Monash University Performing Arts Centres is wasting no time in 2026, launching its jazz calendar with a full venue takeover and a stacked midweek season that’s already a favourite with Melbourne music fans.
Big Jazz Day Out returns on Saturday 21 March, transforming Monash University Performing Arts Centres into an all day celebration of jazz and contemporary music. More than 100 musicians will perform across five stages, spanning orchestral collaborations, Brazilian rhythms, soul jazz, big band and genre bending new works.
Headliners include Vince Jones, ARIA winning act Mildlife, Mindy Meng Wang alongside Paul Grabowsky, and Mama Alto. From Cookin’ on 3 Burners to the Monash Brazilian Ensemble and the Mordialloc Jazz Orchestra’s Jazzeoke, one ticket gets you access to it all.
Then there’s Live at The Count’s, the intimate Wednesday night series curated by Chelsea Wilson. Hosted inside the 150 seat jazz club at Clayton, the Autumn season moves from Roscoe James Irwin’s soul jazz special to Bolivian born pianist Danilo Rojas, Bossa Nova favourites Diana Clark and Doug de Vries, and a swinging night with The Pearly Shells.
Highlights also include Alinta and the Jazz Emperors, Ultrafox with Georgia Brookes, an April Fool’s love themed showcase, the Yael Zamir Quintet celebrating Roland Kirk, a Nina Simone tribute starring Ruth Rogers Wright, and sets from Nat Bartsch and Mina Yu.
From major festival energy to close up club nights, MPAC is setting the tone early for a big year in jazz. Tickets and full program at monash.edu/mpac
