From 15-19 October, the annual Wellington Jazz Festival returns to the capital with a powerhouse programme of internationally acclaimed artists making their Aotearoa debuts, leading homegrown musicians, and fresh new music. More than 100 gigs will take over Te Whanganui-a-Tara, transforming the city with the sounds of jazz – soul, swing, funk, and everything in between. Featuring some of the finest musicians from across Aotearoa and around the globe, for 2025 the festival’s First Release acts will be presented at St James Theatre, San Fran, and Meow Nui.

Among the highlight acts are multi-Grammy winning American vocalists Gregory Porter and Samara Joy, and Wellington-raised drummer and composer Myele Manzanza performing festival-commissioned new music with his cross-cultural quartet lvdf. Details of the Wellington Jazz Festival programme here.