17th annual St. Petersburg Jazz Festival swings into the Warehouse Arts District this week
/the ArtsXchange campus in the warehouse arts district hosts the 2026 St. Petersburg Jazz Festival | Warehouse Arts District Association
The annual St. Petersburg Jazz Festival returns this week, offering a diverse line-up of bands and orchestras that will all be hosted within the Warehouse Arts District.
The jazz festival officially kicked off Tuesday, April 7th, with free-admission jazz workshops at St. Petersburg College, which is followed by four days of concerts with a mix of jazz styles and international influences.
Starting Wednesday, April 8th, a total of seven performances will happen at the Rosie Cohen Stage at the ArtsXchange, located at 515 22nd Street South. All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m.
The annual festival is a nod to St. Pete’s rich musical roots, since the city has ties to the mid-20th century Chitlin' Circuit, a network of venues that provided safe spaces for Black musicians across the United States.
A mural in The Dueces celebrates the legacy of Jazz in the neighborhood | Visit St. Pete Clearwater
Adjacent to the Warehouse Arts District, the area of 22nd Street South, known as “The Deuces,” served as a cultural hub for entertainment defined by performances from jazz legends like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, and Count Basie.
Now in its 17th year, the St. Petersburg Jazz Festival will host all concerts within the district rather than at multiple venues across the city. This change is made possible through a partnership between David Manson, a faculty member in the St. Pete College Department of Music, and the Warehouse Arts District Association.
Manson’s nonprofit organization, EMIT, will serve as a co-presenter for this year’s festival.
A four-concert ticket package can be purchased for $65 online or $75 at the door. Single-day admission can be purchased for $25 online or $30 at the door.
Online ticket purchases and further information can be found here.
Here’s the full lineup of the 2026 St. Petersburg Jazz Festival:
Award-winnning vocalist alexis cole performs with the helios jazz orchestra on wednesday | alexis cole
Wednesday, April 8th: Award-winning vocalist Alexis Cole will join the Helios Jazz Orchestra for a powerhouse performance of big band standards and modern arrangements. Born in Queens, New York, Cole is known for her urban style and warm voice, and is well-suited to traditional standards and swing. She has been compared to classic jazz singers such as Sarah Vaughan and Anita O’Day. The Helios Jazz Orchestra is an 18-piece jazz band that has performed at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday, Ybor Jazz Fest, and at other local events.
Thursday, April 9th: The Randy Bordon Trio will perform as the opening act. Cuban-born bassist and producer Randy Bordon, known for his fusion of Afro-Cuban and modern jazz beats, will lead the trio that “serves as a vibrant bridge between Havana and Florida’s jazz scene.” Other band members include Pablo Arencibia (keyboards) and Diego Azcuy (percussion). Popular percussionist Johnbern Thomas will headline Thursday night’s show. Hailing from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thomas is recognized for his explosive energy and will lead a group of virtuosic musicians through his original compositions.
Friday, April 10th: Opening act Hot Club SRQ will transport audiences to a 1930s-era Parisian cafe. The band is led by violinist Keven Aland, who delivers a high-energy mix of Manouche-style jazz, rumba flamenco, and bossa nova. He’s joined by Keven Aland (violin/vocals), Jon McLaughlin (acoustic guitar), and Glenn Stevenson (double bass). For the main act, Austrian-born pianist and composer Markus Gottschlich will bring his unique perspective to the American jazz tradition. The Markus Gottschlich Trio includes Elias Tona (bass) and Michael Washington (drums).
Saturday, April 11th: The Downtown Trio Plus One will be the final opener of the festival, delivering a masterclass in groove featuring David Pate (saxophone), Doug Mathews (bassist), John Jenkins (drums), and LaRue Nickelson (guitar). The main act will feature Grammy-winner Dafnis Prieto and bassist and composer Edward Perez, who bring a powerhouse exploration of Afro-Cuban rhythms and modern jazz.
