Aberjazz 2026: Jazz Music Festival in Pembrokeshire
Fishguard's annual music celebration over the August Bank Holiday
If you’re a music aficionado, clear your diary for the August Bank Holiday. One of Pembrokeshire’s most well-known and highly regarded music festivals invades one of the region’s prettiest harbourside towns for five days of music celebrations that you do not want to miss. We are, of course, referring to Aberjazz 2026.
Celebrating its 23rd anniversary in 2026, it is safe to say that Aberjazz is one of the longest-running events in West Wales and it’s clear to see why it comes back year after year. Hosted by the North Pembrokeshire town of Fishguard, once famed for being the location of the last invasion of Britain in 1797 (an unsuccessful attempt by the French under the guide of Napoleon), Aberjazz guarantees a fantastic and thoroughly enjoyable weekend for all who attend.
What is the Aberjazz Festival?
Aberjazz is a five-day celebration of world music with a strong emphasis on jazz and blues sounds. The event aims to spread joy through the medium of music, with live performances taking place over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
As with any music festival, you’ll be able to attend an entire array of performances - some of which are ticketed concerts and some are free “pop-up” events. You’ll also be able to attend workshops where you might even expand your knowledge of the Welsh language, learn dance, discover how to play guitar and more.
Where does Aberjazz 2026 take place?
Musicians, performers, bands and music listeners descend on the small but mighty town of Fishguard in North Pembrokeshire. You can purchase event tickets in advance for the ticketed concerts where prices range between £10 and £25, though details and pricing won't be announced until a couple of months before the event is set to take place.
You’ll also be able to attend free performances in some of your favourite pubs and restaurants throughout the town as they host special music nights as part of the town-wide festival. Festival goers in the past have been known to catch musical numbers at the likes of Ffwrn, Peppers, St Mary’s Church and Cresswell’s.
Almost Modern Jukebox at Aberjazz 2022 © Phil Blackmore
When is Aberjazz in 2026?
The 2026 Aberjazz jazz and music festival takes place between the 27th and 31st of August, the August Bank Holiday Weekend. It will kick off with an opening party on Thursday before culminating with a closing party on Monday 31st - after a weekend of music, of course.
About Aberjazz 2026
While full details are yet to be announced, we can tell you all about the 2025 Aberjazz festival to give you a feel for what you might be able to expect in 2026. There's guaranteed to be a fantastic calendar full of performances and other exciting events to keep the whole family entertained all weekend.
Ffwrn, a quaint restaurant and bar on Fishguard's Main Street, hosted the kick-off event with a double-bill of blues music from 1pm on Thursday 21st August, with Dave Speight, a traditional acoustic blues musician, followed by Panic Station, a high-energy rhythm and blues band from Port Talbot. The first day also saw performances by The Baire Connection, Gary Cain, Alice Armstrong and J4 across Ffwrn and Peppers.
The Vic Partridge Hot Five started at 1pm on Friday 23rd August followed by jazz fusion five-piece, Trunk of Funk. Later that day, Sharon Clancy performed in St Mary's Church alongside Vicky Barron on saxophone, clarinet and flute, and Tony Rex on piano. Dale Storr, an expert in New Orleans-style piano performed in Peppers, before Ma Bessie's Speakeasy took place later that evening in Theatr Gwaun.
Headliners The Cinelli Brothers, supported by Nothing in Rambling, took to the stage at 8pm on Friday 22nd in Ffwrn, Fishguard with a lively performance of harmonicas, guitars and bass sounds, mixed with great vocals and music inspired by electric blues of the 60s and 70s. The evening finished off with Cluster Funk in Peppers from 9:30pm.
Throughout the weekend, festival-goers enjoyed dozens of performances from the likes of Aberjazz regular, Lowri Evans, alongside guitarist Lee Mason and bass guitarist Jake Newman. Joanna Eden brought us a celebration of Joni Mitchell on Saturday 23rd with her show, "Joni and Me", while The Jay Azzonlina Quartet brought their sounds to the local shores all the way from New York.
Tomos Williams led "Seven Steps - the Music of Miles Davies" and Trwbadwr, a seven-piece latin music band from Europe and South America, also put on a concert. Almost Modern Jukebox performed a swing-take on chart-topping hits from recent years and father-daughter duo, Michael and Sadie Roach, also took to the stage. There was also the opportunity to take in music from singer-songwriter Kevin Brown, The James Oliver Band and Omega Two.
At 4pm on Bank Holiday Sunday, The Aberjazz Parade was led by the Aberjazz mascot dragon and Mr Wilson's Second Liners, who paid homage to 90s club classics and culture with rousing sounds and upbeat dance beats. This walking procession marched through the town to the Aberjam open mic area where there were further live performances, workshops, street food vendors and a bar.
Aberjazz 2026 came to an end with a Closing Party at Ffwrn led by local nine-piece band The Connections, who take inspiration from soul, funk and Mowtown music. As always from this collection of artists including brass players, musicians and more; this end-of-festival party was like no other with sing-along songs and dance hits.
Billy Thompson at Aberjazz 2022 © Phil Blackmore
How to buy tickets and get involved
Head over to aberjazz.com to purchase your tickets in advance and see the full line-up for the weekend. You can also stay updated via the Aberjazz Facebook page.
History of Aberjazz, Fishguard
It might be hard to imagine nowadays, but Aberjazz began in 2004 when a group of local jazz enthusiasts took it upon themselves to arrange a musical event in the small harbour town of Fishguard. Originally it was held in the last weekend of October and was primarily all about jazz.
A couple of years later in 2006, the event was moved to its new home of August Bank Holiday and the organisers decided to broaden the appeal by introducing blues music to the line-up. Cut to 2008 when the event was taken over by new management and Aberjazz as we know it was born, with a fuller event calendar that expanded into the rest of the year.
The last twenty years or so of the Aberjazz Festival have seen some incredible world-famous musicians play including the likes of Jacqui Danworth MBE, Courtney Pine, Paul Jones and Andy Fairweather Low. We can’t wait to see what the next twenty years of the festival has in store!
Coastal Cottages Holiday Cottages in Fishguard
Fishguard, previously a Viking settlement, is a small and friendly coastal town which comes to life on market day (Thursday). The small shops, galleries and restaurants are of particularly high quality and the town also hosts a fantastic annual international music and arts festival in July.
Thanks to Phil Blackmore for the Aberjazz photos used in this article.
