manchester jazz festival

What manchester jazz festival does

Manchester Jazz Festival (mjf) is a not-for-profit registered charity (No. 1130000) founded in 1996 that produces an annual 10-day contemporary jazz festival across Greater Manchester. Its core activity is the May festival — mjf2026 ran 15-24 May 2026 as the 31st edition across 12+ partner venues including Band on the Wall, Matt & Phreds, RNCM, Stoller Hall, and Aviva Studios (Factory International). Year-round, mjf operates the UK's largest piano trail (18 street pianos spanning 10 boroughs) and a portfolio of artist development programmes (mjf originals for commissioning, mjf hothouse for talent development, mjf soundcheck for emerging artists), plus a Youth Advisory Board for 18-25 year-olds and a partnership with Jazz North delivering the Northern Line showcase. Open artist submissions contribute 20% of the festival lineup.

The organization is led by Artistic Director/CEO Steve Mead, who co-founded the festival in 1996, alongside a team of approximately 8-10 staff (General Manager, Festival Producer, Fundraising & Partnerships Manager, Brand & Communications Specialist, Operations & Festival Administrator, Digital Creative Content Creator, and Audience Invitations Specialist), governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Victoria Robinson. The technology footprint is deliberately light: Eventbrite for ticketing, Mailchimp for email, Gravity Forms for sign-ups, and standard social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X, YouTube). There is no proprietary software, API, or AI capability.

Revenue is generated from six streams: ticket sales (events priced from free to £27+), mjf friends annual membership at £35/year, corporate sponsorship (including Yamaha for the piano trail), public funding from Arts Council England, Manchester City Council, and GMCA, donations via the Play it Forward: Street Piano Fund (Gift Aid eligible), and paid piano trail walking tours (£12/adult). Customer segments span the general public, jazz enthusiasts, families with children, emerging and established artists, young people, and corporate partners. mjf was the first UK festival signatory to Keychange (gender balance pledge) and an early signatory to Black Lives in Music, and won a Europe Jazz Network Award for Adventurous Programming.

Name

manchester jazz festival

Legal name

Manchester Jazz Festival

Website

https://manchesterjazz.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Manchester Jazz Festival is a not-for-profit registered charity that produces an annual 10-day contemporary jazz festival across 12+ Greater Manchester venues, runs the UK's largest 18-piano street trail, and operates artist development programmes for emerging jazz musicians. It serves the general public, jazz audiences, families, artists, and corporate sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Music Festival Services

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Concerts & Music Festivals (THAJAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Music & Dance Festivals (Non-Commercial/Local) (MPAGAEAH)

Keywords

• Jazz music festival
• Live music events
• Artist development programs
• Community music initiatives
• Music talent commissioning

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from festival event tickets sold via Eventbrite and at venue box offices. Prices range from free (some events) to £27+ for premium performances. Range includes seated and standing options, with concessions available.
2. Membership (mjf friends): Annual membership at £35 per year offering priority booking, 15% discount on advance tickets, invites to mjf launch party, special events, and offers from partner venues.
3. Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorship opportunities offered to businesses seeking association with the festival. Includes sponsorship of the piano trail, individual events, and general festival support.
4. Public Funding: Partially funded by Arts Council England and Manchester City Council. Funding requires quantitative and qualitative data reporting for public accountability.
5. Donations: Play it Forward: Street Piano Fund accepts donations for maintenance and expansion of the piano trail network. Gift Aid scheme available for UK taxpayers to reclaim 25p per £1 donated.
6. Piano Trail Activities: Revenue from piano trail walking tours (£12 per adult, children free), with £2 of each ticket donated to the Play it Forward: Street Piano Fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Manchester Jazz Festival is a registered charity that produces an annual ten-day contemporary jazz festival across 12+ venues in Greater Manchester, featuring hundreds of musicians. Its offering extends beyond the festival itself to include the UK's largest piano trail (18 street pianos), artist development schemes (mjf originals, hothouse, soundcheck), a Youth Advisory Board, and an open artist submissions process that drives 20% of the festival lineup.

Product overview

Manchester Jazz Festival is a not-for-profit registered charity presenting the UK's largest piano trail and an annual ten-day jazz music festival. The core offering is the mjf Festival featuring hundreds of musicians across 12+ venues in Manchester, complemented by artist development programs (mjf originals, mjf hothouse, mjf soundcheck), the Youth Advisory Board, and community engagement initiatives including the Piano Trail. The festival offers membership (mjf Friends) and manages partnerships with organizations like Jazz North and Oldham Coliseum Theatre. The organization does not offer a software product, API, or technology platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• mjf Festival (Annual Jazz Festival) Annual ten-day contemporary jazz music festival featuring hundreds of musicians across multiple venues in Greater Manchester, presenting contemporary, genre-fusing jazz from local, UK, and international artists. The 31st edition (mjf2026) ran 15-24 May 2026 across 12+ venues.
• mjf originals (Commissioning Scheme) Commissioning scheme supporting the creation and premiere of new original jazz works by artists. For emerging and established jazz composers seeking commissioning support for innovative new compositions.
• mjf hothouse Talent development program nurturing emerging jazz artists through mentorship, performance opportunities, and career support. For emerging jazz musicians seeking career development pathways.
• mjf soundcheck Artist development program providing emerging musicians with studio time, recording opportunities, and industry exposure. For emerging jazz musicians seeking studio recording and career exposure.
• mjf Piano Trail UK's largest piano trail with 18 street pianos across Greater Manchester locations including Piccadilly Station, Manchester Arndale, HOME, Aviva Studios, and venues in Wigan, Oldham, Rochdale, and Salford. Includes a competition component with prizes including a Yamaha digital piano.
• mjf Friends Membership Annual membership at £35 per year offering priority booking, 15% discount on advance tickets, invites to mjf launch party, special events, and offers from partner venues. For festival supporters and returning jazz audiences.
• Play it Forward: Street Piano Fund Fundraising campaign to fund the expansion and year-round maintenance of the street piano network across Greater Manchester boroughs. Includes Gift Aid scheme for UK taxpayers. For individual donors and community supporters.
• Artist Submissions (Open Call) Open submissions process allowing jazz artists from the UK and beyond to apply for performance slots at the annual festival, with 20% of the lineup programmed through this route. For self-selecting jazz artists seeking festival programming opportunities.
• mjf Youth Advisory Board Program for young people aged 18-25 offering industry insight, shadowing opportunities, and involvement in festival programming as a pathway into the music industry. For young adults in Greater Manchester interested in music industry careers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 31st festival edition demonstrating 30+ years of continuous operation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Forsyth Music ShopcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2026Long-standing partnership for the mjf piano trail. Forsyth supplies pianos (including 18 for the 2026 trail) and helps maintain street pianos throughout the year. Locations include their Deansgate store. Emma Loat, Manager of Forsyth's Music, launched the mjf2026 piano trail competition.
• Yamaha PianosminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Sponsoring the piano trail with grand prize of a Yamaha digital piano for the competition winner. Working with manchester jazz festival for the piano trail initiative.
• BBCminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Two 'celebrity' pianos from BBC Radio studios are joining the piano trail. These pianos have been played by famous artists including the Verve, Rufus Wainwright, Paul McCartney, and David Bowie.
• Oldham Coliseum TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026New partnership for 2026 expanding into Oldham borough. Partnership includes commission of Satnam Galsian: Love or Sacrifice (as part of Khushi Festival) and performances at new venues George Street Chapel and Whittles.
• The Old Courts, WiganminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-commission partner for Satnam Galsian: Love or Sacrifice alongside Oldham Coliseum Theatre and mjf originals program.
• Jazz NorthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership for Northern Line showcase at opening weekend. Jazz North selected five acts for their 2026 roster presented at mjf2026: Rory A Green, SwanNek, Hang Linton, Rivkala, and Ancient Infinity Orchestra.
• Factory International (Aviva Studios)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Venue partner for mjf2026 performances including Satnam Galsian commission and Dilettante performance. Return to Factory International with pop twist programming.
• Band on the WallcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Primary venue partner hosting multiple performances throughout the festival including Nout UK debut, Lau Noah Manchester debut, Yellowjackets, and Cotonete. Venue includes The Venue and The Copper Bar spaces.
• Matt & PhredscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Manchester jazz institution hosting festival wrap party, Hania Derej Trio, jazz brunch events, jazz jam nights, and late-night performances. Regular host venue for mjf events year-round.
• Free Manchester Walking ToursminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership for piano trail walking tours with Josh from FMWT leading tours across the city following piano trail locations. Sherpa K provides live performances at pianos along the route.
• Manchester Folk FestivalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Cross-genre programming partnership presenting Heather Ferrier Trio as collaboration between mjf and Manchester Folk Festival.
• Women in Jazz MediaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Presenting photography exhibition 'Women in Jazz Photography: Her Frame. Her Sound' at Aviva Studios featuring award-winning female photographers from UK, South Africa, New York, and Poland.
• KeychangecoreOthers · 1 January 2026mjf was the first UK festival signatory to Keychange, a European initiative for 50/50 gender balance in festival programming by 2022. Commitment to gender balance in lineups, staff, and board.
• Black Lives in MusiccoreOthers · 1 January 2026mjf was instrumental in signing up to Black Lives in Music, supporting equality and representation in the jazz sector. Commitment to making the jazz sector fairer for Black musicians.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• EFG London Jazz Festival: The UK's flagship jazz festival, run in London each November. Most direct competitor to mjf in terms of multi-venue, multi-day jazz festival format serving UK audiences with a mix of headliners and emerging artists.
• Cheltenham Jazz Festival: Long-running UK jazz festival (since 1996, same founding year as mjf) held as part of Cheltenham Festivals. Comparable in programming approach, established heritage, and mission to develop jazz audiences.
• Bath International Jazz Festival: Annual UK jazz festival held in Bath, multi-venue format. Comparable to mjf as a regional UK jazz festival with multi-day programming and emerging artist showcases.
• Love Supreme Jazz Festival: UK jazz festival held in East Sussex, focused on a contemporary jazz, soul, and funk lineup. Comparable to mjf as a multi-day UK jazz festival targeting similar audiences with both established and emerging artists.
• Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival: Scotland's leading jazz festival, multi-venue and multi-day format. Comparable to mjf as a regional UK jazz festival focused on contemporary programming and emerging UK talent.
• Glasgow Jazz Festival: Established Scottish jazz festival with multi-venue programming. Comparable to mjf as a regional UK jazz festival with a similar model of combining headliners and emerging artists across venue partners.

Broad incumbents

• North Sea Jazz Festival: Major international jazz festival held annually in Rotterdam. Comparable as a large, established multi-day jazz festival with indoor venue programming, but operates at a much larger scale and serves a wider European audience.

Others

• Jazz North: Northern England jazz sector development agency. While not a festival, Jazz North is a direct partner of mjf (Northern Line showcase) and operates talent development programs addressing overlapping artist development objectives.
• Band on the Wall: Manchester-based jazz venue and core mjf partner venue. While not a festival, Band on the Wall hosts mjf performances year-round and serves overlapping audiences, making it a comparable jazz ecosystem participant.

Regional players

• Manchester International Festival: Biennial Manchester arts festival featuring a very different programming model (premiered commissions across multiple art forms). Audience engagement lead Aiyisha Williams has worked at both mjf and MIF, indicating crossover talent and overlap in the Manchester cultural audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ManJazzFest
• Facebookfacebook.com/manchesterjazzfestival
• Instagraminstagram.com/manchesterjazzfestival
• TikToktiktok.com/@manchesterjazzfestival

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about manchester jazz festival