The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival spans two weekends in 2026: April 23-26 and April 30 - May 3. The week in between gives you the perfect opportunity to explore all that New Orleans has to offer: great cuisine, historic neighborhoods, and lots of live music. Read below for our picks for the week, from neighborhood strolls to late night shows.

MONDAY, APRIL 27

Rest easy on the Monday after the first weekend of Jazz Fest while still making the most of your time in the city. Many restaurants are closed on Mondays, but plenty are open for you to enjoy. Surrey’s Café and Juice Bar and Birdy’s Behind the Bower are both open on Mondays and located on Magazine Street, positioning you well for your day exploring the shopping corridor. Near the Fairgrounds in Mid-City, Neyow’s is the spot for delicious Creole cuisine, while Monday Restaurant + Bar has an all-day happy hour on—you guessed it—Mondays!  

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You can do it all on the six-mile-long Magazine Street: shop til you drop, get a massage, take a yoga class, or eat and drink to your heart’s content. Discover Magazine Street here and plan your day.

Stay Uptown until Shorty Fest, an annual event at Tipitina’s put on by local artist Trombone Shorty. This year’s event features Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave, Cimafunk & La Tribu, with Special Guests Tarriona "Tank" Ball (Tank & The Bangas), Big Freedia, Jelly Joseph, and more, as well as students from the Trombone Shorty Academy. The event also has a free block party featuring performances from brass bands, local high school marching bands, Mardi Gras Indians, food trucks, and a silent auction. It’s a party you won’t want to miss. The fun kicks off at 5 p.m. (concert at 8 p.m.).

Jazz Fest After Dark: On Monday, April 27 head to the Broadside for Bayou RenDAZEvous! This concert actually starts at 2:30 p.m. and has sets all the way through 2:30 a.m.! Catch Good Enough For Good Times, Big Chief Donald Harrison Jr., and so many more.

TUESDAY, APRIL 28

Plan to explore City Park on this day. The Besthoff Sculpture Garden has free admission and is the perfect place to start your morning. Grab a coffee and beignets from Café du Monde and take a stroll around the garden, but you’ll want to save some energy for even more festin’ later. 

Wind down from the busy day by tasting some of the city’s delicious Asian cuisine, at Café Minh, Phở Tầu Bay, or one of these spots in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. 

Jazz Fest After Dark: Head back to Tip's for The 4th Annual Zildjian Jam ft. Performances by Adam Deitch, Nikki Glaspie, Alfred Jordan, Stanton Moore, Brian Richburg, Herlin Riley, Deven Trusclair, Raymond Weber.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29

Backatown Coffee Parlour is the perfect place to start your morning. Go for a hearty option like the crawfish quiche or banana nut coffee cake while sipping cold brew on the outdoor patio. Take a 15-minute stroll to enjoy the French Quarter in the quiet morning hours, exploring sights like Royal Street, Jackson Square, and St. Louis Cathedral.

Enjoy a muffaletta lunch from Napoleon House. You can get takeout and walk to Woldenberg Park to watch the ships pass on the Mississippi River. You’re in the perfect spot to visit a museum, perhaps the Historic New Orleans Collection or the New Orleans Jazz Museum. Take your pick and spend the afternoon exploring.

Head downtown at 5 p.m. for Wednesday at the Square, a free concert series held in Lafayette Square throughout spring. This Wednesday, Kermit Ruffins and the BBQ Swingers + La Tran-K Band will take the stage. Food and drinks from various vendors will be available for purchase.

For a more formal dinner, or post-concert cocktails, you have several options within walking distance: Seaworthy, Pluck Wine Bar, Meril, Pêche…the options are endless!

Jazz Fest After Dark: The Radiators perform at the Civic Theatre at 10 p.m.

THURSDAY, APRIL 30 

Thursday, May 1, is Local’s Thursday, in which locals can buy tickets for $50, plus fees, in advance. Before going to the fest, explore more of New Orleans. Head to Bayou Road and historically Black Tremé, located not far from the Fairgrounds where Jazz Fest is held.

Dine at Dooky Chase, where presidents and dignitaries have tasted the late Chef Leah Chase’s gumbo and fried chicken. Shop along Bayou Road, take a walking tour of the area, or enjoy coffee (and a sno-ball) on Esplanade Avenue at the Flagpole. Louis Armstrong Park and Congo Square are not far from the area and are definitely worth checking out for a little New Orleans culture. Rest up for a night bursting with local live music.

Jazz Fest After Dark: Catch Karl Denson's Tiny Universe & La Lom: A celebration of Jimmy Cliff at The Fillmore.

FRIDAY, MAY 1

It’s the second and last Jazz Fest Friday, with a lineup including Lainey Wilson, The Black Keys, Ziggy Marley, and more. Gates open at 11 a.m. - get to the Fairgrounds at your leisure for a day full of food, music, and festing.

Jazz Fest After Dark: Head to the Marigny Opera House for Maggie Koerner & Friends ft. Claire Givens & Mopodna, Lyla George, and Olivia Barnes.