It was a whopper weekend by all accounts.

The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival has been hailed as the most successful yet, with many businesses reporting record-breaking sales over Cork City’s busiest weekend.

More than 500 musicians and 100,000 jazz fans from Ireland and abroad filled Cork’s streets and stages, generating an estimated €45 million for the local economy.

TBL8 brass band performing live on the Jazz Bus during the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival. Photo: Darragh Kane

Cork Airport also reported one of its busiest weekends of the year, with over 62,000 passengers travelling through the airport – a 12 percent increase on last year.

Spending up 18 percent on 2024 

Data from European-licensed bank Revolut, which has more than three million customers (business and consumer) in Ireland, found that during the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, in-person card spending across Co. Cork rose by over 18 percent on last year’s event.

Over 17 percent more was spent in Cork bars, cafes, and restaurants over the 2025 weekend versus 2024, as festival goers enjoyed themselves long into the night. Compared to the previous weekend, this rose by 45 percent. Taxi drivers also benefited from the festival, with a more than 16 percent uplift in revenues, a more than 78 percent rise compared to the previous weekend in Cork.

In-person card payments towards tickets sales for the various events rose by almost 25 percent compared to last year’s Cork Jazz — up over 390 percent on the previous weekend.

“What a weekend!” said Festival Director Mark Murphy.

“There were so many sold-out shows. Highlights included Nubya Garcia, Lee Fields, Sienna Spiro, Daniel Herskedal, James Holden, Khakikid, Maverick Sabre, Cymande, and so many more.

“The Guinness Music Trail has also been a massive success, with venues packed to capacity. And the Big Fringe drew record crowds, filling the streets with incredible energy.”

President of the Cork Business Association Dave O’Brien said hotels, restaurants, bars, and local businesses all got a welcome jazz uplift and have seen a surge in trade this year as the festival continues to grow in strength:

“Congratulations to the hospitality sector, who once again delivered exceptional experiences for all festival-goers.” he added.