What is Umbria Jazz?
Perugia sits on a hilltop in the green heart of Italy, a medieval city of stone palaces, steep lanes and wide views over the Umbrian countryside. Every July since 1973, it has hosted Umbria Jazz, one of the most important jazz festivals in the world. For ten days, the city's theatres, squares and streets fill with music, and the festival's audience spills out of the concerts into the bars and cafés of the old town until late at night.
Its history is studded with legends. Over the decades, its stages have welcomed Miles Davis, B.B. King, Sarah Vaughan, Herbie Hancock and many of the great names of jazz, blues and soul, and today's programmes mix jazz masters with big pop and soul stars who draw crowds to the festival's largest open-air venue. The festival also has a winter edition, held over New Year in the nearby hill town of Orvieto.
But much of the magic of Umbria Jazz is free. The Corso Vannucci, Perugia's grand main street, which runs from the Piazza IV Novembre and its famous fountain past the city's medieval town hall, becomes a festival stage. Brass bands, many of them from New Orleans, parade through the crowds, free concerts play on outdoor stages, and street musicians set up on every corner. In the evenings, the whole city seems to be out, listening, eating and strolling in the warm summer air.
For music lovers, it combines world-class concerts with the pleasures of a summer holiday in Umbria, with its hill towns, wine and food.
What to expect
The festival runs for about ten days, with music from midday until late at night.
Afternoons
Bands in the streets
Brass bands parade along the Corso Vannucci, free concerts start on the outdoor stages, and street musicians play in the squares and lanes of the old town.
Evenings
The big concerts
The ticketed concerts take place in Perugia's theatres and its large open-air arena, with jazz legends and international stars on the programme.
Late nights
Clubs and the Corso
After the concerts, the music carries on in late-night shows and jam sessions, and the Corso stays busy with people strolling and talking into the small hours.
Street musicians in Perugia during the festival
Photo by Enrico Maioli / flickr · CC BY-SA 2.0
Planning your trip
Getting there
Perugia has a small airport with a few European connections. Rome's airports are about two and a half hours away by car, bus or train, and Florence about two hours. The old town sits on a hill above the station, reached by the Minimetrò, a small automated train, or by escalators from the car parks below.
Where to stay
Hotels and apartments in the old town are the most convenient but fill early for the festival. Agriturismi, farm stays in the countryside around Perugia, are a beautiful alternative, and nearby towns such as Assisi are a short drive or train ride away.
What it costs
The street concerts and parades are free. Tickets for the main concerts range from moderate to expensive, depending on the artist. Perugia is reasonably priced for Italy, with good food at all budgets, but room prices rise during the festival.
Go like you know
- Try a torta al testo, Umbrian flatbread filled with cured meats and greens, between concerts.
- Visit the Perugina chocolate factory, home of the Baci chocolates, and the city's medieval galleries.
- Take a day trip to Assisi, about half an hour away.
- Climb to the Porta Sole viewpoint at sunset for views over the Umbrian hills before the evening concerts.
- Book tickets for the headline concerts as soon as the line-up is announced; the biggest names sell out.
- Switzerland's Montreux Jazz Festival, in July, is Europe's other great jazz gathering.
- New Orleans' own Jazz & Heritage Festival, in spring, is home to the bands that parade in Perugia.
Frequently asked questions
When is Umbria Jazz?
For about ten days in July. The 2026 edition ran from July 3 to 12. The 2027 dates and line-up are announced by the festival in the spring, usually for a similar ten-day run in July, so check the official website before booking.
Are there free concerts?
Yes. Many of the festival's concerts and parades are free, especially on the outdoor stages and along the Corso Vannucci, where brass bands and street musicians play throughout the day. The headline concerts in theatres and the main arena are ticketed.
What is Umbria Jazz Winter?
Umbria Jazz Winter is the festival's smaller winter edition, held around New Year in Orvieto, a hill town in southern Umbria. It offers concerts in historic venues, gospel music and jazz brunches, and is a popular way to see in the New Year in Italy.
