There’s a special kind of buzz when the Jazz Festival rolls into town.

The city comes alive with music spilling from every doorway, brass bands marching through the streets, and impromptu jam sessions breaking out on corners — it’s a weekend when Cork truly swings to its own rhythm.

That unique energy is back this weekend as The Big Fringe returns to the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival over the October Bank Holiday.

Organised by the Cork Jazz Festival Committee, the Big Fringe brings the magic of live music to the streets with free performances, pop-up gigs, and a lively mix of local and visiting artists, turning Cork City into one big open-air stage.

Photo: Darragh Kane

A big highlight is the Oliver Plunkett Street Stroll on Friday 24th from 6.30pm. Stroll from Grand Parade, down the iconic Oliver Plunkett Street, onto Maylor Street and Caroline Street as you listen to some of the best national and international brass and marching bands for a special cacophony of music.

Here’s our pick of the rest: 

Beat on the Street

For a real Cork experience, follow the music across the city and catch Beat on the Street — a series of spontaneous jazz performances from some of the UK and Europe’s best marching bands on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

• This year’s line-up includes: New York Brass Band, Hyde Park Brass Band, Lamarotte, Code of Behaviour, Tbl8 Brass Band, Rebel Brass Band, and The Brass Kings.

Super Dome Jazz Stage – Opera House Plaza, Emmet Place

Visit the Super Dome Jazz Stage on Saturday and Sunday afternoons for a lively line-up of free performances, with bands and musicians keeping the atmosphere electric throughout the day.

Jazz Market – St Patrick’s Street

Soak up the festival buzz at the new Jazz Market on Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 7pm. Sample local produce, browse artisan stalls, and enjoy live music right in the heart of the city.

Live at the Library – Rory Gallagher Music Library, Cork City Library

Discover the stories behind the sounds with the Live at the Library series throughout the week.
Highlights include:

• An Introduction to the Jazz Orchestra

• Women in Jazz featuring vocalist Ivy Favier and guitarist Simone Cooke

• Live brass sessions and more

The Big Jazz Bus

Back by popular demand, the Big Jazz Bus returns from Friday to Sunday, winding through the city streets with live performances from its rooftop stage. Shoppers and passers-by can enjoy surprise sets as the bus rolls by.

Jazz Gospel Service – St Anne’s Church, Shandon

Start your Sunday morning on a soulful note with the much-loved Jazz Gospel Service at 10:45am in one of Cork’s most iconic landmarks.

A Touch of Blarney – Daunt’s Square

Don’t miss A Touch of Blarney on Sunday from 3:30pm, featuring Cork’s own Blarney Brass & Reed Band, bringing a homegrown flair to the festivities.

Jazz Jamboree – Opera House Plaza

Wrap up the weekend with the Jazz Jamboree at 5pm on Sunday, as visiting European brass bands come together for a lively farewell jam session that captures the spirit of the festival.

Festival Club & Riverside Sessions

Keep the music going into the night at the Festival Club at the Metropole Hotel, the original home of the Jazz Festival, with live performances all weekend. Then ease into Bank Holiday Monday with Jazz by the Riverside at the River Lee Hotel, featuring the ever-energetic New Brass Band.

Jazz by the sea

For even more jazz, the coastal town of Kinsale will host its own fringe, the Guinness Kinsale Jazz Festival, which runs alongside the main city events.

Highlights include a Marching Brass Band, Lamorotte, on the streets of Kinsale Saturday afternoon.  More than 100 live performances will take place across four days at The Blue Haven, Hamlets, Kitty O’Sé’s, Harry’s, Oscar’s, Sam’s, The Lord Kingsale, The White House, Trident Hotel, Dalton’s, The Spaniard, The White Lady, the Tap Tavern and The Bulman.

An eight piece brass show band can be seen in Oscar Madisons, all the way from Kent, and Loose Change will make their appearance again in the heart of Kinsale.