Manly Jazz runs Friday 18 to Sunday 20 September 2026. This is the whole published program — every act and every set time on all four outdoor stages, plus what each official venue is running across the three days. Nothing is ticketed except one gallery show on Saturday night.
For the context — how the weekend is shaped, where to stand, how to get here, where to eat between sets — read the local's guide to Manly Jazz 2026. This page is just the timetable.
How to read this
Times are the council's published times. The outdoor stages are free and non-ticketed; you walk up. The official venues are pubs, bars, a library, a gallery and two churches running their own sets — entry is free at almost all of them, but you are expected to buy a drink, and the small rooms fill early.
One thing worth noticing before you plan anything: the Beachfront and Sydney Road stages are deliberately interleaved. The beachfront runs hour-long sets with half-hour gaps. Sydney Road fills exactly those gaps with 45-minute sets. The two are a four-minute walk apart. Follow the pattern and you can hear live music continuously from 11am to 6pm without ever standing in front of an empty stage.
Friday 18 September
Friday has no outdoor stages. The road closures on North and South Steyne begin at 4pm and the beachfront stages do not open until Saturday morning, so Friday belongs to the venues. It is the quietest and most local of the three nights.
| Time | Venue | Act |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00pm | The Ivanhoe | Doors open — music from 6pm |
| 3:00–7:00pm | Hotel Steyne — Beach Club | James Jensen |
| 4:00–7:00pm | Hotel Steyne — Courtyard | Sammy |
| 5:30–7:00pm | Manly Library | Open Mic Night — free, sign-up from 5pm |
| 5:30–8:30pm | Donny's Bar | Live acoustic jazz |
| 6:00–9:00pm | The Ivanhoe | Fynn Meany |
| 7:00–10:00pm | Hotel Steyne — Beach Club | Vinyl 45 |
| 7:00–10:00pm | Hotel Steyne — Courtyard | Barbuto |
| 8:00–11:00pm | Henry G's Wine Parlour | Pianist, jazz covers |
| 9:00pm–2:00am | The Ivanhoe | DJ Marquee |
| 10:00pm–1:00am | Hotel Steyne — Beach Club | Jaybro |
| 10:00pm–3:00am | Hotel Steyne — Courtyard | Jack Spalvins |
Saturday 19 September
The full day: four stages from 10am, roving brass through the middle of the afternoon, and the venues carrying it through to 3am.
Beachfront Stage
The big one, on the closed section of the Steyne with the ocean behind the band. Hour-long sets, the largest crowd. Bring something to sit on.
| Time | Act | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00am–12:00pm | Sydney Conservatorium Big Band | The Con's flagship big band, directed by David Theak |
| 12:30–1:30pm | Soul Station sp. guest Blaine Whittaker (Hong Kong) | Andrew Dickeson and Dan Barnett, plus a visiting saxophonist |
| 2:00–3:00pm | Celebrating Miles and Trane | Centenary year for both. Dickeson's all-star group |
| 3:30–4:30pm | Monica and The Moochers | Swing-era big band, Monica Trapaga fronting |
| 5:00–6:00pm | Back to Back The Band | Jazz-fusion and funk under trumpeter Ralph Pyl |
Sydney Road Stage
Smaller and tighter, closer to the pubs. Better acoustics than an open beachfront, and you can actually see the players.
| Time | Act | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 11:15am–12:00pm | Cameron Jones Trio | Manouche jazz and French swing |
| 12:15–1:00pm | Lachlan McKenzie Quintet | ARIA-nominated Brisbane trumpeter |
| 1:15–2:00pm | Eamon Dilworth's Crawfish Po'Boys with Monica Trapaga | New Orleans social music, audience participation |
| 2:15–3:00pm | Ruby Jackson | Sydney vocalist out of the Billie Holiday tradition |
| 3:15–4:00pm | 343 Brass Band | The purple shirts. New Orleans-inspired brass and pop |
| 4:15–5:00pm | Geoff Power Jazz Band | Trad and swing. A swing-dance favourite |
| 5:15–6:00pm | The All-Star Swing Quintet | One-off lineup, standards and blues |
Jazz Stars of the Future Stage
School and youth ensembles in 45-minute sets from 10am. The least crowded stage of the weekend, and far better than it sounds.
| Time | Act | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00–10:45am | St Pius X College Senior Jazz Band | |
| 11:00–11:45am | NSW Public Schools Stage Band | |
| 12:00–12:45pm | NSW Public Schools Jazz Orchestra | |
| 1:00–1:45pm | Pennant Hills High School Big Band | |
| 2:00–2:45pm | Pittwater House Big Band | |
| 3:00–3:45pm | Mosman High Jazz Ensemble | |
| 4:00–4:45pm | Newtown High School of Performing Arts Jazz Orchestra | |
| 5:00–5:45pm | St Augustine's College Big Band 1 |
St Matts Stage
Inside the church precinct on the Corso — seated, quiet, acoustically superb, big bands back to back. Saturday only.
| Time | Act | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 10:15–11:00am | Horns Plus Big Band | 19-piece, directed this year by Ed Wilson |
| 11:15am–12:00pm | Dr. V's Swing Thing | 20-piece, formed 2001 |
| 12:15–1:00pm | Blue Riff Big Band | |
| 1:15–2:00pm | Sussudio Big Band | |
| 2:15–3:00pm | Beachside Big Band | The Northern Beaches' own |
| 3:15–4:00pm | Northside Big Band | |
| 4:15–5:00pm | Sydney Youth Jazz Orchestra |
Roving
No fixed stage. These move through the Corso and the beachfront. You do not plan around them; you run into them.
| Time | Act | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00am–2:00pm | Sentosa Trio | Acoustic roving trio, 1920s classics onward |
| 11:15am–2:45pm | The Jitterbug Club | Swing dancers |
| 11:30am–1:30pm | Kid Hank and his Ockerstra | New Orleans brass, 1920s French Quarter |
| 2:00–5:00pm | Sax Summit | Four saxes and percussion. The most fun set of the weekend |
Saturday in the venues
| Time | Venue | Act |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00am–6:05pm | St Matthews Manly — Pont Hall | Big bands all day across two rooms |
| 12:00–3:00pm | Hotel Steyne — Courtyard | Euan Hart |
| 12:00–3:00pm | Hotel Steyne — Beach Club | Centrestate Jazz |
| 12:00–5:00pm | Hotel Steyne — Miami Rice | The SSJ Group |
| 2:00–5:00pm | Henry G's Wine Parlour | Pianist plus a live accordion set |
| 2:30–5:30pm | The Ivanhoe | Sam McGovern |
| 3:00–6:00pm | Hotel Steyne — Courtyard | Honeydrip |
| 5:00–10:00pm | Hotel Steyne — Miami Rice | JAZZ DOOF |
| 5:30–8:30pm | Manly Art Gallery & Museum | Hilary Geddes Quartet & Murmurations — TICKETED, includes nibbles and a glass of wine |
| 5:30pm | InSitu | The Aston Martinis |
| 5:45–8:45pm | The Ivanhoe | Luke Saunders |
| 6:00–9:00pm | The New Brighton Hotel | David Weir & The Weird Assembly |
| 7:00–10:00pm | Hotel Steyne — Courtyard | James Jensen |
| 7:00–10:00pm | Donny's Bar | Live acoustic jazz |
| 8:00–11:00pm | Henry G's Wine Parlour | Pianist, jazz covers |
| 9:00pm–12:00am | The Ivanhoe | TISH Band |
| 10:00pm–2:00am | Hotel Steyne — Miami Rice | Jack Mack |
| 10:00pm–3:00am | Hotel Steyne — Courtyard | Dpak |
Sunday 20 September
Three outdoor stages rather than four — St Matts switches to gospel services — and a hard finish at 6pm on the beachfront. Sunday is the better day if you would rather sit down.
Beachfront Stage
The big one, on the closed section of the Steyne with the ocean behind the band. Hour-long sets, the largest crowd. Bring something to sit on.
| Time | Act | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00am–12:00pm | James Sarno Septet | Trumpeter, lately back from New York |
| 12:30–1:30pm | Monica Trapaga & Todd Hardy Swing Orchestra | 13-piece. Hampton, Basie, Ellington |
| 2:00–3:00pm | The Blaine Whittaker Band | Jazz-fusion, with guitarist Peter Northcote |
| 3:30–4:30pm | The Pocket Trio ft. Monica Trapaga, Kate Wadey, Tilly Street and Edo Santoni | Album launch: Something Borrowed, Something Blue |
| 5:00–6:00pm | Hot Potato Band | Brass-pop. The finale, and the loudest hour of the weekend |
Sydney Road Stage
Smaller and tighter, closer to the pubs. Better acoustics than an open beachfront, and you can actually see the players.
| Time | Act | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 11:15am–12:00pm | Tilly Street — All At Sea | Standards and originals |
| 12:15–1:00pm | Warwick Alder Quintet | Five players who started together 45 years ago |
| 1:15–2:00pm | Jules Boult & The Redeemers | New Orleans jazz and blues. First time at the festival |
| 2:15–3:00pm | JC Stylles Organ Trane Quartet | Coltrane in an organ-group setting |
| 3:15–4:00pm | Todd Hardy album launch — Something Old, Something New | 7-piece, originals and arrangements |
| 4:15–5:00pm | Midnight Jynx (Kovacs Funktet) | 70s and 80s funk, soul and disco |
| 5:15–6:00pm | Jason Bruer & Hammerhead | Hard bop, funk and urban jazz |
Jazz Stars of the Future Stage
School and youth ensembles in 45-minute sets from 10am. The least crowded stage of the weekend, and far better than it sounds.
| Time | Act | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00–10:45am | Turramurra High School Big Band | |
| 11:00–11:45am | Hunter School of the Performing Arts Stage Band | 20 players from Newcastle, five lead vocalists |
| 12:00–12:45pm | MC Senior Jazz Band | |
| 1:00–1:45pm | Killara High School Stage Band 1 | |
| 2:00–2:45pm | St Luke's Grammar Stage Band | |
| 3:00–3:45pm | NBSC Mackellar Girls Campus Big Band | |
| 4:00–4:45pm | NBSC Manly Campus Jazz Orchestra | |
| 5:00–5:45pm | Sydney Boys High School Senior Stage Band | Conducted by Bob Coassin |
Roving
No fixed stage. These move through the Corso and the beachfront. You do not plan around them; you run into them.
| Time | Act | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00–4:00pm | Kid Hank and his Ockerstra | New Orleans brass |
| 1:45–5:15pm | The Jitterbug Club | Swing dancers |
| 2:00–5:00pm | Sentosa Trio | Acoustic roving trio |
| 3:00–4:30pm | Crawfish Brass Band | Six-piece street brass |
| 4:30–5:00pm | Jazz Parade led by Eamon Dilworth | Departs St Matts, down the Corso, joins Hot Potato Band for the finale |
Sunday in the venues
| Time | Venue | Act |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30am | Manly Presbyterian Church | Geoff Power's New Orleans Jazz Band — gospel service, free |
| 10:00am & 5:30pm | St Matthews Manly | Gospel jazz services |
| 12:00–2:00pm | The Ivanhoe | Sam McGovern |
| 12:00–3:00pm | Hotel Steyne — Courtyard | Will Crisp |
| 12:00–3:00pm | Hotel Steyne — Beach Club | DJ Sammy |
| 12:00–4:00pm | Hotel Steyne — Miami Rice | Dpak, vinyl set |
| 2:00–5:00pm | The Ivanhoe | Luke Saunders |
| 3:00–6:00pm | Hotel Steyne — Courtyard | Joe Barrs |
| 3:00–6:00pm | Hotel Steyne — Beach Club | Midnight Sun |
| 4:00–6:00pm | Hotel Steyne — Miami Rice | Resident DJs |
| 4:00pm | Cibaria — 55 North Bar | End Notes Collective |
| 4:00–7:00pm | The Cumberland | Jazz trio with Leah Berry on vocals |
| 4:00–7:00pm | The Gopher | Emilie Hess Jazz Duo |
| 4:00–7:00pm | The Hold | Live jazz band |
| 6:00–9:00pm | Hotel Steyne — Courtyard | XPA |
| 6:00–9:00pm | The New Brighton Hotel | David Weir & The Weird Assembly |
| 6:30–9:30pm | Felons — Barrel Room | Manly Jazz All Star Jam Session, led by Andrew Dickeson |
| 7:00–10:00pm | Donny's Bar | Live acoustic jazz |
| 7:00–10:00pm | Henry G's Wine Parlour | Pianist, jazz covers |
Six to catch
Sax Summit — Saturday 2:00–5:00pm, roving. Four saxophones and percussion moving through the crowd for three hours. Nothing to plan around: you will hear it and follow it.
Celebrating Miles and Trane — Saturday 2:00–3:00pm, Beachfront Stage. Miles Davis and John Coltrane were both born in 1926, so this is the centenary set, played by Andrew Dickeson's all-star group.
Hilary Geddes Quartet with Murmurations — Saturday 5:30–8:30pm, Manly Art Gallery & Museum. The one ticketed event of the weekend, nibbles and a glass of wine included. It runs straight over the Saturday beachfront headliner, so it is a choice rather than an addition.
The All-Star Swing Quintet — Saturday 5:15–6:00pm, Sydney Road Stage. A one-off lineup assembled for this set. If you skip the gallery, this is where Saturday should end.
Geoff Power's New Orleans Jazz Band — Sunday 9:30am, Manly Presbyterian Church. A jazz gospel service, free and open to anyone. The strangest and best hour of the weekend, and almost nobody who is not local knows it happens.
The Jazz Parade into Hot Potato Band — Sunday 4:30–6:00pm. Eamon Dilworth leads a parade out of St Matts, down the Corso, and hands the crowd to the Hot Potato Band finale on the beachfront. Be on the Corso at 4:30 and let it carry you.
Three days, three plans
Friday: the quiet one
Come over on a late-afternoon ferry. Manly Library's open mic at 5:30pm is free and genuinely charming, with sign-up from 5pm. Then Donny's Bar for acoustic sets from 5:30, Henry G's Wine Parlour for a pianist at 8, and The Ivanhoe or Hotel Steyne if you want it to keep going. The last F1 back to Circular Quay leaves Manly at 00:20 on a Friday night.
Saturday: the big one
Start at 10am on the Jazz Stars of the Future stage while the beachfront is still empty. Take the Sydney Conservatorium Big Band at 11 on the beachfront, then work the interleave: Sydney Road at 12:15, beachfront at 12:30, and so on down the afternoon. Give St Matts a seated hour around 2:15 for the Beachside Big Band. Catch Sax Summit somewhere in the middle — you will not have to look for it. Then choose your ending: Back to Back The Band on the beachfront at 5, the All-Star Swing Quintet on Sydney Road at 5:15, or the ticketed gallery show at 5:30. After that, the New Brighton balcony at 6 or InSitu at 5:30.
Sunday: the good one
Start with the 9:30am gospel service at Manly Presbyterian. James Sarno opens the beachfront at 11. Spend the early afternoon on Sydney Road — Warwick Alder at 12:15, Jules Boult at 1:15 — then be on the Corso for the 4:30 Jazz Parade and follow it to the Hot Potato Band at 5. When the beachfront finishes at 6, the weekend moves indoors: Felons' Barrel Room has the All Star Jam at 6:30, and it is a two-minute walk from the wharf when you finally give up.
The clashes worth knowing about
Saturday 5pm is the crunch. Back to Back The Band (Beachfront), the All-Star Swing Quintet (Sydney Road, 5:15) and the ticketed Hilary Geddes show (5:30, and it runs to 8:30) all collide. Pick one before you arrive, because you cannot drift between them.
Sunday 4:30–5:00pm resolves itself. The Jazz Parade leaves St Matts at 4:30 and arrives at the beachfront for Hot Potato Band at 5. Midnight Jynx on Sydney Road (4:15–5:00) is the only thing you give up, and the parade is worth it.
The two main stages never actually clash. Beachfront sets start on the hour and half-hour; Sydney Road starts at quarter-past. That is by design — see above.
Before you go
Come by ferry. The beachfront road is closed from 4pm Friday until 11:59pm Sunday, the parking stations fill by early Saturday afternoon, and the F1 from Circular Quay drops you four minutes from the stages. The local's guide to the ferry covers fares and timetables; if you are driving anyway, read where to park in Manly first.
Book Saturday dinner now rather than on the day, and see the full guide to eating in Manly or the fish and chips guide for something faster between sets. The rest of the weekend — stages, history, road closures, what to bring — is in the complete Manly Jazz 2026 guide, and the festivals calendar has what comes next.
Program as published by Northern Beaches Council. Set times occasionally shift on the day; the on-site signage is the final word.
