Saint Lucia Jazz Festival

The St. Lucia Jazz Festival is an essential annual music event held on the picturesque Caribbean island of Saint Lucia. It showcases a marvelous blend of local and international musicians performing jazz, R&B, and Calypso music. Since its inception in 1992, the festival has aimed to bolster tourism and increase revenue during May, a traditionally quieter month for the island.

Initially, the festival was hosted in four locations, but it has since expanded to various venues across Saint Lucia, making it more accessible and exhilarating. Over the years, the St. Lucia Jazz Festival has surged in popularity, in part due to coverage on the BET J television network. Today, it stands as a significant highlight on the global jazz festival calendar.

In 2011, the festival celebrated its 20th anniversary—a remarkable achievement, especially when compared to other Caribbean jazz festivals that have not endured as long. In 2013, it underwent rebranding to become the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival. This transformation introduced new elements such as fashion shows, cultural events, musical performances, and culinary arts, enriching the festival experience and making it even more diverse and engaging.

The festival has hosted performances by a range of esteemed artists, including George Benson, Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, Elton John, Rihanna, and Santana, among many others. It is the second-largest event in the Caribbean, only surpassed by the Trinidad Carnival. Performances occur in various breathtaking locations around the island, including national parks, town squares, beaches, estates, and waterfronts, offering a dynamic and unforgettable musical experience for all who attend.