The London Jazz Festival 2026 runs from Friday 13 to Sunday 22 November 2026, ten days and more than 60 venues. The hub is the Jazz Social at City Point. The Guildhall Jazz Festival offers free concerts at Milton Court on 18, 20, 21 and 22 November. Each concert is booked with its venue.
Checked on against the official sources cited (festival website, Barbican, Guildhall School, Olympia, gov.uk).
The London Jazz Festival is in its 34th edition, and this year’s programme marks two centenaries: John Coltrane, born 23 September 1926, and Miles Davis, born 26 May 1926. The festival is more than a line-up. It is a patchwork of programmes from different venues, each sold separately, mixing jazz, orchestras, electronic music and free concerts. This guide helps you pick the nights worth the trip, spot what costs nothing, and plan the journey from Paris with figures checked on 18 October 2026.
1. Ten days, more than 60 venues: understand the format before you book
A spread-out festival, with a free hub in the heart of the City
The London Jazz Festival is run by Serious, a British jazz organisation founded in 1992. The official site announces ten days and more than 60 venues. The name « EFG » refers to the main sponsor, not to the festival itself, even though the press often uses it as a title.
The point that surprises visitors most: there is no single ticket. Each venue programmes its own concerts and sells them separately. You buy your seats venue by venue, on the site of the hall or the organiser, and build your budget night by night rather than with a package.
The festival also goes beyond strict jazz. Goldie presents « Dare to Dream », an orchestral work with live band, choir and guests, at the Royal Festival Hall: the date is not confirmed, so check the Southbank Centre website before you note it down. Morcheeba, who make trip-hop, also appears in press listings. GoGo Penguin is announced at KOKO on 16 and 17 November, with no confirmed price. These names come from announcements relayed by the press and aggregators: the full programme is on the organiser’s website.
- The festival hub, the Jazz Social, is at City Point (1 Ropemaker Street, EC2Y 9AW) and is open from 9 to 22 November.
- Concerts in venues are booked with each venue, with no shared package.
- The Guildhall Jazz Festival is free on 18, 20, 21 and 22 November, with no booking required.
Between concerts, the city is worth seeing too. The card below links to a Viator activity in London, The StrummerWalk, which has nothing to do with jazz. We have not checked its details (duration, times, availability dates): look at the listing before you book.
2. The concerts not to miss
Seven evenings with checked dates and venues, times and prices still to verify
A selection cannot cover ten days and more than 60 venues. We kept concerts whose date and venue come from the organiser, the venue or a season announcement. When the start time or price is uncertain, we say so. Times are given in London time, that is GMT.
Coltrane 100, Friday 13 November, Barbican Hall. The tribute to John Coltrane’s centenary opens the weekend at the Barbican, at 7:30pm. The Barbican’s press release of 15 July 2026 lists Joe Lovano, Melissa Aldana, Nduduzo Makhathini, Linda May Han Oh and Jeff « Tain » Watts, with tickets from £32.50 + fees. One aggregator gives 7:00pm: go with the time the venue states.
Jazz Voice, Friday 13 November, Royal Festival Hall. This gala serves as the festival’s opening concert. Doors open at 7:00pm and the concert starts at 7:30pm. Two price ranges are circulating: £48 to £100.50 including fees according to the festival page, and £42 + £4 fees according to another source. The Southbank Centre page was not accessible during our check: confirm the price on its website before you buy, and do not buy from a resale site at a price the venue does not display.
Melody Gardot, Monday 16 November, Royal Albert Hall. The singer performs with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Our check gives a range of £39 to £79 including fees, to be confirmed on the Royal Albert Hall box office. The start time is still to be confirmed: the page lists doors at 7:00pm, but some aggregators say 6:45pm. Check the venue’s box office on the day you buy.
Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves, Saturday 21 November, Olympia. The concert « Celebrate John Coltrane » takes place at the British Airways ARC at Olympia, in Hammersmith, with doors at 6:30pm according to the venue’s website. The price is not shown: you need to open the box office to find it.
Dave Holland, Vital Spark, Sunday 22 November, Kings Place. The double bassist returns with Norma Winstone and the London Vocal Project, in Hall One at Kings Place, at 7:30pm. The same venue hosts Fergus McCreadie and his Flight Pass programme on Friday 13 November, at the same time.
The table summarises the dates and prices we checked. The last column shows what still needs confirming.
| Date | Concert | Venue | Time | Price checked | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 13 Nov | Coltrane 100 | Barbican Hall | 7:30pm | From £32.50 + fees | Barbican press release |
| Fri 13 Nov | Jazz Voice (opening gala) | Royal Festival Hall | Doors 7:00pm, start 7:30pm | £48 to £100.50 incl. fees, or £42 + £4 fees per another source | To confirm on the Southbank Centre website |
| Fri 13 Nov | Fergus McCreadie, Flight Pass | Kings Place (Hall One) | 7:30pm | Not checked | Kings Place season announcement |
| Mon 16 Nov | Melody Gardot, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra | Royal Albert Hall | Doors 7:00pm, start to confirm | £39 to £79 incl. fees, to confirm | Search result, to confirm on the box office |
| Sat 21 Nov | Gerald Clayton Trio | Cadogan Hall | 7:30pm | Not checked | Cadogan Hall programme |
| Sat 21 Nov | Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves | Olympia (British Airways ARC) | Doors 6:30pm | Not shown | Venue website |
| Sun 22 Nov | Dave Holland, Vital Spark | Kings Place (Hall One) | 7:30pm | Not checked | Kings Place season announcement |
Sources: Barbican press release (15 July 2026), Cadogan Hall, Olympia, Kings Place season announcement (28 July 2026), checked on 18 October 2026.
Coltrane 100 (from £32.50 + fees) and Melody Gardot (£39 to £79, to confirm) give two reference points for concerts in venues. Cadogan Hall and Kings Place have no confirmed price in our checks: look at their box office before you decide.
3. Free nights and discounted tickets
Free at Milton Court, the FreeStage and the Jazz Social
The Guildhall Jazz Festival, run with the Guildhall School, offers 19 free performances on 18, 20, 21 and 22 November at Milton Court (1 Milton Street, EC2Y 9BH). These concerts need no booking. The programme includes the Guildhall Jazz Orchestra, a programme marking Miles Davis’s centenary conducted by Scott Stroman, then a closing night with Itiberê Orquestra Família. There is no concert on 19 November.
At the Barbican, the FreeStage takes over the foyers, on level G, with free-entry concerts. Its detailed programme had not been published when we checked: look at the Barbican website before you come.
The Barbican’s paid concerts also have « from » prices, according to the press release of 15 July 2026: Asha Puthli (Saturday 14 November, from £30), Church of Sound (Friday 20 November, from £20), Take Five Showcase (Saturday 21 November, The Pit, from £19) and The Joy (Sunday 22 November, from £31.50). « From » is a floor price: the actual price depends on the venue’s pricing.
The Jazz Social, at City Point, is the festival hub. It has unreserved seating and a happy hour from 5pm to 7pm. If you need accessible seating, booking is done by email at [email protected].
Ages 16 to 25 can join the Serious Youth Network for free. For Serious shows, including the festival, a member ticket costs £5 + booking fee. Up to two tickets per booking are allowed, and both people must be in the age group.
- Guildhall Jazz Festival: 19 free performances, no booking required.
- Barbican FreeStage: free, in the foyers, level G.
- Serious Youth Network: free membership for ages 16 to 25.
| Offer | Venue or organiser | Dates | Condition | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guildhall Jazz Festival | Milton Court | 18, 20, 21 and 22 November | No booking required | Free |
| FreeStage | Barbican, foyers (level G) | During the festival | Programme not announced at the time of checking | Free |
| Jazz Social | City Point, 1 Ropemaker Street | 9 to 22 November | Unreserved seating; booking for accessible seating | Free access to part of the hub |
| Serious Youth Network | Serious (ages 16 to 25) | Membership all year | Two tickets maximum per booking | £5 + fees per show for members |
| Barbican, « from » tickets | Barbican (Milton Court and The Pit included) | 14 to 22 November | Floor price from the press release of 15 July 2026 | From £19 to £31.50 depending on the concert |
| Monday jam session | Ronnie Scott’s, Soho | Until 9 November 2026 (outside the festival) | Monday series | £10 |
| London Jazz Orchestra, Vortex Sessions | Vortex, Dalston | Sunday 1 November, 3:30pm (outside the festival) | Standard, member and student rates | £15; £10 members; £8 students |
Sources: Guildhall School, Guildhall Jazz Festival 2026, Barbican press release (15 July 2026), Serious, Ronnie Scott’s, Vortex Jazz Club, checked on 18 October 2026.
4. The days before the festival: clubs and gigs outside the programme
If you arrive in London a few days before opening, several clubs run nights outside the festival. They are not part of the official programme, but they fall in the two weeks before opening, and the Ronnie’s jam and the Vortex are cheaper than most concerts in venues.
Ronnie Scott’s, in Soho (47 Frith Street, W1D 4HT), runs its Monday jam session at £10, until 9 November 2026. Sladek plays on Thursday 5 November, doors at 11:30pm; Songkick lists the ticket « from £15.50 », but another source mentions a presale price that we have not kept. Theo Croker plays Friday 6 and Saturday 7 November, with no price checked.
The Vortex, in Dalston (11 Gillett Square, N16 8AZ), hosts the London Jazz Orchestra for « The Pianists of the LJO » on Sunday 1 November at 3:30pm. The ticket costs £15 at standard rate, £10 for members and £8 for students and benefit recipients. This concert takes place before the festival. Some sites list « sessions » from 13 to 19 November at the Vortex: that information is not on the official page, so we do not repeat it.
For a weekend in London, day trips from the city are a useful option on your free days: we compare them in our article on the best day trips from London.
5. Coming from Paris: ETA, Eurostar and transport from Heathrow
The trip from Paris in three steps
A French citizen must obtain an ETA (electronic travel authorisation) before entering the UK, including for a transit or a short stay. It costs £20, is valid for two years and allows a stay of up to six months per visit, provided your biometric passport remains valid. Buy it only on gov.uk: third-party sites add fees and sometimes show other amounts.
Eurostar links Paris and London in about 2h 16. The « from » fare of £39 published on the British site, dated 5 August 2026, assumes a return trip: it is not a one-way price. For November dates, we did not find a reliable fare, so we do not give one. Compare on eurostar.com on the day you search.
From Heathrow to the centre, the Heathrow Express and the Elizabeth line are the two options we checked. The Heathrow Express takes about 15 minutes; its ticket at the counter costs about £25 to £26 according to a secondary source, and advance tickets drop below £15. The Elizabeth line takes about 29 to 35 minutes, and its price varies between sources: £14.60 pay-as-you-go according to a July 2026 blog, about £15.50 according to another blog. Check these amounts before you travel. The Heathrow Express fare does not count towards the daily cap, unlike the Elizabeth line. For zones 1 and 2, the cap we found is £8.90 a day, to be confirmed on tfl.gov.uk: TfL’s pages were not accessible during our check.
The Night Tube runs on Fridays and Saturdays on the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines. On other nights, the Tube stops around 00:30: a concert ending after midnight needs a taxi or a night bus. The clocks change on 25 October 2026, so during the festival venue times are in winter time, that is GMT.
- ETA: £20, valid for two years, buy only on gov.uk.
- Eurostar: about 2h 16; the fare shown includes a return trip.
- Night Tube: Friday and Saturday only.
6. Indicative budget and formalities
The budget depends mostly on the venues you choose. We do not price accommodation, flights or a one-way Eurostar: no reliable price for November 2026 was found. For one evening, the maths comes down to four items: a Guildhall night (£0), a venue concert from £32.50 + fees (Coltrane 100), a Ronnie’s jam at £10, and formalities, with the ETA at £20, paid once and valid for two years. The TfL daily cap, £8.90 in zones 1 and 2 (to check), limits your spending on the Tube and buses for a single day.
| Item | Amount | Source | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETA (French citizen) | £20, valid for two years | gov.uk; service-public.gouv.fr | High |
| Reference exchange rate | €1 = £0.84385, about £1 = €1.19 | ECB, 16 October 2026 | High |
| Coltrane 100, Barbican Hall | From £32.50 + fees | Barbican press release, 15 July 2026 | High |
| Melody Gardot, Royal Albert Hall | £39 to £79 incl. fees, to confirm | Search result, to confirm on the venue’s box office | Low |
| Monday jam session, Ronnie’s | £10 | ronniescotts.co.uk | Medium |
| TfL daily cap (zones 1 and 2) | £8.90 | TfL document relayed by a secondary site | Medium, to check on tfl.gov.uk |
| Guildhall Jazz Festival | Free | gsmd.ac.uk | High |
Source: gov.uk, ETA, ECB, EUR/GBP reference rate, checked on 18 October 2026.
For accommodation, the key is timing. The Night Tube only runs on Fridays and Saturdays: a concert finishing after midnight on other nights needs a taxi or a night bus. So choose an area close to your last venue: the City for the Barbican and Milton Court, South Bank for the Royal Festival Hall, King’s Cross for Kings Place. We do not show hotel prices in this article, as we found no reliable data.
7. Addresses and access to the main venues
The table lists the addresses taken from venue pages, except Ronnie’s, which we took from outside the page. For the other venues, use the address shown on the ticketing page, as we did not re-check it.
| Venue | Address | Access | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jazz Social (festival hub) | Unit 1B, City Point, 1 Ropemaker Street, EC2Y 9AW | Open 9 to 22 November | Official festival website |
| Barbican Centre | Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS | Moorgate, Barbican, Farringdon | barbican.org.uk |
| Milton Court (Guildhall School) | 1 Milton Street, EC2Y 9BH | Moorgate | gsmd.ac.uk |
| Cadogan Hall | Sloane Terrace, Chelsea | Not checked | cadoganhall.com |
| Ronnie Scott’s | 47 Frith Street, Soho, W1D 4HT | Leicester Square | ronniescotts.co.uk (address taken from outside the page) |
| Vortex Jazz Club | 11 Gillett Square, Dalston, N16 8AZ | Dalston | vortexjazz.co.uk |
Sources: official venue pages cited above, checked on 18 October 2026.
The Royal Festival Hall, the Royal Albert Hall and Kings Place are not in this table, because we did not re-check their postal addresses during our check. Confirm the address on your concert’s ticketing page before you go.
What other guides don’t tell you
The events.europa.tips guide, which we read, leaves out the Guildhall and the Jazz Social, and shows a €0 to €90 range for Coltrane 100 with no detail. For youth membership, the Barbican and Cadogan Hall are also silent. For the ETA, third-party sites give different amounts. Each point links to an official source checked on 18 October 2026.
- The Guildhall Jazz Festival is free, with no booking required, and has 19 performances on 18, 20, 21 and 22 November. The concerts take place at Milton Court, 1 Milton Street, EC2Y 9BH. Guildhall School, 2026 programme (checked on 18 October 2026).
- The festival hub, the Jazz Social, is open from 9 to 22 November at City Point. It offers unreserved seating and a happy hour from 5pm to 7pm. Accessible seating is booked at [email protected]. Official festival website (checked on 18 October 2026).
- Ages 16 to 25 get free membership and a £5 + fees member ticket for Serious shows, up to two tickets per booking. Serious, Serious Youth Network (checked on 18 October 2026).
- The ETA costs £20, is ordered on gov.uk, and is valid for two years. Third-party sites add fees and sometimes show other amounts. gov.uk, ETA (checked on 18 October 2026).
- The Coltrane 100 concert takes place on Friday 13 November at 7:30pm, from £32.50 + fees. Some aggregators list it at 7:00pm or without a price. Barbican press release of 15 July 2026 (checked on 18 October 2026).
- A bill on ticket resale is being discussed, but has not been passed. The text would ban resale above face value. In the meantime, buy from the venue’s or organiser’s website, not from a reseller. Insider Sport, May 2026 (checked on 18 October 2026).
Practical info before you go
A mobile connection without changing your SIM card, useful for finding an address or a box office on the day. Plans vary by duration and data volume.
Price depends on the plan, see the siteBefore you book your concerts and transport, check what cancellation and baggage cover you have.
Price depends on the cover, see the siteFrequently asked questions about the London Jazz Festival 2026
What are the dates of the London Jazz Festival 2026?
The festival runs from Friday 13 to Sunday 22 November 2026, ten days in all. The organiser’s official website, Serious, gives these dates, and the Barbican and Cadogan Hall pages match them. 22 November 2026 is a Sunday. Official festival website.
How much do London Jazz Festival tickets cost?
It depends on the venue. Coltrane 100 at the Barbican starts at £32.50 + fees, and the Barbican’s « from » tickets start between £19 and £31.50 depending on the concert. Melody Gardot at the Royal Albert Hall is listed at £39 to £79 including fees, to be confirmed on the box office. Jazz Voice is between £48 and £100.50 including fees according to the festival page, to confirm. The Monday jam at Ronnie’s costs £10. The Guildhall Jazz Festival concerts and the Barbican FreeStage are free.
Where does the festival take place?
It takes place in more than 60 venues across several areas: the City (Barbican, Milton Court, Jazz Social), South Bank (Southbank Centre), Kensington (Royal Albert Hall), Chelsea (Cadogan Hall), King’s Cross (Kings Place) and Hammersmith (Olympia). The central hub, the Jazz Social, is at City Point, 1 Ropemaker Street, EC2Y 9AW. Allow travel time between areas.
Can you attend free concerts?
Yes. The Guildhall Jazz Festival offers 19 free performances on 18, 20, 21 and 22 November, at Milton Court, with no booking required. The FreeStage, in the Barbican foyers on level G, is free, but its programme had not been announced when we checked. The Jazz Social, at City Point, also has unreserved seating.
Do I need to book my seats for the festival?
For concerts in venues, yes: each venue sells its own tickets and there is no shared package. The official pages advise booking early for the most in-demand nights, such as Coltrane 100 or Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves. The Guildhall Jazz Festival needs no booking. For accessible seating at the Jazz Social, email [email protected].
Does a French citizen need a visa for the UK?
No visa, but an ETA. It is mandatory for French citizens, including children and babies, even in transit. It costs £20, is valid for two years and allows a stay of up to six months per visit. Buy it only on gov.uk: avoid third-party sites, which add fees.
What is the daily transport cap in London?
For zones 1 and 2 on pay-as-you-go, the daily cap we found is £8.90, according to a TfL document relayed by a secondary site. TfL’s fare pages were not accessible during our check: confirm the amount on tfl.gov.uk before you travel. The Heathrow Express fare does not count towards this cap, unlike the Elizabeth line.
What is the weather like in London in November?
Heathrow’s 1991-2020 averages give a maximum of 11.5°C and a minimum of 5.3°C, with 66.6 mm of rain and 68.3 hours of sunshine over the month. Pack a waterproof coat and comfortable shoes to move between venues. The clock change on 25 October 2026 means festival times are in GMT.
Sources
- London Jazz Festival, official website: dates, number of venues, Jazz Social hub
- Barbican, press release of 15 July 2026: Coltrane 100, artists and « from » prices
- Cadogan Hall, EFG 2026 series: programme and times
- Guildhall School, Guildhall Jazz Festival 2026: free concerts and Milton Court address
- Olympia London, Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves: date and doors
- Serious: Serious Youth Network, Jazz Social, booking
- Vortex Jazz Club: 1 November concert and prices
- GOV.UK, ETA: cost, validity and conditions
- Service-public.gouv.fr, ETA: requirement for French citizens
- ECB, EUR/GBP reference rate: 16 October 2026 rate
- BroadwayWorld, Kings Place season: Fergus McCreadie and Dave Holland (28 July 2026)
- Met Office, Heathrow records 1991-2020: temperatures, rainfall and sunshine
- Transport for London: fare caps, to confirm before travel
Checked on 18 October 2026. Venue prices and times can change: check the box office before you buy.
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