On Sunday 31 May, the 2026 Sydney Con Jazz Festival (SCJF) returns for its seventh all-day jazz festival, featuring 140 artists in 26 concerts. The program offers a dynamic snapshot of contemporary Australian & International Jazz today.
Nestled amongst Sydney’s stunning Royal Botanic Gardens, the festival is staged across six world-class concert halls. SCJF was formed in 2017 by David Theak, Senior Lecturer in the jazz unit at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and a much-respected saxophonist, composer and bandleader on the Australian Jazz Scene.
Headlining the 2026 festival alto saxophonist Ben van Gelder and guitarist Reinier Baas, a standout, must see event, already tipped to reach capacity. The duo is celebrated for their fearless interplay and boundary-pushing.
Other premium events include Switzerland-based Australian powerhouse vocalist and composer Kristin Berardi, who will be performing with Florian Ross (piano and composer) and accompanied by strings.
From Belgium, pianist Jef Neve will join forces with trumpeter Teus Nobel to deliver an electrifying duo performance, fusing virtuosity and raw energy in a set not to be missed!
Jazz big band and hip hop will collide in ZERO X MACE, a powerful example of how jazz and hip-hop can intersect to create something urgent, intelligent, and uniquely their own.
Western Australian Noongar MC, Zero EMCEE rapper will join forces with the Sydney Conservatorium Jazz Orchestra #2, with WA composer & conductor Mace Francis at the helm. Expect phat grooves, bold brass and songs of struggle, resilience, friends and family – the tale of a young aboriginal man finding his way in the world.
Friendly Foe, a Double Big Band event will showcase the next generation of Australian Jazz stars featuring Melbourne University Big Band and Sydney Conservatorium Jazz Orchestra. One of the world’s leading jazz composers, Florian Ross, has been commissioned, by the festival, to compose an extremely rare original work for the event.
Leading Australian visionaries such as Spirograph Studies, Barney McAll, Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra will perform alongside award-winning artists of tomorrow, featuring Lucy Clifford, Lauren Tsamoursis, Josh Meader trio and more.
The Music Cafe will feature all the winners of Jazz’s major awards in 2025 on one stage between: Sam Gill (2025 Freedman Jazz fellowship, pianist Lucy Clifford (ARIA award winner) trumpeter Lauren Tsamouras, 2019 recipient of the Jann Rutherford Memorial award & trumpeter Lachlan McKenzie, winner of the 2025 national jazz awards.
“The SCJF presents a huge variety of artists from newly commissioned and cutting-edge works to feel-good swing bands,” says Festival Artistic Director David Theak. “The event is designed to be affordable, accessible and to showcase the best of jazz from Australia, Sydney and the World.”
The Sydney Con Jazz Festival is widely regarded as Sydney’s best-value one-day music event. A range of affordable ticket options are available from $29 to $179. For the first time in 2026, limited single tickets will be sold in advance to each of the premium international concerts in the Music Workshop, an alternative to immersing yourself in the full festival.
The 2026 Sydney Con Jazz Festival will take place on Sunday 31 May (12.00pm – 9.00pm) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. For more information and full program, visit: www.sydneyconjazzfestival.com for details.
Images: Jef Neve and Teus Nobel (supplied) | ZERO x MACE (supplied) | Lauren Tsamouras (supplied)