The 31st Annual Litchfield Jazz Festival takes place this weekend at The Frederick Gunn School in Washington, continuing a tradition that began in 1986 in the Activity Field at The White Memorial Conservation Center in Litchfield.
A Nod to Roots: From White Memorial to Today
Before the festival found its current home at the Thomas S. Perakos Arts and Community Center at Gunn, its journey began right in our backyard.
Back in 1996, founder Vita West Muir launched the two-day outdoor gathering at White Memorial. For two memorable summers (1996 and 1997), jazz legends like Ahmad Jamal, Terence Blanchard, and Rufus Reid performed under the open sky in the field behind the Conservation Center.
By 1998, the crowds had grown so large that the festival moved to the Goshen Fairgrounds to accommodate the enthusiastic audiences. But no matter where the stage has set up over the decades — from Goshen to Kent and now Washington — the intimate, high-caliber soul of the festival has never changed.
In 1997, during that second year at White Memorial, the organization launched the Litchfield Jazz Camp with just 35 day students. Fast forward 30 years, and that camp has become an international powerhouse, nurturing generations of phenomenal musicians who shape the global jazz scene today.
This Year’s Lineup: Celebrating 30 Years of Litchfield Jazz Camp
Fittingly, the theme for the 2026 festival (July 24–26) directly honors that milestone: 30 Years of the Litchfield Jazz Camp. Every single group hitting the mainstage this year features iconic faculty, world-renowned guest artists, and superstar alumni who got their start right here.
Here is what’s on tap for the weekend:
Friday, July 24 — Opening Night Gala & Mainstage
- 5:30 PM | Opening Night Gala – Kick off the weekend with fine food, wine, and live music by top Litchfield Jazz Camp Stars.Litchfield Jazz Festival
- 7:45 PM | Don Braden & The Litchfield Jazz Fest Dectet – Longtime Camp Educational Director Don Braden brings a massive, powerhouse 10-piece ensemble to blow the roof off opening night.
Saturday, July 25 — Mainstage Marathon
- 2:00 PM | Jimmy Greene Quintet – Saxophonist Jimmy Greene, who joined the original camp faculty fresh out of college in ’97, returns with an all-star band including pianist Christian Sands.Litchfield Jazz Festival
- 3:45 PM | Steve Davis Sextet – Trombone master Steve Davis leads a heavy-hitting sextet stacked with Litchfield camp history.Litchfield Jazz Festival
- 5:30 PM | Paul Bollenback Quintet – Guitar virtuoso Paul Bollenback brings his quintet featuring bassist Dezron Douglas and saxophonist Albert Rivera.Litchfield Jazz Festival
- 7:15 PM | Curtis Brothers Trio – Pianist Zaccai Curtis and bassist Luques Curtis bring their infectious, fiery Latin-infused jazz, bringing their Litchfield journey full circle.Litchfield Jazz Festival
Sunday, July 26 — The Finale
- 12:00 PM | Sunday Jazz Brunch w/ Steve Kortyka Sextet – Cap off the festival weekend with delicious food and smooth, brilliant sounds led by saxophonist Steve Kortyka.Litchfield Jazz Festival
Get Your Tickets
Whether you’ve been attending since those early afternoon sets at White Memorial or you’re planning your very first trip, this year’s lineup is one of the most personal and vibrant in the festival’s 31-year history.
Litchfield Jazz Festival
- When: July 24–26, 2026Litchfield Jazz Festival
- Where: Thomas S. Perakos Arts and Community Center at The Frederick Gunn School (Washington, CT)
- Tickets: Available now via Litchfield Jazz Festival’s Official Event Page.