Generations In Jazz Brings Big Names, Rising Stars And A Weekend That Doesn’t Miss A Beat
Jazz hands at the ready, because Mount Gambier is about to swing into action.
Recognised as the largest big band festival in Australia, Generations in Jazz returns from May 1 to 3, bringing together thousands of students, educators and music lovers from across Australia and New Zealand.
Widely regarded as one of the world’s leading youth jazz events, this is the kind of weekend where the whole town gets swept up in the sound.
One Hub, All Weekend
All of the action is centred at a full-scale festival hub in OB Flat, on the outskirts of Mount Gambier, where multiple venues, the main big top tent and food areas all come together in one place.
Across the weekend, it’s non-stop with ensembles and vocalists warming up in corners, instruments getting hauled between stages, and crowds moving from one set to the next.
There are food stalls and trucks set up within the precinct, keeping people fed throughout the day, while back in town, cafés and takeaways work overtime catering for the thousands of music lovers rolling into the region..
Big Names, Future Stars
The weekend kicks off with a Friday night Welcome Concert featuring the Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra, along with Belgian trumpet master and composer Bert Joris, setting the tone for what’s ahead.
Saturday night brings the festival’s biggest drawcards, with California’s Tower of Power headlining the Gala Concert. With more than 50 years on stage, they bring the kind of sound and energy that has made them a global favourite.
But at its core, Generations in Jazz is about the future of the up and coming talent.
The GIJ Vocal Scholarship sponsored by MGA Insurance Group awards $10,000 to an outstanding vocalist aged 21 or under, helping support the next step in their career.
The James Morrison Scholarship sponsored by Benara Pastoral does the same for instrumentalists aged 19 or under, also awarding $10,000, along with a spot in the Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra the following year.
Both offer more than just prize money, giving young musicians the chance to perform on one of the country’s most recognised jazz stages and and build their music careers
Generations in Jazz is a weekend built on music, education and community, and it keeps growing every year.
Get your tickets and see it for yourself.
GENERATIONS IN JAZZ
WHEN: May 1-3, 2026
WHERE: Cnr Clarke & Glenelg River Road, Mount Gambier
MORE INFO & TICKETS: generationsinjazz.com.au
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