Jazz Festival

First announced at the 2022 Ponta Lopud Film Festival with an open-air screening of the Oscar winning film Birdman – featuring a full length live performance of the film by its Grammy-winning composer Antonio Sánchez – the Jazz Festival seamlessly built a bridge between music and cinema. Starting in 2023, the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival turned Lopud Island into a vibrant jazz hub, bringing together world-renowned musicians, emerging talent, and jazz enthusiasts to celebrate music and freedom of expression. The festival offers nightly concerts and a myriad of daily masterclasses for pre-selected young professional musicians, which have been led by the festival’s performers and jazz greats such as Joe Lovano, Kenny Werner, Thana Alexa, Antonio Sánchez, Linda May Han Oh, David Sánchez, Nicole Zuraitis, Michael League, and more.

Celebrating the Spirit of Jazz

Evenings are filled with unforgettable concerts set under the stars and enchanting Palm trees of the Grand Hotel garden and followed by open jam sessions in which our outdoor venue is transformed into an intimate jazz club. Festival fellows, masters, and jazz enthusiasts are invited to step onto the Ponta Lopud stage, creating musical conversations with their spontaneous improvisation.

Beyond jazz, the festival offers an immersive experience that encompasses gourmet events, wine tastings, exploration of Lopud’s rich cultural heritage, and lively parties—all contributing to an inspiring and collaborative atmosphere.

Linda May Han Oh
The Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival is truly one of its kind. We had a beautiful week playing music, sharing information with the enthusiastic students and absorbing the local culture. We hope we will be returning soon!

Linda May Han Oh - Grammy winning bassist, Jazz Festival 2024
Kenny Werner
The Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival is a rare treat and a rare experience. Great talent and tremendous commitment by two giants in Jazz, Thana Alexa and Antonio Sanchez.

Kenny Werner - American jazz pianist and composer, Jazz Festival 2024
Michael League
Ponta Lopud is everything a small, exquisitely-curated festival should be. An idyllic location, incredible hospitality, direct contact between the artists and the audience, and an unpretentious ambiance that is, at the same time, extremely luxurious. I hope to come back for many more editions.

Michael League - 5x Grammy winning bassist/ producer from USA, Jazz Festival 2024
Joe Lovano
Sharing the Blessings of Music in an idyllic setting such as this is a dream. The Love and Passion of all the folks I encountered was incredible beyond words. I was truly enlightened by the experience and look forward to a return visit to the Festival again and again

Joe Lovano - Grammy winning saxophonist, Jazz Festival 2023
Nicole Zuraitis
I don’t often describe things as perfect, but the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival is perfection in every way. Absolute highlight of my career in music.

Nicole Zuraitis - Grammy winning vocalist and pianist, Jazz Festival 2024
Thana Alexa
As an independent artist I know how valuable time and space is in processing life experiences and being fully in the moment to help cultivate our creativity. I also know how rare it is to be given that luxury. Providing an opportunity for artists at different career levels with this kind of experience is what the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival is all about and is exactly what makes it the most unique and life changing jazz festival experience in the entire world.

Thana Alexa - Grammy nominated vocalist and Artistic Director of the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival
Antonio Sánchez
I have never been to a festival quite like the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival. The beautiful setting, lovely camaraderie and ambiance, transcendent masterclasses, incredible gastronomy and the high level of the visiting artists makes this a one of a kind festival that no one should miss.

Antonio Sánchez - 4x Grammy winning drummer from Mexico, Jazz Festival 2023 & 2024
2023 JAZZ FESTIVAL
2024 JAZZ FESTIVAL
2025 JAZZ FESTIVAL
2024 JAZZ FESTIVAL