Durham Jazz Festival has been built on belief.
Belief that this historic city deserves a major regional jazz festival.
Belief that the North East’s extraordinary musicians deserve a bigger platform.
Belief that live music can bring communities together in powerful and lasting ways.
Now we are asking you to help us take the next step.
Why We Need Your Support
Durham Jazz Festival is a non profit organisation committed to delivering an ambitious, diverse and high quality annual festival in the heart of the city.
Launching and establishing a new arts festival takes significant resources. Venue hire, artist fees, production costs, staging, sound, lighting, insurance, marketing and accessibility provision all form part of what audiences see as a seamless weekend of music.
Behind every performance is months of preparation and investment.
Our Crowdfunder campaign has been created to ensure we can deliver the 2026 festival to the standard Durham deserves and to lay the foundations for long-term sustainability.
This is not about profit. It is about creating something that belongs to the city.
Building a Festival for Durham
Durham is uniquely placed to host a major jazz festival. With its Cathedral, Castle and riverbanks forming a UNESCO World Heritage setting, the city offers a remarkable backdrop for live performance.
Across multiple venues, from intimate spaces to large headline concerts, we are curating a programme that reflects the full breadth of modern jazz. The festival will showcase outstanding North East artists while also bringing leading national and international performers to Durham audiences.
We are also committed to supporting emerging talent. Through workshops, masterclasses and performance opportunities, younger musicians will be able to learn from and perform alongside established professionals.
Your support helps make all of that possible.
What Your Contribution Will Help Fund
Every pledge, whatever the amount, directly strengthens the festival. Funding raised through our Crowdfunder will help us:
- Secure major headline artists
- Provide fair fees for performers
- Support young and emerging musicians
- Deliver workshops and educational activity
- Expand our pop up programme across local venues
- Keep ticket prices accessible
- Invest in high quality sound and production
When you support Durham Jazz Festival, you are investing in live music, local talent and the cultural life of the city.
Supporting the North East Jazz Scene
The North East has a vibrant and thriving jazz community. Musicians, promoters, venues and audiences have sustained the scene for decades, often with limited national recognition and funding.
Durham Jazz Festival aims to amplify that talent. To provide a visible, high profile platform that celebrates the depth and diversity of jazz in our region.
By backing our Crowdfunder, you are helping to create paid opportunities for musicians, strengthen local venues and reinforce Durham’s place within the national jazz landscape.
A Festival That Belongs to the Community
Crowdfunding is not simply about raising money. It is about building ownership.
We want Durham Jazz Festival to be shaped and supported by the people who care about live music in this city. By contributing, you become part of the story. You help demonstrate that there is a real appetite for a festival of this ambition.
Public backing also strengthens our ability to secure additional funding and sponsorship. Every pledge sends a clear message that Durham values arts and culture.
How You Can Help
There are several ways to support the campaign:
- Make a pledge, whatever feels right for you
- Share the Crowdfunder link with friends and colleagues
- Encourage local businesses to get involved
- Spread the word across social media
Even if you cannot contribute financially, sharing the campaign helps build momentum.
Together, we can establish a festival that grows year on year and becomes a defining part of Durham’s cultural calendar.
Join Us in Building the Durham Jazz Festival
Durham Jazz Festival 2026 will take place from 23 to 25 October across venues in the city centre. It promises to be a vibrant, inclusive celebration of modern jazz.
With your support, we can deliver a festival that reflects the character, creativity and ambition of Durham itself.
Visit our Crowdfunder page today and help us bring Durham Jazz Festival to life.
Let us build something lasting, together.
