New Conversations - Vicenza Jazz
International jazz in the Palladian masterpieces
About Vicenza Jazz
Thirty Years of Great Jazz in Vicenza
New Conversations - Vicenza Jazz is one of the longest-running and most prestigious jazz festivals in Italy. Founded in 1996, it brings the absolute protagonists of the international scene to the capital of the Veneto region every May, alternating between established giants and new voices in contemporary research. The artistic direction has always been entrusted to Riccardo Brazzale, a musicologist and composer from Vicenza.
The Venues: Jazz Inside Palladio's Masterpieces
The festival's strength lies in its unique venues. The main concerts are held at the Teatro Olimpico, a masterpiece by Andrea Palladio and a UNESCO World Heritage site, and at the Teatro Comunale. The city-wide program enlivens the Basilica Palladiana, the Abbey of Sant'Agostino, the Cimitero Maggiore, Palazzo Chiericati, and unusual spaces like the industrial archaeology sites of the Ex CotoRossi. Dawn and midnight concerts complete a program designed to experience the city to the rhythm of jazz.
A Celebration for the Entire City
In addition to the major evening concerts, Vicenza Jazz offers free initiatives, jam sessions, meetings, and a widespread scene involving bookshops, cafes, and shops in the historic center. The festival has become an identity-defining event for Vicenza and the Veneto region, attracting enthusiasts from all over Italy.
Useful Information
The festival takes place in Vicenza (Veneto) in the second half of May. Tickets and season tickets are available on the official website and at the box office of the Teatro Comunale.
Vicenza Jazz — edition 2026
The 30th edition of New Conversations - Vicenza Jazz, scheduled from May 15 to May 25, 2026, marks a historic milestone and is dedicated to the centenary of Miles Davis's birth (1926), also anticipating the centenary of John Coltrane. The subtitle chosen by Riccardo Brazzale is 'From the Trumpets of Jericho to the Divine Miles'. The festival takes place between the Teatro Olimpico, the Teatro Comunale, the Basilica Palladiana, the Abbey of Sant'Agostino, the Cimitero Maggiore, and – for the first time – the spaces of the Ex CotoRossi.
Programme Vicenza Jazz 2026
May 15
- Makaya McCraven Quartet (Teatro Comunale)
May 16
- Barbara Hannigan & Bertrand Chamayou (Teatro Olimpico)
- Jazz in the Basilica Palladiana
May 17
- Mary Halvorson Quartet + Uri Caine Piano Solo
May 18
- Billy Cobham Band
May 19
- Joshua Redman Quartet
May 20
- Israel Galván & Michael Leonhart — 'New Sketches of Spain' (Teatro Comunale)
- PROXIMA Happy Hour at 7:30 PM
May 21
- Paolo Fresu Quintet — 'Ascenseur pour l'échafaud' live
May 22
- Isaiah Collier Quartet + Lakecia Benjamin
- Savina Yannatou (Cimitero Maggiore, midnight)
May 23
- Roberto Ottaviano & Robert Luft + Pietro Tonolo Quartet
May 24
- Dimitri Espinoza at dawn (Abbazia di Sant'Agostino) + Neapolis Mantra
May 25
- Enrico Rava Fearless Five + Fabrizio Bosso Quartet feat. Géraldine Laurent (Teatro Comunale)
Free City-Wide Program
PROXIMA Happy Hour (7:30 PM) and After Hour (10:30 PM) from May 20 to 23 at the Teatro Comunale.
Highlights Vicenza Jazz 2026
Prices Vicenza Jazz 2026
Practical information — Vicenza Jazz
Getting Here
Vicenza is on the Milan-Venice railway line, with a station a few minutes from the historic center. By car, take exit Vicenza Est or Ovest from the A4 motorway.
Tickets
Tickets for individual concerts and season tickets are available on the official website and at the box office of the Teatro Comunale di Vicenza (tel. +39 0444 324442). Many events in the city-wide program are free.
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Where does it take place — Vicenza Jazz
Teatro Olimpico
Piazza Matteotti 11, 36100 Vicenza