News · 2 September 2026

Adelaide International Jazz Festival Brings Three World-Class Jazz Acts to Adelaide This October

The event includes the only Australian performance from UK-based Don Glori.

Don Glori - photo by Dame Rynjah

This year, the Adelaide International Jazz Festival (AIJF) is taking a fallow year to ensure the event returns better than ever in 2027.

While disappointing, jazz fans aren't being left in the dark, with AIJF bringing three incredible acts to the City of Churches this October under the AIJF Presents banner.

Across one weekend in October, there will be must-attend performances from Don Glori, renowned composers Kristin Berardi, Sandy Evans, Andrea Keller and Jenny Barnes and acclaimed artist BIGYUKI.

UK-based Don Glori returns to Australia for one show only in Adelaide, playing his cool blend of jazz, funk, soul and samba live with a four-piece band at Nexus Arts on Friday 16 October. More info and tickets available at humanitix.com.

On Saturday 17 October, Nexus Arts plays host to Resonance: a performance bringing together the collective of world-renowned improviser-composers Kristin Berardi, Sandy Evans, Andrea Keller and Jenny Barnes. More info and tickets available at humanitix.com.

The final concert AIJF Presents is Japan Jazz Nights at Oddio on Sunday 18 October. This event is a special one-show-only featuring New York-based keyboardist, synthesiser virtuoso and composer BIGYUKI. More info and tickets available at humanitix.com.

AIJF CEO and Artistic Director Kaya Blum says these shows ensure world-class jazz artists don’t bypass Adelaide, while the festival prepares for a stronger return spotlighting South Australian jazz in 2027.

"We're thrilled to bring some of the most exciting jazz talent to Adelaide, from Don Glori's grooves to Resonance's powerhouse quartet and BIGYUKI's genre-defying sound," Blum said.

"Taking 2026 as a fallow year lets us put everything into building a bigger, stronger festival for October 2027. But we didn't want Adelaide audiences to miss out on artists of this calibre in the meantime."

AIJF Presents runs from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 October. Tickets for all three concerts are on sale now at adelaidejazzfestival.com.