18 September 2025
Newsdesk
The EFG London Jazz Festival is returning to the Barbican and over 60 other venues across London from November 14-23, 2025, with the full lineup now announced. The festival's 33rd year promises to be a vibrant showcase of global and local jazz talent, featuring boundary-pushing music that highlights the genre's far-reaching influence.
This year’s Artist-in-Residence, Grammy-nominated surrealist blues poet aja monet, will kick off the Barbican’s programming with a powerful finale performance on November 14. She will be joined on stage by special guests, including Yahael Camara-Onono (Balimaya Project), Sheila Maurice-Grey (KOKOROKO), and Abdelillah Ouahbi (Arfoud Brothers & Sisters).
Other newly announced performers include a special event celebrating the 20-year legacy of the pioneering Take Five program. The show, titled “The Evolution of UK Jazz – 20 Years On,” will feature acclaimed artists Camilla George and Shabaka, along with Jason Yarde, Daniel Casimir, and others.
In addition to ticketed concerts, the Barbican will host FreeStage performances in its foyers, providing free access to jazz from around the world. This year’s free showcases will highlight music from Melbourne and Poland, along with the return of BBC Radio 3’s “‘Round Midnight” with Soweto Kinch.
The festival also sees the return of the Jazz on Screen film series, a curated program of rare and powerful cinematic works that explore the cultural forces of jazz. With its diverse programming and mix of legendary and emerging artists, the EFG London Jazz Festival continues to be a crucial event for the global jazz community.
