San Javier International Jazz Festival 2026
Nearly a month of world-class jazz on the shore of the Mar Menor — a Costa Cálida institution for almost 30 years.
The San Javier International Jazz Festival is one of the Costa Cálida's cultural jewels, and a reason in itself to discover this under-visited corner of Murcia. For close to four weeks across late June and July, it brings an impressive roster of international jazz, soul and blues names to an open-air stage beside the Mar Menor lagoon.
What to expect. A long, generous programme — well over twenty concerts — ranging from legends of the genre to rising stars, played out on warm summer nights by the water. Crucially for a festival of this quality, several concerts each year are free, making it easy to dip in.
Practical bit. San Javier sits on the northern shore of the Mar Menor, close to Murcia's Corvera airport and an easy drive from Alicante. The festival site is in the town's Parque Almansa; evenings are balmy but bring a layer for late finishes. The Mar Menor's calm, shallow water makes the area a great family base, and a hire car lets you combine concerts with beach days around Los Alcázares and Cartagena.
Check the official site for the line-up and to book the ticketed shows; the free concerts are first-come, so arrive early.
Source: https://jazz.sanjavier.es