Best New Festival in Nashville 2026: Nashville Jazz Festival
In its first year, the newest incarnation of the Nashville Jazz Festival more than met its organizers’ expectations. Expanding on the spirit of a pair of events by that name put on in the 1960s, musician and educator Jeff Coffin and Nashville Jazz Workshop artistic director David Rodgers wanted to create something that would become part of the fabric of the city’s musical calendar. Their two-day event brought more than 70 musicians — the overwhelming majority of whom were locals — to 3rd and Lindsley for hours and hours of outstanding music. The second run of the festival is set for Oct. 24 and 25 and will bring Kirk Whalum, Chester Thompson and Rod McGaha among many others.
