Beaches International Jazz Festival set for July 3 to 26

By JULIA SAWICKI

The Beaches International Jazz Festival is set to return this summer with nearly a month of free programming, bringing live music, community connection and, of course, StreetFest back to Toronto’s east end on select days and weekends July 3 to 26.

Now in its 38th year, the festival will once again transform parks, churches and neighbourhood streets into outdoor concert venues, featuring jazz, blues, Latin music, rock, and more throughout July.

Here is a full guide on what this year’s festival has in store.

Sounds of Leslieville and Riverside

The Sounds of Leslieville and Riverside kicks off this year’s Beaches International Jazz Festival on the weekend of July 3, 4 and 5.

The main stage will be at Jimmie Simpson Park, 872 Queen St. E. Sounds of Leslieville and Riverside starts off with a 1980s Throwback Party on July 3 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

On Saturday, July 4, the Toronto Allstar Big Band gets the festivities underway at 12:30 p.m., followed by Animal at 3:30 p.m.

Pianist, performer, DJ and producer Quincy Bullen then takes the stage at 5 p.m., before alternative rock group MeteorHeist performs at 7 p.m. The evening wraps up with Cambridge musician Conor Gains at 9 p.m.

The music continues on Sunday, July 5, beginning with MOKA at noon. Nina Volcan follows at 2:30 p.m., with the Jackson Steinwall Band performing at 4:30 p.m. The opening weekend concludes with a performance by Vili V at 6:30 p.m.

Alongside the musicians will be a multitude of vendors and food trucks. Between performances, visitors are encouraged to explore local businesses and restaurants in the Leslieville and Riverside area along Queen Street East in order to see more of the community.

Salsa on the Beach

One of the festival’s most popular events, Salsa on the Beach, takes over Woodbine Park (1696 Queen St. E.) from July 10 to 12.

The free weekend celebration of Latin music and dance features live performances, DJs, dance instructions, food vendors, and a beer garden.
Friday, July 10, will begin the weekend with a Latin Sunset DJ Beach Party starting at 5:30 p.m. and featuring musical genres such as Salsa, EDM, Reggaeton, Merengue and Bachata.

The rest of the weekend will be filled with a number of DJs and musical guests, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 7 on Sunday. Audiences are invited to enjoy the beats and sounds of crowd favourites such as DJ Euphonious, DJ Victor Explosivo and Nicholas Latin Jazz Ensemble.

TD Main Stage at Woodbine Park

The TD-sponsored Main Stage Series at the Beaches International Jazz Festival takes place at Woodbine Park from July 17 to the 19, offering three days of free outdoor music, vendors and food trucks.

The weekend opens Friday night with a high energy 90s-themed DJ party featuring Starting From Scratch and Mista Jiggz, along with guest host Master T, setting a nostalgic dance floor vibe filled with old-school classics.

Saturday brings a full afternoon and evening of live bands starting at 1 p.m., including acts such as Old Man Flanagan’s Ghost at 1 p.m.; Road Waves at 3 p.m.; U.N. Jefferson at 5 p.m.; Fleetwood Mac Mania at 6:30 p.m.; and Tell It To Sweeney at 8:30 p.m. The performances are a blend of rock, tribute performances, and roots-influenced sounds.

On Sunday, there will be an eclectic lineup featuring DJ sets and performances.

DJs will perform from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Reggaddiction will be on from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., with The Human Rights on from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The music will feature a continuation of the mix of genres from the weekend.

Johannes Linstead

The Beaches Jazz Festival presents acclaimed guitarist Johannes Linstead and his show From Spain to Cuba, an internationally celebrated instrumental performance blending Spanish guitar with Latin jazz and world music influences on July 21 and 22.

With 500 million streams, multiple Billboard charting albums, and numerous international awards, Linstead brings a vibrant musical journey in support of East Toronto’s Michael Garron Hospital.

Linstead is inspired by Mediterranean and Caribbean rhythms, alongside Latin percussion, bass, accordion, and other global instrumentation. His performances are set for Tuesday, July 21, and Wednesday, July 22, at 7:30 p.m. at Beach United Church, 140 Wineva Ave. Tickets are $25, and the event is fully accessible.

For information on buying tickets for Linstead’s performances, please go https://www.beachesjazz.com/johanneslinstead

Queen Street East StreetFest

The Beaches Jazz Festival’s beloved StreetFest will transform Queen Street East into a street full of music between Woodbine and Beech avenues on the evenings of July 23 through to July 25. Each evening, the street closes to traffic at 6 p.m. and reopens to the public as an open-air festival at 7 p.m., running until 11 p.m.

Watch the neighbourhood come alive, with multiple live performances, and mini stages, allowing guests to wander from one artist to another, immersing themselves in various genres and one of the most unique nightlife experiences in Toronto.

Beyond the music, StreetFest and local businesses offer a mix of food trucks, vendors, patios and shops extending their presence onto the street, welcoming guests into the community.

A full list of performers for Street Fest can be found at https://www.beachesjazz.com/streetfest

OLG Bring Home the Win

The OLG Bring Home the Win Weekend Series takes place at Woodbine Park from July 24 to 26.

The weekend features Groovin’ in the Park, a two-day throwback dance party running its Friday Dance Party and Saturday Fever from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. each night. The music will spotlight house, disco and funk.

Groovin’ in the Park is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The event brings together DJs and live audiences inspired by classic 1990s and 2000s music culture. Admission is free, and the events are focused on accessibility, community, and culture.

If you need a fun afternoon to prepare for Saturday Fever, enjoy Long Live, a high-energy Taylor Swift tribute band, which will be on stage from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Long Live will be playing all the iconic Taylor Swift hits. Audience members are invited to bring their friendship bracelets and sequins, and enjoy an afternoon celebrating their favourite eras.

For the final day of the 2026 Beaches International Jazz Festival, a number of amazing artists will be performing on the Woodbine Main Stage on Sunday, July 26.

The music begins with Little Magic Sam at 1 p.m.; Sultans of String at 2 p.m.; Joel Dupuis at 5 p.m.; and Arsenals at 6:30 p.m.

For full details on the 2026 Beaches International Jazz Festival, please visit https://www.beachesjazz.com/