Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — The Playa del Carmen Jazz Fest has announced its third edition, set for Oct. 1-16, 2026, featuring an international lineup of concerts, master classes, artist residencies and free community activities.
Organized by the nonprofit Explayarte Asociación Civil, the festival will bring together artists from Mexico, France, the United States and Spain. The program includes concerts, workshops, master classes, artist residencies, talks, Silent Concerts and cultural exchange events.
The festival opens Oct. 1 with performances by the Emmanuel Mora Organ Trío and Rubén Pastor Trío, a night dedicated to Mexican jazz talent. On Oct. 2, Sampling Is Beautiful (France) and Kike Pat (Mexico) will share the stage, blending European sonic experimentation with Mexican musical creativity.
Oct. 3 features Santa Sabina (Mexico) and saxophonist Scott Paddock (United States). The closing concert of the international cycle on Oct. 4 will showcase Spanish singer Sole Giménez, founder and former lead vocalist of Presuntos Implicados, known for hits like “Cómo hemos cambiado” and “Alma de blues.”
The festival also includes a free academic program from Oct. 5-16 at the Explayarte School, with an improvisation workshop (Monday-Friday, 2:30-4 p.m.) and a jazz ensemble workshop (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:30-4 p.m.), open to students, musicians and the public.
Additional activities include master classes, talks, artist residencies, silent concerts, and a book and vinyl exchange and sale.
Tickets are available at teatrodelaciudad.com. For more information, visit the festival’s Instagram profile @pdcjazzfest.
