The 33rd EFG London Jazz Festival runs from 14 to 23 November 2025, featuring global artists across jazz and related genres, including world music. Over ten days, musicians will perform in venues citywide, celebrating jazz’s international influence and cultural intersections.
Ethiopian legend Mulatu Astatke returns with two shows, 16 November at Royal Festival Hall and 17 November at HERE at Outernet, supporting his first studio album in over a decade, Mulatu Plays Mulatu.
On 21 November, Queen Elizabeth Hall hosts Aga Khan Master Musicians & Friends: A Night of Musical Alchemy and Wonder, a collaboration with Vincent Peirani and laureates of the Aga Khan Music Awards. The concert combines global traditions with contemporary expression.
That same venue welcomes Malian singer Oumou Sangaré alongside the BBC Symphony Orchestra. The program includes performances by new Aga Khan Music Awards winners, announced during the closing weekend.
London saxophonist Nubya Garcia closes the festival at HERE at Outernet on 23 November, presenting a genre-blending set with bespoke visuals.
Cadogan Hall features Iranian tar and shurangiz virtuoso Hossein Alizadeh (14 Nov), jazz vocalist Stella Cole (16 Nov), violinist Nigel Kennedy (18 Nov), pianist Taylor Eigsti with Becca Stevens (19 Nov), and pianist-composer Bill Laurance (22 Nov), who debuts music from Lumen.
On 19 November, Queen Elizabeth Hall presents The Waste Land, a setting of T.S. Eliot’s poem directed by Adrian Dunbar with music by Nick Roth and the Guildhall Session Orchestra.
Drummer Tom Skinner headlines Queen Elizabeth Hall on 21 November. A key figure in London’s underground jazz scene, he is known for work with Sons of Kemet and The Smile.
At KOKO on the same night, Adrian Younge leads a 10-piece orchestra for Something About April III, the finale of his psychedelic soul trilogy. The show promises guest appearances in the spirit of his Jazz Is Dead series.
Ilhan Ersahin’s Istanbul Sessions return to EartH Theatre on 23 November, following a sold-out appearance earlier this year.
Union Chapel presents two concerts: a 15 November double bill with longtime collaborators Sam Amidon and Thomas Bartlett, and Moment’s Notice on 18 November, George Nelson’s spontaneous improv series returns with a new secret lineup.
Milton Court hosts Dhamaal, a high-energy fusion led by Shri Sriram on 16 November, followed by Anthony Joseph and Dave Okumu’s performance of Rowing Up River to Get Our Names Back on 17 November.
Somi, mentored by Hugh Masekela, performs at Jazz Cafe on 22 November. Her music combines personal storytelling with African jazz and soul.
Singer and conceptual artist ESKA appears at The Lower Third on 18 November, presenting new material spanning jazz, avant-garde, and electronic music.
Take Five, Serious’ talent development program, marks its 20th anniversary with multiple concerts. A headline show at the Barbican on 19 November features new works by Shabaka Hutchings, Camilla George, and Jason Yarde. Other Take Five showcases include:
- 15 Nov, Purcell Room (matinee): Marysia Osu and Rory A. Green
- 16 Nov, Purcell Room (matinee): Matt Carmichael and Gloria Yehilevsky
- 16 Nov (evening): Marco Mezquida’s Tornado
- 17 Nov, Elgar Room: Olivia Murphy’s Moonrise Ensemble, Andrew Woodhead’s Swing You Sinners, and Lewis Daniel
- 20 Nov, Toulouse Lautrec: Bryony Jarman-Pinto
Additional performances announced include Sarathy Korwar Drum Ensemble at ICA (15 Nov), Neil Charles, Mark Sanders and Cleveland Watkiss in Dark Days at Camden Arts Centre (20 Nov), and Rosie Frater-Taylor at The Courtyard (22 Nov).
Dee Dee Bridgewater’s Barbican concert is presented in collaboration with Eurostar, celebrating over three decades of London–Paris cultural exchange.
The festival is produced by Serious and supported by title sponsor EFG, along with Arts Council England, Serious Trust, BBC Radio 3, Champagne Thienot, Jazzwise Magazine, and Jazz FM UK.
EFG London Jazz Festival Shows
12 – 14 Nov – aja monet (Artist in Residence) – Barbican
14 Nov – Hossein Alizadeh – Cadogan Hall
14 Nov – Jazz Voice – Royal Festival Hall
15 Nov – Sam Amidon ‘Salt River’ & Thomas Bartlett – Union Chapel
15 Nov – Marysia Osu + Rory Green (Take Five matinee showcases) – Purcell Room
15 Nov – Sarathy Korwar Drum Ensemble – ICA
15 Nov – Joan As Police Woman – EartH Theatre
15 Nov – We Exist! The Dee Dee Bridgewater Quartet – Barbican
15 Nov – Tanita Tikaram – Royal Festival Hall
15 Nov – Chris Thile – Queen Elizabeth Hall
15 Nov – Kurt Elling and The Yellowjackets Celebrate Weather Report – Cadogan Hall
16 Nov – Mulatu Astatke – Royal Festival Hall
16 Nov – Stella Cole – Cadogan Hall
16 Nov – Matt Carmichael + Gloria Yehilevsky (Take Five matinee showcases) – Purcell Room
16 Nov – Marco Mezquida: Tornado – Purcell Room
16 Nov – Dhamaal + Shri Sriram – Milton Court
16 Nov – Hermeto Pascoal & Grupo – Barbican
16 Nov – Michael Wollny Trio + Emma Rawicz INKYRA – Queen Elizabeth Hall
16 Nov – Bilal – Village Underground
17 Nov – Mulatu Astatke – HERE at Outernet
17 Nov – Anthony Joseph + Dave Okumu – Milton Court
17 Nov – Take Five Presents: Olivia Murphy’s Moonrise Ensemble, Andrew Woodhead’s Swing You Sinners & Lewis Daniel – Elgar Room
17 Nov – Levitation Orchestra – Islington Assembly Hall
18 Nov – Moments Notice – Union Chapel
18 Nov – Eska – The Lower Third
18 Nov – Nigel Kennedy “Spiritual Connection” – Cadogan Hall
18 Nov – Jasmine Myra with Strings – Hackney Church
19 Nov – The Evolution of UK Jazz – 20 Years On ft. Camilla George and Shabaka – Barbican
19 Nov – Taylor Eigsti Group ft Becca Stevens – Cadogan Hall
19 Nov – Adrian Dunbar presents T.S.Eliot’s The Waste Land Music by Nick Roth with Guildhall Session Orchestra – Queen Elizabeth Hall (6 & 8pm)
19 Nov – Queer Jazz: B.H.A.M w/ Abi Asisa – Vortex
19 Nov – Makaya McCraven – KOKO
19 Nov – Rita Payés – Union Chapel
20 Nov – Bryony Jarman-Pinto – Toulouse Lautrec
20 Nov – Dark Days Neil Charles, Mark Sanders and Cleveland Watkiss – Camden Arts Centre
20 Nov – Ana Carla Maza – Cadogan Hall
20 Nov – Emma-Jean Thackray – KOKO
20 Nov – London Sinfonietta with Marius Neset – Queen Elizabeth Hall
20 Nov – Fergus McCreadie + Laura Jurd – Union Chapel
20 Nov – GeeJay – Islington Assembly Hall
21 Nov – Aga Khan Master Musicians & Friends: A Night of Musical Alchemy and Wonder
21 Nov – Adrian Younge / Jazz is Dead – KOKO
21 Nov – Tom Skinner – Queen Elizabeth Hall
21 Nov – Gary Crosby’s Africa Space Programme featuring Denys Baptiste, Winston Clifford + Guest – Vortex
21 Nov – The Weather Station with Strings – EartH Theatre
21 Nov – Bill Frisell Trio – Cadogan Hall
21 Nov – Hiromi’s Sonicwonder – Barbican
22 Nov – Somi – Jazz Cafe
22 Nov – Bill Laurance – Cadogan Hall
22 Nov – SpiceJazz presents Rosie Frater-Taylor – The Courtyard
22 Nov – Tortoise + Jeremiah Chiu and Marta Sofia Honer – Barbican
22 Nov – Tune-Yards – Royal Festival Hall
23 Nov – Nubya Garcia – HERE at Outernet
23 Nov – Oumou Sangaré with BBC Concert Orchestra – Queen Elizabeth Hall
23 Nov – Ilhan Ersahin Istanbul Sessions – EartH Theatre
23 Nov – Adekunle Gold with Guildhall Session Orchestra – Royal Festival Hall
23 Nov – Japanese Jazz – Barbican
23 Nov – Swingin’ With Strings – Cadogan Hall
23 Nov – Herbert & Momoko – Village Underground
More information at efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk
Author: World Music Central News Room
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