The sun shone on a record-breaking Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2025, with the highest tickets sold as music lovers descended on the Festival Village for six days of genre-defying performances and unforgettable moments – affirming the Festival’s place at the heart of Europe’s jazz calendar.

Celebrating Big Top Legends and Soul Stars  

The good times were rolling throughout May Bank Holiday weekend This year’s line-up brought together legends across pop, soul, rhythm and blues, along with the next generation of groundbreaking artists and bringing with them something for everyone. Highlights included University of Gloucestershire graduate Beverley Knight taking a break from her acclaimed West End run in Sister Act to light up the Big Top, a standout performance from R&B and soul singer Macy Gray, and rock royalty Roger Daltrey closing the Festival with his infamous microphone swing.  

David Gray and jazz star Nubya Garcia returned to Cheltenham, while a powerful showcase featured Alice Armstrong and Elles Bailey, celebrating the best of contemporary blues and soul. Legendary gospel group Blind Boys of Alabama brought gospel harmonies to Cheltenham Town Hall’s stage, and Lulu’s Cheltenham debut had the audience shouting for more. The vibrant Dutty Moonshine Big Band tore up the brand-new standing Jazz Arena, bringing together hundreds of revellers for one big jazz party.  

Connecting Lives Through the Music  

Bringing joyful moments to thousands of Festival-goers, the Bank Holiday weekend saw packed crowds across the Festival Village. New talent was celebrated on every stage, but especially on the Free Stage, which has had a glow-up this year, creating an exciting space for dancing and soaking up the glorious Bank Holiday sunshine.  

Showcasing Cheltenham Festivals’ mission to enable everyone to access arts and culture, live music across rock, pop, funk, jazz and blues spilled into over 50 of the town’s clubs, pubs and community spaces as part of the Festival’s …around town programme once more, thanks to the support of Cheltenham BID; from impromptu solos at Hotel du Vin to smooth saxophone over sunlit picnics in Montpellier Gardens, music filled the town once again. Late night jam sessions created spontaneous collaborations between musicians, showcasing the power of music to inspire and bring us together.  

Without our buzzing free events, our Free Stage wouldn’t be possible – just by being curious or exploring the Festival Village your support enables us to continue putting of free events for everyone to explore and enjoy.  

A Joyful Exploration of Jazz  

The Festival also took young people on a joyful exploration of jazz-infused exploration. the joy that comes from experiencing live music, no matter where or how. Over 1,400 school children from 20 schools experienced jazz – for many also live music – for the first time at the Festival’s Concert for Schools, where musicians introduced them to jazz’s roots and rhythms in an engaging and fun jam, including Musicats alumni, Lucy Anne-Daniels, who later in the week performed with Damien Lewis, Emelie Sandé, Tommy Blazie, Curtis Stigers and Lulu.  

As part of Cheltenham Festivals' 80th anniversary campaign to bring culture to 80,000 children, this event remains a cornerstone of its mission to inspire the next generation. Another particularly moving moment was watching children and their families enjoying the very first Family Concert at Cheltenham Jazz Festival. 

With Cheltenham Science Festival just around the corner, followed by Cheltenham Music Festival  in July and Cheltenham Literature Festival in October, the 80th birthday celebrations are just getting started – with Cheltenham Jazz Festival showing just how much we can change lives through connecting, uplifting and uniting people through music, arts and culture.