grand Resort, a concert on Viale Dante, and educational workshops at the SMAG Auditorium.
Programme Garda Jazz 2026
2026 Program in Riva del Garda (selection)
- July 30 - Jazz Workshop with Luca Zennaro, SMAG Auditorium, 9:00 AM
- July 31 - Jazz Café: Zennaro Bordignon Duo, Villa Nicolli Romantic Resort, 8:30 AM
- July 31 - J & The Hot Four, Viale Dante, 6:00 PM, free
- August 2 - Joey Calderazzo Trio, Palacongressi, 9:00 PM, ticketed
- August 4 - Lotus Orchestra (swing tribute), Hotel Du Lac et Du Parc Grand Resort, 9:00 PM
- August 8 - Fabrizio Bosso & Julian Oliver Mazzariello, "Il cielo è pieno di stelle" (Pino Daniele tribute), Palacongressi, 9:00 PM, ticketed
- August 9 - Emma Smith, Palacongressi, 9:00 PM, ticketed
Highlights Garda Jazz 2026
Prices Garda Jazz 2026
Practical information — Garda Jazz
How to get there
Riva del Garda is located in the province of Trento, at the northern end of Lake Garda. By car: A22 motorway, Rovereto Sud exit, then SS240 towards Riva del Garda. By train: Rovereto station, then local bus to Alto Garda. Nearest airports: Verona Villafranca and Bergamo Orio al Serio. The Palacongressi is located at Parco Lido, near the lakefront.
Tickets
Many events are free (Jazz Cafés, some outdoor concerts, and workshops). Main concerts at the Palacongressi require tickets: reservations and tickets are available via the official website and gardatrentino.it. Free admission for those under 18 to paid concerts, with discounts for under-27s.
Tips
Always check the updated program and any changes on the gardajazz.com website. Reservations are recommended for the morning Jazz Cafés at the resorts. Riva del Garda offers a wide range of accommodation, but booking in advance is advisable during high season.
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Where does it take place — Garda Jazz
Palacongressi di Riva del Garda
Parco Lido, Riva del Garda, 38066 Riva del Garda