For ten days Perugia is once again filled with music at every hour. The 53rd edition of Umbria Jazz runs from Friday 3 to Sunday 12 July 2026 and turns the historic centre into one big stage: according to the programme presented in May there are 275 events, more than half with free entry, with over 80 line-ups and more than 500 musicians across 15 stages. The common thread is the centenary of the births of Miles Davis and John Coltrane.
The Arena Santa Giuliana programme
- 3 July: Sting opens the festival with the “3.0 World Tour”, in a trio with Dominic Miller and Chris Maas.
- 4 July: the farewell of Perigeo and Beat, with Adrian Belew, Steve Vai, Tony Levin and Danny Carey playing the music of King Crimson.
- 5 July: Jon Batiste, his only Italian date, with Annie & The Caldwells opening.
- 6 July: the Charles Lloyd quartet and Terence Blanchard with Ravi Coltrane in the “Miles Davis – John Coltrane Centennial Celebration”.
- 7 July: Laurie Anderson with Sexmob, her only Italian date, and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram.
- 8 July: Snarky Puppy with the Metropole Orkest conducted by Jules Buckley.
- 9 July: the screening of Valentina Cenni’s film “Tutta Vita”, followed by Stefano Bollani All Stars live, with Enrico Rava and Paolo Fresu.
- 10 July: a Brazilian evening with Gilsons and Gilberto Gil.
- 11 July: Zucchero with the “Overdose d’Amore” tour, already sold out.
- 12 July: the finale with Elvis Costello & The Imposters and Charlie Sexton, their only Italian date; Judith Owen opens.
The festival beyond the Arena
The free heart of Umbria Jazz lies in its squares and gardens: Piazza IV Novembre, the Giardini Carducci and the Terrazza del Mercato Coperto host concerts all day long, while the Teatro Morlacchi, with Paolo Fresu, Bill Frisell and Kenny Barron, and the Sala Podiani of the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria welcome the more intimate concerts. The festival is previewed on 2 July by a Serena Brancale concert in Piazza IV Novembre.
Why this event is not to be missed
Sting, Laurie Anderson and Charles Lloyd on the same bill, and half the programme with free entry: it is the perfect excuse for a weekend in Perugia, even without a ticket for the Arena.
Practical info
- When: from 3 to 12 July 2026, preview on 2 July.
- Where: Arena Santa Giuliana, Teatro Morlacchi and the squares of central Perugia.
- Tickets: for the Arena on Boxol, TicketOne, Ticketmaster and Vivaticket; for example Sting from €70, Charles Lloyd and Laurie Anderson from €35, plus booking fees, with a 20% discount for under-26s.
- Full programme: umbriajazz.it.
Frequently asked questions
Are there free concerts?
Yes: more than half of the 275 events have free entry, especially in Piazza IV Novembre, at the Giardini Carducci and on the Terrazza del Mercato Coperto.