Welcome to the 2026 Telluride Jazz Festival! Set against the stunning backdrop of the San Juan Mountains, Telluride Jazz Festival brings together world-class musicians, incredible food, unforgettable experiences, and a welcoming community for a one-of-a-kind weekend in Colorado.
Whether you’re a longtime festival attendee or joining us for the first time, this guide includes everything you need to know before arriving in Telluride — from tickets and wristbands to what to bring, family information, and helpful tips to make the most of your festival weekend.
Festival Dates & Location
Telluride Jazz Festival 2026
Friday, August 7 – Saturday, August 8, 2026
Town Park | Telluride, Colorado
The festival takes place in the heart of downtown Telluride at Town Park, surrounded by some of the most breathtaking mountain scenery in the world. Get ready for two unforgettable days of incredible music, delicious food, and the magic of Telluride.
Tickets & Wristbands
Your order confirmation was emailed immediately after purchase. Festival tickets will be sent approximately one week before the event as PDF attachments that can be saved to your smartphone wallet, image gallery, or printed.
Upon arrival, all guests must exchange their ticket for a wristband at the Festival Box Office:
Festival Box Office
300 E Pacific Street
Friday, August 7: 12:00 PM – 8:15 PM
Saturday, August 8: 12:00 PM – 8:15 PM
Please note:
Every ticket holder must be present to receive their wristband.
A valid photo ID is required.
Wristbands are non-transferable and must remain securely attached for the duration of the festival.
The festival takes place rain or shine.
If you can't find your confirmation email or tickets, check your spam folder or contact us at 970-728-8037 or info@telluridejazz.org.
Kids Are Free
Bringing the family? Children ages 11 and under receive free admission when accompanied by an adult ticket holder.
How to Pack for the festival
Telluride weather in August can bring sunshine, afternoon showers, and cool evenings—all in the same day. We recommend packing things to make a daily homebase at the festival - a picnic area you can return to throughout the day to enjoy the full experience. Below are the essentials:
Valid photo ID
Sunscreen and a hat. The UV rays in mountains are intense.
Warm clothes (August can be chilly in Telluride), dress appropriately.
In Telluride, we embrace the popular Scandinavian and German folk saying, “there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing"
Rain gear (umbrellas/jackets, pants)- the festival goes on rain or shine so best to be prepared if an afternoon shower rolls through.
Sunshade tents
allowed in the back perimeter of festival grounds in “shade alley” with great sight lines of the main stage
Tarps or blankets - make your festival home base a nice picnic area
no bigger than 20' X 20'
please share your tarp when you're not using it
Lawn chairs - make your picnic area as comfy as you can
low back lawn chairs allowed from sound booth to stage
high-back lawn chairs allowed behind the sound booth
skip the packing and rent a low-back chair! Reserve in advance and pick them up near the main gate entrance. Rentals are available for only $50 for the entire weekend → click here
Coolers
unopened plastic bottles and canned drinks are ok
unopened food items are ok
no glass
no alcohol
coolers will be subject to search at front gate
Camera (no professional photo equipment allowed)
Strollers are ok
What Not to Bring
To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, please leave the following at home:
Glass containers
Pets
Outside alcohol
Illegal drugs
Weapons
Professional photo or video equipment
Frisbees
Shelled nuts
Unlicensed vending materials
Festival Amenities on-site
We've got you covered throughout the weekend with:
Free drinking water stations
Food and artisan vendors
Beer, wine, and cocktails available for purchase
Medical Tent with basic supplies
Lost & Found
ADA-accessible restrooms
Trash, recycling, and compost stations
Volunteers will help you keep Town Park beautiful by disposing of waste responsibly at the CRT stations
Getting Here, Parking & Getting Around Telluride
Telluride is located 8,750 feet high in the beautiful San Juan Mountains! Travel by car on scenic mountain roads or fly in to one of my regional airports to enjoy the festival. Colorado drivers can find current road conditions by visiting the CO Department of Transportation's website, click here.
We encourage attendees to arrive, park and use our free transportation system to get around town. Our parking staff will help direct you into a spot for the weekend. After that, our free Galloping Goose bus system, along with the scenic gondola between Telluride and Mountain Village and other custom options make getting around town a breeze. The after-hours venues, bars, restaurants and shops are located within a quick stroll from the festival grounds.
There's plenty of free parking available in the town of Telluride and Mountain Village. We do not have a specific parking lot for the Festival. You are free to park wherever there's a legal parking spot in Telluride or Mountain Village.
parking
There's plenty of free parking available in the town of Telluride and Mountain Village. We do not have a specific parking lot for the Festival. You are free to park wherever there's a legal parking spot in Telluride or Mountain Village.
Telluride
Main Street and its adjacent side streets host paid parking (meters). Paid parking is enforced from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm from Monday through Saturday. Sundays are excluded from parking enforcement. If you decide to park in the metered parking areas, you can purchase a receipt for up to three hours of parking at a rate of fifty cents per hour. For more information about Telluride parking visit The Town of Telluride's website.
Mountain Village
The town of Mountain Village offers free day time parking that's just a scenic and free gondola ride away from the Town of Telluride and concert grounds. The Gondola Parking Garage offers free day time parking and overnight paid parking with quick access to the Gondola.
For more information about Mountain Village parking visit Mountain Village's website.
Parking for Festival Campers
There’s plenty of parking for those staying in the Town Park Festival Campground! When you arrive at the festival you’ll be permitted to drive in to the campground for 20 minutes to select a campsite and drop off your gear. Once your site is found and your gear is dropped, camping and parking staff will direct you to the closest available parking- the closest parking spots are filled first. Your vehicle is permitted to say parked in that location until Sunday at 11 am.
A limited number of Campground Vehicle Passes, offering vehicle parking in the Town Park Campground are available here.
Transit
Telluride and Mountain Village offer sufficient free and paid transit options making getting around town, to the concert easy and enjoyable.
Telluride
The Galloping Goose free shuttle bus routes fixed laps around Telluride every 20 minutes between 7 am and midnight during the festival weekend. Stops are located every few blocks throughout Telluride and are marked by sign. Click here for more information.
Mountain Village
A free shuttle and a Dial-A-Ride service is available for your Mountain Village Transportation needs. For a bus schedule and information about Dial-A-Ride visit the Mountain Village website.
Gondola
The Telluride to Mountain Village Gondola is one of the most unique, free, public transportation systems in the world. Use it to get from Mountain Village to town or just enjoy a ride for the spectacular views. It runs from 7:00 am to midnight daily. Read more about the Gondola, click here.
Regional Travel
Flights are available to the region directly into Telluride with the Denver Air Connection or nearby Montrose, Durango, Cortez, and Grand Junction. Five different carriers service the airports, and there are nine non-stop destinations: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco/Oakland and Phoenix. International airports in Denver, Salt Lake City, and Albuquerque are a scenic six to seven-hour drive away as well.
Ground transportation is available from all regional airports. Telluride Express is Telluride's premier ground transportation service to and from all regional airports including Telluride, Montrose, Grand Junction, Durango, Cortez and Gunnison. They offer door-to-door shared ride, private and custom accommodations. To schedule a ride visit their website here or call (970) 728-6000.
Still Need Lodging for Telluride Jazz Festival?
Your festival weekend is almost here — now it’s time to secure your home base in the mountains! Whether you’re looking for a cozy condo, boutique hotel, luxury getaway, or a scenic campsite under the stars, Telluride offers accommodations for every style of traveler.
Don’t wait to finalize your plans. Explore exclusive lodging discounts, camping options, and everything you need to make your Telluride Jazz Festival experience unforgettable.
Jazz After Dark
The after-hours shows at Telluride Jazz Festival are where the weekend really comes alive. Late-night funk, deep-pocket soul, and jazz jams at intimate rooms and high-energy spaces all over town.
This is where crowds get closer and the music hits a little differently. Don’t make the mistake of calling it a night early! The after-hours are where the festival turns from great to unforgettable.
Get ready to stay out later than you meant to.
Friday and Saturday
Patron doors open at 9:30 pm
General Admission doors open at 9:45 pm
Shows start at 10 pm
On Friday and Saturday nights, after the festival ends in Town Park, we continue the music with “Jazz After Dark” shows located in various venues throughout Telluride. One pass allows entry into three different shows.
Friday, August 7, 2026
Don Was & the Pan Detroit Ensemble at Sheridan Opera House
DTF: Deitch, Teitel, Fribush at The Moon At O'Bannon's
Theo Croker at The Alibi
Saturday, August 8, 2025
Robert Randolph at Sheridan Opera House
Adrian Quesada's Trio Asesino at The Moon At O'Bannon's
Endea Owens & the Cookout at The Alibi
First Note Yoga Session
Saturday at 8:30 am (Elks Park)
Guided by professional instructor Annika Kristiansen, enjoy a smooth yoga flow at the free “First Note” Yoga Sessions. Learn activating breath techniques, liberating movements and playful exercises in the crisp mountain morning air. Nestled in the cozy amphitheater of Elks Park in downtown Telluride, the yoga sessions are a fun and inspiring way to start your mornings.
Guests of all skill levels are welcome to join. New to yoga or considering for the first time? Join us and discover the healing power of yoga.
Location: Telluride Elks Park - Colorado Ave and S Oak St (inclement weather location - Sheridan Opera House)
Time: 8:30 - 9:30 am on Saturday, August 8
What to Bring: Water, yoga mat, towel and active wear (come with or without - these items are not mandatory to join in the class)
Join the Free Historical Walking Tours
On Saturday morning, August 9, festival goers are invited to step into Telluride’s celebrated past.
Explore Telluride beyond the music with complimentary Historical Walking Tours on Saturday, August 9. Discover Victorian architecture, mining history, Butch Cassidy lore, and more with local guide Ashley Boling.
Tours are limited to 35 participants each and are offered free of charge:
Tour 1: 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Tour 2: 10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Register for the Tours
Space is limited and advance registration is encouraged. Reserve your spot today and discover the stories behind one of America’s most historic mountain towns.
New Orleans 2nd Line Parade
Saturday, August 8 at 12:30 pm (Main Street)
Second Line Parades are a New Orleans tradition. Brass-bands take to the street, play and march. Onlookers who followed along to enjoy the music were known as the second line.
Join the New Breed Brass Band and Hooligans Brass Band along with Festival staff, attendees, and festival artists for a Second Line Parade down Main Street all the way to Telluride Town Park on Sunday, August 13.
Everyone is welcome! Colorful floats, costumes, beads and decorations are all welcome as attendees join in on the march through town.
The parade starts at 12:30 pm from Elks Park.
Discover The Society Club
Experience Telluride Jazz Festival from a new perspective with The Society Club — an elevated festival experience featuring an exclusive on-stage viewing platform, chef-driven cuisine, live cooking experiences, premium hospitality, and unforgettable moments surrounded by the beauty of Telluride. Discover the culinary artistry behind the Stage Cooking Experience with Chef Will Nolan.
Your Guide to Food at Telluride Jazz Festival 2026
Fuel your Telluride Jazz Festival weekend with delicious eats from local and festival favorites. From tacos and gyros to pizza, crepes, plant-based dishes, and sweet treats, explore the 2026 food vendors serving up something for every appetite in Town Park.
Explore like a Local
Hands down, Telluride is one of the best towns in the world for outdoor recreation! With towering 13,000 foot Rocky Mountain peaks and 160,000 acres of pristine wilderness with trail systems, waterfalls and more all surrounded by alpine mountain views. There are endless adventures for novices to pros alike. Click here to explore the local and regional opportunities for hiking, biking, stand-up paddleboarding, fly fishing, horseback riding, shopping and more!
Hiking - If you’re up for adventure, there are plenty of beautiful hikes starting directly from downtown Telluride to explore: Bear Creek Trail is less than one block from Town Park (S. Pine Street) and is a perfect beginner trail up to a waterfall.
If you seek a more challenging hike, check out the Jud Wiebe Trail (N. Aspen Street) which takes you to a gorgeous overlook of the entire town.
Mountain Biking - Miles of mountain bike trails span the Telluride box cannon. Beginners should start with the Valley Floor Trail.
Experienced bikers might consider the Prospect Trail Loop off of the Telluride Mountain Village Gondola.
Scenic Off-Road Drives - Many scenic paved and backcountry roads weave through the peaks and valleys of Telluride. For those without a four-wheel drive car, HWY 145 South towards Dolores offers stunning views of the Telluride Valley, Wilson Mesa and Lizard Head Pass.
Those with a four-wheel drive, high clearance cars can consider a trip to Bridal Veil Falls.
Ride the Gondola - The only FREE transportation of its kind in the country, Telluride’s Gondola is a must-do while visiting during the week. If you don’t journey up to the free concert on Thursday night, make sure you take the time to check out this spectacular ride. Get out up top (Station San Sophia) to hike around or ride the Gondola down into Mountain Village to check out the local bars, shops and restaurants. The Gondola starts running each day at 6:30 am and goes until midnight on Thursday, 2:00 am on Friday and Saturday, and midnight on Sunday of the Festival weekend.
Paddleboarding - Located 27 minutes South of Telluride, Trout Lake offers stunning paddleboarding with beautiful alpine views. Paddleboards can be rented locally at different outdoors shops.
Fly-Fishing - Telluride is an angler’s paradise. Alpine lakes, creeks and rivers are frequent throughout the Telluride region. For more information about fly-fishing click here.
For more information about hiking, diving, paddleboarding, fly-fishing and biking in Telluride’s visitor guide.
