The Brisbane Jazz Club presents the Brisbane Big Band Festival 2026 - an annual event over multiple nights showcasing 270 musicians in the best of Brisbane’s Big Bands - in one location at one of Brisbane’s best-loved jazz events – now in its 14th year.
4 bands play 45 minutes each on Friday Night and Saturday Night and the Sunday afternoon/evening has 6 bands each playing for 45 minutes. 14 of Brisbane’s best big bands at one event.
If jazz bands were cars, big bands would be the V8s. There’s a big difference between a regular 8-piece jazz band and an 18-piece big band. Big bands create a majestic sound that gets into your bones and gives you goosebumps. It fills the room.
Indulge in a wealth of sound – trumpets, saxes, trombones, piano, bass, drums and guitar, topped with a vocalist. Big band music teases out every instrument’s moment to shine. How often do you hear the alto, tenor and baritone sax in one band? Or four trumpets harmonising with each other?
Savour a variety of jazz flavours. Big bands aren’t limited to one genre. You’ll hear Latin jazz, the standard classics of the 30s and 40s, modern music given the big band flavour and some original compositions.
Who is the festival for:
Do you love a fully charged atmosphere where the sound gets into your veins?
Are you a regular on the big band scene?
Do you want to experience a slice of jazz from its origins?
Then this is an event you’ll want to mark in your calendar.
EVENT INFO
FRIDAY 6 NOVEMBER 6:00PM
Box Office 5:00pm
Doors to Theatre 5:30pm
Session Begins 6:00pm
SCHEDULE
ROCUS BIG BAND 6.10pm - 6.55pm
SECOND WIND BIG BAND 7.05pm - 7.50pm
MUSICAL CHAIRS JAZZ BAND 8.00pm - 8.45pm
THE FRIED OKRAS 8.55pm - 9.40pm
SATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER 6:00PM
Box Office 5:00pm
Doors to Theatre 5:30pm
Session Begins 6:00pm
SCHEDULE
KATE STREET BIG BAND 6.10pm - 6.55pm
SOUTHSIDE MUSIC CLUB 7.05pm - 7.50pm
SWINGALICOUS BIG BAND 8.00pm - 8.45pm
THE LATE SHIFT BIG BAND 8.55pm - 9.40pm
SUNDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2:00PM
Box Office 1:00pm
Doors to Theatre 1:30pm
Session Begins 2:00pm
SCHEDULE
REDLAND CITY BIG BAND 2.10pm - 2.55pm
QYO BIG BAND 3.05pm - 3.50pm
PROJECT SWING BIG BAND 4.00pm - 4.45pm
Intermission 4.45pm - 5.00pm
THE JAZZY CHATS 5.00pm - 5.45pm
BRISBANE BIG BAND 5.55pm - 6.40pm
MORETON BAY BIG BAND 6.50pm - 7.40pm
TICKETS Friday & SATURDAY
Adult $39.00 / $40.00 door
Concession $20.00 / $25.00 door
*Early Bird Adult $5 off ticket price
TICKETS sunday
Adult $44.00 / $45.00 door
Concession $25.00 / $30.00 door
*Early Bird Adult $5 off ticket price
* Please note, Early Bird Adult tickets are only available until Friday 23 October.
Please click here for more information and Frequently Asked Questions about the 2026 Brisbane Big Band Festival
Under 18 welcome with parent/guardian