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Winnipeg International Jazz Festival

2027 ARTIST APPLICATIONS · NOW OPEN

Application deadline: December 31, 2026

Jazz Winnipeg invites jazz and genre-adjacent artists to apply to perform at the 2027 Winnipeg International Jazz Festival, June 15–20, 2027.

From emerging artists and new projects to established performers and special collaborations, we want to hear what you're creating — and what you could bring to the festival.

APPLY TO PERFORM →

FESTIVAL DATES

June 15-20, 2027

LOCATION

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

MUSIC

Jazz + adjacent genres

DEADLINE

December 31, 2026

About the Festival

For more than 35 years, the Winnipeg International Jazz Festival has brought artists and audiences together through live music in the heart of Winnipeg.

Each June, the festival presents six days of free and ticketed programming featuring local, national and international artists across indoor and outdoor stages.

Our programming reflects jazz in its many forms and influences — from straight-ahead, contemporary and experimental jazz to soul, funk, global music, roots, R&B and other sounds connected to the broader jazz tradition.

Who Should Apply?

We welcome applications from solo artists, bands, ensembles and special projects from Manitoba, across Canada and internationally.

Programming emphasis is placed on jazz in all its forms, while artists working in jazz-adjacent genres are also encouraged to apply.

  • Jazz + Creative Music: Jazz in all its forms.

  • Genre-Crossing Artists: Soul, funk, R&B, roots, global music + beyond.

  • Emerging Artists: New voices and developing projects.

  • Established Artists: Professional and touring performers.

  • Special Projects: Collaborations, premieres and one-off concepts.

  • New Work: Releases, new ensembles and creative projects.

These are examples, not requirements. We encourage artists whose work connects with jazz and the broader creative music community to apply.

Submitting an application does not guarantee a festival booking.

What We Consider

Every submission is reviewed by Jazz Winnipeg's programming team as part of the broader festival programming process. There is no single formula for being programmed. Considerations may include:

  • Musical Excellence: The quality, originality and artistic strength of the project.

  • Programming Fit: How the project complements the festival’s overall musical direction.

  • Audience Connection: Potential to connect with existing Jazz Winnipeg audiences or reach new ones.

  • Artist + Project Profile: Current activity, momentum and the story surrounding the project.

  • Programming Context: How the project fits alongside other artists, genres and venues being considered.

  • Something Special: Collaborations, premieres, releases and innovative projects that bring artists and ideas together in distinctive ways.

The Application Process

1. Apply

Submit your completed artist application by December 31, 2026 for festival consideration.

2. Review

Our programming team reviews submissions alongside invited artists and other festival programming.

3. Follow-up

Artists under consideration may be contacted for availability, project details or additional information.

4. Programming

Selected artists will be contacted directly to discuss booking details and next steps.

Before You Apply

Have these ready so you can complete your application in one sitting.

You’ll be asked to provide:

  • Artist / band / project name

  • Primary contact name, email and phone number

  • Artist / project location

  • Website or primary social media link

  • A brief description of your music and creative identity

  • Details about any special project you’re proposing

  • Band members and instrumentation

  • Links to music or performance samples

  • Performer biography or project description

  • Promotional image

  • Social media links

  • Any additional info you’d like our programming team to know

Apply to perform

A Few Tips Before You Submit

Show us what you sound like.

A few representative samples are more useful than an archive — live video especially helps!

Tell us why this matters now.

If there’s a new release, collaboration, premiere, anniversary or concept, tell us.

Give us the wider context.

Use the project description and biography to help us understand your sound, creative identity and trajectory.

Make it easy to access.

Check that links work and don’t require passwords, permissions or expiring downloads.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The festival takes place June 15–20, 2027 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

  • Applications must be submitted by December 31, 2026 to be considered through the open artist application process.

  • Jazz programming is the primary focus of the festival, but we also consider music connected to or influenced by the broader jazz tradition.

    This may include soul, funk, R&B, roots, global music, experimental music and other genre-adjacent projects.

  • Yes. Applications are welcome from artists in Manitoba, elsewhere in Canada and internationally.

  • Absolutely. The festival presents artists at different stages of their careers, from emerging performers to internationally established artists.

  • Yes — and we encourage it.

    Special collaborations, album releases, premieres, multidisciplinary projects, anniversary performances and other one-off concepts can be particularly well suited to festival programming.

  • You may submit separate applications for genuinely distinct projects. Please avoid submitting multiple versions of essentially the same project.

  • Yes. Please provide the appropriate primary contact information within the application.

  • No. We are primarily interested in getting an accurate sense of the music and project.

    High-quality recordings are helpful, but strong live performance footage is particularly valuable when reviewing applications.

  • It is encouraged whenever available. Live footage helps our programming team understand the energy, musicianship and audience experience of the project.

  • Booking arrangements vary depending on the artist, project and engagement. Specific fees, travel, accommodation, production requirements and other terms are discussed directly with artists being considered for programming.

  • Performance lengths vary across festival venues and programming. You do not need to design your proposal around a specific set length unless the application asks for one.

  • If something significant changes after submission — such as a new release, lineup change or updated performance video — contact Jazz Winnipeg with the updated information.

    Please avoid sending routine updates unless they meaningfully affect the application.

  • Artists selected or actively being considered will be contacted directly.

    Because of the volume of applications received, Jazz Winnipeg may not be able to provide individual responses, feedback or status updates to every applicant.

  • For questions that aren't answered on this page or within the application form, contact [PROGRAMMING / APPLICATION EMAIL].

Bring Your Music to Winnipeg

We're looking forward to discovering what artists are creating and building the 2027 festival together.

Winnipeg International Jazz Festival
June 15–20, 2027

Applications close December 31, 2026.

Apply today