The full program for the Clarence Jazz Festival 2026 is now live, with tickets officially on sale for the festival’s landmark 30th year at Rosny Farm from 19–22 February 2026.
Leading the charge are Australian funk and soul heavyweights The Bamboos and global groove favourites Close Counters, headlining a four-day celebration of live music, community, and summer on the eastern shore.
Marking a major milestone in Tasmania’s cultural calendar, the 2026 festival celebrates three decades of live music, connection and creativity, while confidently stepping into its next chapter with a bold, modern program shaped by place, people, and sound.
With a host of local, interstate, and international artists, the 2026 program spans free and ticketed performances across five stages encompassing everything from family-friendly programming to late-night experiences — creating a festival for everyone.
City of Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley said the 30th year of the Clarence Jazz Festival is a powerful reflection of both the festival’s legacy and its future.
“The Clarence Jazz Festival is a major highlight of our annual events calendar and a deeply loved event for the Clarence community, the Greater Hobart region and visitors from across the state and beyond,” Mayor Blomeley said.
“Reaching 30 years is a truly remarkable achievement and really speaks to the strength of this event and the ongoing appeal of this festival. What makes the Clarence Jazz Festival so special is its ability to honour its history while constantly evolving — offering exciting new experiences, championing local talent and ensuring the festival remains accessible, welcoming, and vibrant for all.”
Music lovers will be spoilt for choice with a program spanning classic big band swing, contemporary jazz, funk, soul, genre-crossing projects and dancefloor-ready sets — alongside the festival’s signature showcase of emerging artists, scholarship recipients, and celebrated masters.
Special 30th anniversary programming adds depth and reflection to the 2026 festival, including a festival retrospective exhibition in The Schoolhouse featuring recorded interviews, music, video, and photographs that celebrate the preceding three decades of the festival. This year will also feature a landmark Jazz Scholars Superband, reuniting more than 35 former scholarship recipients from across the past 21 years.
While other special projects point firmly to the future, such as the new Clarence Composers Collective, supported by Festivals Australia, which brings together 17 jazz and art music composers — the largest gathering of its kind in Tasmania’s history — to create and present new work in response to the festival and the unique character of Clarence.
The festival’s 2026 ambassador is acclaimed composer and pianist Andrea Keller, whose leadership and deep commitment to new music, collaboration and education sits at the heart of this year’s artistic direction, while headline performances from The Bamboos and Close Counters anchor a bold, future-facing lineup.
Visual storytelling also remains central to the festival in 2026, led by commissioned artist Janice Ross ‘Maynard Lowery’, a Truwulway Pakana artist from Lutruwita who’s artwork forms the visual backbone of this year’s festival branding, appearing across posters, on-site signage and digital platforms.
Following its success in recent years, Rosny Farm will again serve as the heart of the festival offering audiences a relaxed, safe, and accessible hub with a strong focus on local food and drinks, and family-friendly spaces.
Mayor Blomeley also highlighted the festival’s ongoing support for local producers and businesses:
“The Clarence Jazz Festival isn’t just about music — it’s also about celebrating the incredible local produce and businesses that help make our region what it is. From food vans and local stalls to wines from our magnificent Coal River Valley, the festival offers a true taste of Clarence alongside world-class music.”
The full 2026 lineup, program and tickets are now live, with audiences encouraged to secure tickets early for The Big Day at The Park, which traditionally sells-out quickly.