8th Annual San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival at The Rady Shell, June 13–14

Overview

The 8th Annual San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival returns to The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park on Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14, 2026 — two full days of world-class smooth jazz, soul, and R&B set against San Diego Bay's most iconic open-air concert venue. Presented by Rainbow Promotions LLC and hosted by saxophonist Eric Darius, this year's lineup brings together a stacked roster of Grammy-winning artists and chart-topping smooth jazz heavyweights for one of the festival's biggest editions yet.

2026 Smooth Jazz Festival Lineup

Hosted by Eric Darius, the 2026 lineup features:

• Boney James — Multi-Grammy-nominated saxophonist and smooth jazz icon
• Lalah Hathaway — Five-time Grammy-winning R&B and jazz vocalist
• Acoustic Alchemy — Two-time Grammy-nominated contemporary jazz duo
• Bob James — Grammy-winning pianist and composer (and the man behind one of hip-hop's most-sampled tracks, "Nautilus")
• Brian Simpson — Smooth jazz pianist
• Kim Waters — Smooth jazz saxophonist
• Jessy J — Latin jazz saxophonist
• Najee — Multi-Grammy-nominated saxophonist
• Pieces of a Dream — Long-running jazz-funk ensemble
• Plus more acts to be announced

Artists and schedules are subject to change.

When and Where

Saturday, June 13, 2026 — Gates open 2:30 PM, concert begins 3:00 PM

Sunday, June 14, 2026 — Gates open 2:30 PM, concert begins 3:00 PM

Location: The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park — 222 Marina Park Way, downtown San Diego, CA 92101

The Rady Shell sits on a 3.7-acre waterfront peninsula behind the San Diego Convention Center, across the bay from Coronado. It's the first permanent outdoor venue built for the San Diego Symphony — and the views from your seat are as much a part of the experience as the music.

Why This Festival Is a Big Deal

San Diego doesn't always get the major touring jazz festivals — most national jazz tours skip straight from LA to the Bay Area. The Smooth Jazz Festival is the city's annual answer to that gap, and the 8th edition's lineup proves the festival's grown into a legitimate destination event. Boney James, Lalah Hathaway, and Bob James on the same weekend bill is the kind of programming you'd usually have to fly to Newport, Detroit, or New Orleans to see.

The Rady Shell setting elevates the entire experience. Outdoor amphitheater, ocean breeze, food trucks and craft beverages on-site, and California sunsets sliding into evening sets — it's the rare festival where the venue itself is part of the story.

What to Bring

• Layers — bay nights cool down fast even in June
• Sunscreen and a hat for early afternoon sets
• Comfortable seating clothes
• Cash and cards for food and merch

Tickets and Parking

Tickets are available directly through The Rady Shell box office or by calling (619) 235-0804. The official festival site recommends buying directly through The Rady Shell rather than resellers to avoid inflated prices and ticket fraud. Resale prices on secondary markets typically run $150–$300+, depending on demand.

Parking is available through Ace Parking with dedicated purchase pages for each day's event. Public transit via the MTS Trolley or rideshare is the easier option for downtown shows.

Good to Know

• This is a rental event at The Rady Shell — the San Diego Symphony doesn't perform
• Both days run as separate concerts; you can purchase single-day or weekend tickets
• Pair with downtown San Diego — make a weekend of it with Little Italy Mercato on Saturday morning or a walk along the Embarcadero before doors

Buy tickets at sandiegosmoothjazzfestival.com →

For more events happening in San Diego this June, check out our full June events calendar or browse our downtown San Diego neighborhood guide.