Clearwater Jazz Holiday is tuning up for its 47th year with a wide-ranging 2026 lineup that includes Sheila E., Chris Botti, Larkin Poe, The Wood Brothers, Dumpstaphunk and more. The four-day festival returns to Coachman Park in downtown Clearwater from Oct. 15 to 18 with organizers mixing free, no-cover viewing areas alongside ticketed general admission, reserved seats and VIP options. The bill blends jazz heavyweights, funk and roots acts with local tributes aimed at pulling in a broad Tampa Bay audience.
Lineup, dates and the park
The Clearwater Jazz Holiday Foundation officially shared the roster this week, and according to Clearwater Jazz Holiday the event will run Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 15 to 18, on the large green at Coachman Park. The festival site lays out both paid programming and free experiences, including a scenic “Sunset Bluff” area with no-cover viewing. For fans who want to be closer to the action, reserved seating and VIP packages will also be on offer.
Headliners and themes
As reported by Creative Loafing Tampa, the 2026 bill features nearly two dozen acts, including trumpeter Chris Botti, Sheila E., Arturo Sandoval, sibling roots-rock duo Larkin Poe, Americana-flavored The Wood Brothers and funk outfit Dumpstaphunk, which will perform the music of Sly & the Family Stone. Creative Loafing notes that organizers have given each festival day its own musical personality, with themes labeled Cool Jazz, Feel the Rhythm, Blues & Brass, and Roots & Funk, so fans can zero in on the vibe they want. Tickets start at $39 and include access to certain general-admission areas, according to Creative Loafing.
Local tribute: ARConnection honors Chick Corea
Tampa ensemble ARConnection is set to perform “Fires of Forever,” a tribute to the late Chick Corea. Saxophonist Peter Carney, who will join the set, says the group has been building the show for more than a year. “Pablo, Dave, Mauricio and myself have all contributed different elements to this group that make for an exciting tribute to Chick’s legacy,” Carney wrote in a text message to Creative Loafing Tampa. The tribute carries particular weight locally because Corea lived in the Clearwater area, and festival organizers have also scheduled multiple side stages to showcase homegrown talent.
Tickets, viewing areas and local stages
The festival format is intentionally layered, with headline sets on the main green and additional programming on the plaza and pier stages that highlight Tampa Bay artists, according to Clearwater Jazz Holiday. Festival materials emphasize free pre-party stages and access to the Sunset Bluff area, which lets people listen in without buying main-stage tickets. Attendees can expect a mix of national names and local acts spread across two ticketed general-admission areas, reserved seating and VIP viewing platforms.
Why this year matters
In its 47th year, Clearwater Jazz Holiday is still leaning on its waterfront setting and community roots to bring visitors into downtown Clearwater. Visit St. Pete-Clearwater describes the event as one of the region’s signature fall festivals. This year’s blend of crossover headliners, funk-focused nights and local tributes signals an effort to broaden the festival’s reach while keeping long-standing jazz traditions very much in play.
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