Guinness Cork Jazz Festival 2026 & Maldron Hotels Cork
Guinness Cork Jazz Festival 2026
The Guinness Cork Jazz festival is an iconic five-day event taking place over the October Bank Holiday weekend, from 22nd to 26th. From humble beginnings in 1978, it has grown into one of Cork's biggest annual events, attracting artists and fans from all over the country and beyond for almost 50 years.
Prepare yourself for the 2026 line-up, with more exciting acts still to be announced. Cork City Hall has already confirmed some amazing acts. You can kick off your Cork Jazz Festival weekend with The Stunning & Mundy, teaming up for a double act on Friday, 23rd October. On Saturday, 24th October, experience the long-awaited return of Bob Geldolf and The Boomtown Rats, 49 years after they last played in Cork. Sunday, 25th October brings another jam-packed schedule, including a tribute to Rory Gallagher at 2pm, marking 31 years since his passing, followed by Mack Fleetwood at 8pm. Keep checking the Cork Jazz Festival line-up for more acts as they are announced. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Stay in the Heart of Cork City
Looking for the perfect city centre hotel while enjoying the Guinness Cork Jazz festival? Look no further!
Celebrate your jazz weekend at Maldron Hotels in Cork City, and choose from our two centrally located hotels: Maldron Hotel South Mall and Maldron Hotel Shandon
Enjoy the perfect stay in one of our modern, bright and spacious rooms. They’re designed to make you feel right at home from the moment you arrive.
Sit back, relax & enjoy some delicious jazz bites from our Grain & Grill Restaurants.
The Guinness Music Trail
Last year, the Cork Jazz Festival introduced the Guinness Music Trail with more than 70 venues across Cork City, Douglas and Kinsale. Keep checking for updates and use the Music trail interactive map to plan your festival weekend.
The Full 2026 line-up is still to be announced: See confirmed acts below
Cork City Hall
7pm - The Stunning and Mundy
Cyprus Avenue
12am - St Paul & The Broken Bones
Savoy
7pm - BoolaBoom
Cork City Hall
7pm - The Boomtown Rats
Triskel Arts Centre
2:30pm - Bill Laurence
Sky Bar Cork
1pm - Cork Jazz Drag Brunch with Mockie Ah!
Cork City Hall
2pm - Rory Gallagher tribute band - Moonchild
8pm - Mack Fleetwood - Fleetwood Mac tribute band
Coughlan's
3:30pm - Mary Coughlan
7:30pm - Mary Coughlan
Triskel Arts Centre
6:30pm - Trygve Sein & Tord Gustavsen
Sky Bar Cork
1pm - Cork Jazz Drag Brunch with Mockie Ah!
Cyprus Avenue
7pm - Margaret Glasby
Cork City Hall
6pm - KATZEYE - Katseye tribute band
Things to Know about the Cork Jazz Festival
The Cork Jazz Festival runs from Thursday, 22nd October to Monday, 26th October 2026 over the October Bank Holiday weekend.
Most acts perform at venues across Cork City. These venues range from larger venues like the Cork Opera House and Cork City Hall to more intimate venues including The Everyman and Cyprus Avenue. Live sessions also take place in pubs throughout the city with popular venues including Caughlan's and The Oliver Plunkett. There are also activities in Kinsale and Douglas throughout the weekend.
We recommend staying in Cork City. If you stay centrally, you'll be able to walk to many of the festival venues and pubs while enjoying being in the centre of the craic. Both Maldron hotels are located in Cork City centre and are within walking distance of many popular venues and pubs. Rooms usually book up early each year, so book your stay in advance avoid disappointment.
Check Out Last years line-up 2025!
Triskel Arts Centre
Melina Malone – 6:15pm
Chip Wickham – 8:15 pm
Cyprus Avenue
The Tumbling Paddies – 7:00pm
CamrinWatsin – 11:00pm
Live at St. Luke's
Projective / Smithereens / Syano – 7:30
Kino
Jape – Ritual Anniversary – 7:30 – Kino
Cork Opera House
Cymande - 6pm
Winnie Ama - 6pm
Tu Ki - 11pm
Summer Pearl – 11pm
The Pharcyde: 30 Years of Labcabincalifornia – 11:30pm
Cyprus Avenue
King Kong Company – 7pm
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – 11pm
Rebel Brass - 11pm
The Everyman
Sienna Spiro – 7pm
Aby Coulibaly – 7pm
Kino
Mo Cultivation Live Showcase: God Knows, Celaviedmai, JarJarJr – 7:30pm
Mo Cultivation DJ Takeover – 11pm
Cork City Hall
Feeder & Special Guests – 7:30pm
Live at St. Luke's
Joe Butler – 7:30pm
KhakiKid – 7:30pm
F3MIII – 7:30pm
Liquid Lounge
Dublon – 11pm
Triskel Arts Centre
Stella Sings Ella: A Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald - 8:15pm
Cork Opera House
Lee Fields & The Expressions – 6pm
Toshín – 6pm
Rejjie Snow – 11:30pm
Monjola – 11:30pm
Cyprus Avenue
Le Boom – 7pm
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – 11pm
Rebel Brass – 11pm
Code of Behaviour – 11pm
The Everyman
JP Cooper – 9:45pm
Luke Thomas & The Swing Cats – Kings of Swing Tour – 5:30pm
Kino
Yankari Afrobeat Collective – 7:30pm
TBL8 Brass & Lavery – 11pm
Cork City Hall
These Charming Men – 11pm
The Sultans of Ping – 6:30pm
Live at St. Luke's
The Congos – 7:30pm
Tolü Makay – 1:30pm
Triskel Arts Centre
Daniel Herskedal Trio – 2:15pm
Mås Exödus – 6:15pm
James Holden & Wacław Zimpel – 8:15pm
Cork Opera House
Orchestra Baobab – Annie & The Caldwells – 7pm
Shane Johnson (Fish Go Deep) – 11:30pm
Jeff Mills Presents "Tomorrow Comes The Harvest feat. Jean Phi Dary & Prabhu Edouard" – 11:30pm
Cyprus Avenue
Maverick Sabre – 2pm/7pm
Ross From Friends Presents Bubble Love – 11:30pm
Lump Hammer Disco – 11:30pm
The Everyman
Adrian Younge Orchestra – 5:30pm
Nubya Garcia – 9:45pm
Kino
Oceanna – 7:30pm
Zaska – 7:30pm
Cork City Hall
Rory Gallagher: The Legend Lives On – 1:30pm
Mack Fleetwood – 8pm
Live at St. Luke's
Saul Williams Meets Carlos Niño & Friends – 1:30pm
Chameleon – 7:30pm
KhakiKid – 7:30pm
Triskel Arts Centre
Norma Winstone & Glauco Venier: Distances and Beyond – 2:15pm
Vallon-Michel-Rossy – 6:15pm
Elina Duni & Rob Luft Quartet: A Time to Remember – 8:15pm
Cyprus Avenue
Vieux Farka Touré – 10pm
Partiboi69 – 5pm
Top Jazz Cork Venues Walking Distance from Maldron South Mall
- Cork City Hall - 2 minute walk
- Cyprus Avenue - 4 minute walk
- The Everyman - 8 minute walk
- Cork Opera House - 10 minute walk
- Triskel Arts Centre - 11 minute walk
- Kino - 16 minute walk
- Live At St. Luke's - 19 minute walk
- St. Peter's Church - 15 minute walk
Top Jazz Pubs
- The Oliver Plunkett - 3 minute walk
- Coughlan's - 11 minute walk
- The Old Town Whiskey Bar at Bodega - 13 minute walk
Top Jazz Cork Venues Walking Distance from Maldron Shandon
- Cork Opera House - 6 minute walk
- St. Peter's Church - 8 minute walk
- The Everyman - 8 minute walk
- Cyprus Avenue - 11 minute walk
- Cork City Hall - 16 minute walk
- Triskel Arts Centre - 12 minute walk
- Kino - 15 minute walk
- Live At St. Luke's - 19 minute walk
Top Jazz Pubs
- The Old Town Whiskey Bar at Bodega - 8 minute walk
- The Oliver Plunkett - 16 minute walk
- Coughlan's - 22 minute walk
Things to do in Cork while visiting for Cork Jazz Festival
Our Cork City Hotels
Join us at Maldron Hotel South Mall or Maldron Hotel Shandon for The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival. Our Cork City hotels are walking distance from all the top venues and pubs making them ideal basecamps for your stay
Contact Us
Contact our events team for bookings on events.southmall@maldronhotels.com or 021-203 7000.
