Two days of legendary performances. One week of music and community. All free in Madison Square Park and the Flatiron–NoMad districts.
This summer, New York City will move to the rhythm of jazz as the inaugural NoMad Jazz Festival transforms Madison Square Park and the surrounding neighborhoods into a premier cultural destination. Set for August 9–10, 2025, this new summer jazz festival in NYC begins with a week-long leadup celebration of music, community, and creativity throughout NoMad and Flatiron. It’s for people of all ages, free, and open to the public.
A New Jazz Tradition in a Legendary Neighborhood
Presented by The NoMad Alliance in collaboration with The Jazz Gallery, Flatiron NoMad Partnership, and Madison Square Park Conservancy, the NoMad Jazz Festival brings to the present the area’s legacy as the birthplace of Tin Pan Alley while looking boldly toward the future. NoMad and Flatiron, already known for their creative edge and architectural charm, will host Festival Week from August 3–8, leading into a two-day Mainstage finale that promises unforgettable live performances.
Festival Director Miriam Dalaei Fodera puts it simply: “This is a festival that’ll draw you in, make you feel right at home, and leave you counting the days until it returns next year.”
Mainstage Highlights: Jazz Icons & Rising Stars
Curated by The Jazz Gallery’s Artistic Director Rio Sakairi, the Mainstage lineup is stacked with talent that represents the best of contemporary jazz. Headliners include Lizz Wright and Ravi Coltrane presenting Translinear Light: The Music of Alice Coltrane. The festival also welcomes performances from the Roy Hargrove Big Band, The Brandee Younger Trio, Michael Mayo, Arta Jēkabsone, Caracas Trio + Melissa Almaguer, and the Dabin Ryu Trio.
Emcee James Browne – radio personality, producer, and board member of The Jazz Gallery – will host Saturday’s Mainstage performance.
Emcee Lezlie Harrison — WBGO announcer and The Jazz Gallery co-founder — will guide audiences through Sunday’s soul-stirring sets.
Sakairi shares, “It’s been one of my dreams to start a free outdoor jazz festival in the neighborhood. My hope is that everyone who attends will find their own doors into jazz.”
Family Programming: Hands-On Music and Joyful Discovery
Designed to engage and inspire, the NoMad Jazz Festival offers robust family programming that brings jazz to all generations. On Saturday, August 9, families can join the KongoNola Project, led by Goussy Célestin’s Ayiti Brass, for a blend of Haitian Rara rhythms, movement, and a kid-friendly instrument-making workshop.
Also on Saturday, the Asase Yaa Dance Theater Ensemble brings interactive performances celebrating the African diaspora through tap, gospel, and Afro-house traditions. On Sunday, August 10, catch the Grammy-winning Lucy Kalantari & the Jazz Cats, and don’t miss the try-it circus arts sessions with ABCirque.
As Holly Leicht, Executive Director of the Madison Square Park Conservancy, notes, “With family-friendly activities, the festival promises to introduce jazz to a new generation of future music lovers.”
Walking Tours Kick Off Each Day
On the mornings of August 9 and 10, MoMath offers two unique walking tours that blend architecture, history, and musical heritage:
Symmetry and the City: A Walk with Chaim Goodman-Strauss
Explore rhythm in stone and harmony in design on this guided tour led by mathematician and storyteller Chaim Goodman-Strauss. Discover how 19th-century architectural patterns echo musical structure in a walk that feels like a visual symphony.
- 9:00–10:00 AM
- Meet at MoMath, 225 5th Ave
- Register here
Tin Pan Alley: A Musical History Walk with Tim Nissen
Follow MoMath’s Tim Nissen through the birthplace of American pop music. Learn how Tin Pan Alley shaped 20th-century sound and explore the neighborhood’s cultural landmarks in this music-rich historical tour.
- 9:00–10:00 AM
- Meet at MoMath, 225 5th Ave
- Register here
Festival Week: Jazz Pop-Ups & Community Groove
The lead-up to the weekend is just as exciting. Festival Week (August 3–8) turns the Flatiron and NoMad districts into a week-long summer jazz festival in New York City, filled with pop-up jazz performances, dance activations, and surprise sets at local landmarks and retailers.
Kick off the week in style on Sunday, August 3, with Gilded Gatsby in Flatiron Plaza. Themed attire is encouraged as Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra set the mood alongside Charleston dance lessons, live painting sessions, and tintype photography booths.
Don’t miss Marcus Garrick Miller: Beauty and Logic on August 4 at The Jazz Gallery. This mathematician-saxophonist hybrid creates a dazzling blend of music and math that’s both cerebral and swinging.
Participating venues throughout the week include Scarpetta, Rizzoli Bookstore, Barlume, Sunday’s Studio, Poster House, Whole Foods Market, Natuzzi Italia, BRASS NY, Noir et Blanc, Blu Dot, and BLACKBARN, bringing jazz to unexpected corners of the city.
General Admission is Free — VIPs Get the Royal Treatment
The entire festival is free to the public, and no RSVP is required. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets and enjoy a full day of music under the trees of Madison Square Park. Staggered performances allow for casual drop-ins or all-day experiences.
VIP Passes, available now from $150–$300, offer perks like premium reserved seating, backstage access, exclusive festival merchandise, and direct support for this community-focused event. Passes are available via nomadjazzfestival.com/nomad-jazz-festival-vip-pass
Endless Summer and All That Jazz
As the festival energizes the streets, the Endless Summer and All That Jazz promotion keeps the energy going through September 30. Take advantage of discounts at over 50 participating businesses including restaurants, hotels, and retailers —yet another reason why this is the Summer Jazz Festival in NYC you won’t want to miss.
Thanks to Our Sponsors
The NoMad Jazz Festival is made possible by generous support from The NoMad Alliance, Simons Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, WBGO, Duggal, Kew Management, and Spira Lopez Legacy Foundation, along with community sponsors like La Dolce Vita, Apotheke NoMad, The New York EDITION, BLACKBARN, Shake Shack, Rizzoli Bookstore and Inday.
Additional support is provided by Scarpetta, Barlume, The Seville, Impact Kitchen, La Pecora Bianca, The Evelyn Hotel, A&J Custom Framing, BRASS NY, Mark’s Off Madison, Nicholas Athanail (Licensed Associate Real Estate Agent at The Corcoran Group), Kaufman Organization, and MoMath — reflecting the district’s ongoing commitment to cultural innovation and accessible public programming.
The Beat Goes On
Whether you’re a jazz devotee or discovering the genre for the first time, the NoMad Jazz Festival invites you to gather, groove, and explore the musical roots of one of New York’s most iconic neighborhoods. Join fans, families, artists, and creatives this August for the new summer jazz festival in NYC that’s redefining the season — and setting the stage for years to come.
For full schedule, VIP passes, and more info, visit NoMadJazzFestival.com and follow @NoMadJazzFestival.