Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland is rolling back into Playhouse Square June 25–27 with a lineup that slides from modern R&B to classic funk. Headliners Durand Bernarr and the Ohio Players top a weekend that mixes ticketed indoor shows with free plaza performances downtown. The hybrid festival promises big-name theater concerts alongside community-facing outdoor sets under Playhouse Square’s chandelier.
According to Cleveland Scene, the 2026 lineup features Durand Bernarr with local opener Hubbs’s Groove and the Ohio Players in headlining slots, plus separately ticketed concerts from Nicholas Payton and Laurin Talese. The Scene also points to late-afternoon shows by Chris Dave’s The Drumhedz and Ron Carter’s Foursight Quartet, along with a Wildflowers performance that pairs Kurt Elling with Fred Hersch. That coverage casts the bill as intentionally wide-ranging, running from hometown artists and students to jazz elders and funk legends.
Tri-C’s festival page confirms that the 47th annual Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland runs June 25–27 at Playhouse Square and describes the weekend as a blend of indoor ticketed concerts and free outdoor programming. Playhouse Square is promoting an early-bird festival pass for a limited time and emphasizes the flexibility passholders have to move between indoor theatres and outdoor stages. Tri-C also highlights JazzFest’s long history of education and community engagement. (Tri-C).
Individual concert tickets are scheduled to go on sale March 20 through the Playhouse Square box office, and festival passes are on sale now with a sales window noted through May 15, 2026, as reported by Cleveland Scene. Organizers advise buying early because many indoor concerts tend to sell out; for seating maps and box-office purchases, consult Playhouse Square’s box office.
New leadership, local roots
Tri-C announced Orlando Watson as the incoming executive director of JazzFest in November 2025. The college’s release notes that Watson previously served as the festival’s associate director and returns to lead audience growth and education efforts. The announcement highlights Watson’s work at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center and his focus on student engagement. Local coverage at Ideastream reported he is the youngest director in the festival’s history.
What to expect in the plaza
As in recent years, the festival will include free outdoor sets in Playhouse Square’s plaza, designed for casual listeners, families and students to encounter music without a ticket. Playhouse Square’s event listings and Tri-C’s JazzFest materials emphasize that outdoor programming is complimentary and meant to complement the indoor ticketed concerts. Local acts and JazzFest Academy students traditionally appear on those stages, giving the weekend a hometown feel even with national headliners in the mix. (Playhouse Square).
Plan ahead: festival passes and hot-ticket shows can sell out, and downtown parking or transit often fills up on show nights. For the latest schedule and ticketing details, consult Tri-C’s JazzFest page and Playhouse Square’s box office. The festival takes place at Playhouse Square, 1501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland.
