International jazz in Trieste's summer
For almost twenty years, in the heart of the Julian summer, Trieste Loves Jazz transforms the city's squares and gardens into stages for the great voices and instrumentalists of the international scene. Promoted by the Municipality of Trieste as part of the Trieste Estate program and organized by the Casa della Musica – Scuola di Musica 55 under the artistic direction of Gabriele Centis, the festival is one of the most beloved and anticipated events of the Trieste summer.
The charm of Trieste Loves Jazz also lies in its locations. The main stage is the scenic Piazza Verdi, next to the Giuseppe Verdi Lyric Theatre; more intimate concerts are held in the gardens of the Sartorio and Winckelmann Museums, while the famous dawn concerts on Molo Audace, with the audience overlooking the gulf, offer a unique experience: music accompanying the sunrise over the Adriatic Sea.
Over the years, the festival has hosted absolute protagonists of world jazz alongside Italian and European artists and local talents. Soul and gospel voices, internationally renowned saxophonists, big bands, and auteur projects make up a program that blends tradition and research, mainstream and experimentation.
A strong point of the event is its free admission: all concerts are free, in full coherence with the spirit of Trieste Estate, to bring a wide and diverse audience closer to jazz. This choice makes Trieste Loves Jazz not only a high-profile musical review but also an occasion for collective celebration during the city's warmest and brightest months.
The 2026 edition is special: Trieste Loves Jazz celebrates its twenty years, reaching its XX edition. The festival takes place from July 4 to August 12, 2026, always with free admission, featuring a lineup that blends stars of the international jazz scene, Italian and European artists, and local musicians.
Concerts animate Piazza Verdi, the gardens of the Sartorio and Winckelmann Museums, and Molo Audace for the dawn events. The highlight of the 20th anniversary will be the sunset concert on the Bastione Rotondo of San Giusto Castle on August 12th, coinciding with the anticipated solar eclipse.
The complete program with artists and precise dates will be published on the official website triestelovesjazz.com. Details of the 20th-anniversary lineup will be announced in the weeks preceding the festival.
How to get there: Piazza Verdi and Molo Audace are located in the center of Trieste, reachable on foot from the station and the Rive (waterfront).
Tickets: free admission to all concerts.
Accommodation: hotels, B&Bs, and apartments in the city center and along the Barcola seafront.
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