The Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival 2027 runs from April 30 to May 9, bringing international headliners and Caribbean artists to open-air stages across the north of the island. Around the concerts, Art and the City fills Castries and nearby towns with exhibitions, theater, film and spoken word, making the festival a celebration of Saint Lucian creativity as much as music.
When is the Saint Lucia Jazz Festival 2027?
The 2027 edition takes place from April 30 to May 9. Held since 1992, the festival usually builds toward a final weekend of concerts in early May. The full schedule and lineup are announced in the months before the festival, so check the festivals calendar for updates.
What happens during festival week?
Despite the name, the program reaches far beyond jazz. Recent editions have welcomed R&B, soca, reggae, gospel, afrobeats and zouk, with 2026 headliners including Branford Marsalis Quartet, Ella Mai, and Monica and Brandy.
Evenings bring large open-air concerts, while smaller sets offer a closer, more intimate listening experience. Days belong to Art and the City, the festival’s arts program, where local painters, actors, poets and chefs share their work in galleries, theaters and street pop-ups across Castries and beyond.
Where are the concerts held?
Venues are confirmed with each year’s schedule. In 2026, the opening night took place at Mindoo Phillip Park in Castries, the Pure Jazz concerts at the Pavilion on the Ramp in Rodney Bay, and the final weekend at Pigeon Island National Landmark in Gros Islet, where the music plays against the ruins of Fort Rodney and the Caribbean Sea.
How to plan your festival trip
- Book early. Festival week draws visitors from across the Caribbean and beyond, and rooms near Rodney Bay fill quickly.
- Stay in the north. Gros Islet and Rodney Bay keep you close to the main venues, with restaurants and bars a short walk away.
- Buy tickets ahead. Passes and single-night tickets are sold through the official festival channels once the lineup is announced.
- Plan your transport. Allow time for traffic on concert nights and check how to get around the island.
- Stay a little longer. The festival ends just as the calm days of May begin, perfect for a slower week on the west coast.
With music drifting over Pigeon Island and art spilling into the streets of Castries, festival week shows Saint Lucia at her most creative. Start planning your trip and let her rhythm set the pace.
FAQ
The Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival 2027 takes place from April 30 to May 9.
The 2027 lineup has not been announced yet. Headliners are usually revealed in the months before the festival; 2026 featured Branford Marsalis Quartet, Ella Mai, and Monica and Brandy.
Concerts take place mainly in the north of the island. In 2026, venues included Mindoo Phillip Park in Castries, the Pavilion on the Ramp in Rodney Bay and Pigeon Island National Landmark.
No. Alongside jazz, the program features R&B, soca, reggae, gospel and Caribbean rhythms, plus the Art and the City arts program.
