Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival
Join us for 59th annual Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival April 22-25
Grounded in tradition, breaking new ground. Lionel Hampton’s vision of celebrating jazz through music education is alive and well.
University of Idaho’s Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival (LHJF) is one of the largest and oldest educational jazz festivals in the world. With hundreds of student performances, outstanding evening concerts with world-class jazz artists and nearly 100 workshops, clinics and special exhibits, LHJF honors the music, dance and history of jazz music and one of its most honored artists, Lionel Hampton.
Get involved
Join the jazz! Attend concerts, free interactive workshops, student performances and special jazz events in beautiful Moscow, Idaho. Earn free concert tickets when you volunteer with the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.
Interested in competing? Read the rules, review the schedule and register vocal or instrumental entries in this year’s festival for a one-of-a-kind musical experience.
Compete
Join the tradition of adjudicated student performances, clinics and workshops that aids in the development of young artists across the region.
Register your jazz students to secure an adjudicated competition slot and clinic.
Registration for the 2026 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival opens October 1.
Concert artists
Stay tuned for the exciting announcement of the 2026 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival featured artists!
About the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival
Did you know LHJF was awarded the National Medal of the Arts? Discover the story behind the festival and the Hamp’s lasting impact.
Volunteer at LHJF
Want to help behind the scenes? Support the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival by joining our volunteer team! Adults of all abilities and experiences are invited to sign up by March 15.
Four volunteer hours = one free concert ticket.
Questions? Contact us at jazzvolunteer@uidaho.edu.
Schedules and events
Concert schedule
Coming soon!
See the jazz greats, U of I ensembles and live student performances. Get your tickets at uitickets.com.
Workshops
Renowned artists and educators from around the nation lead workshops on jazz music, dance and more! These events are free and open to all.
Stay tuned for this year’s workshop descriptions and schedule.
Competitive student performances
Jazz students travel far and wide to play at LHJF. Watch student performances all over campus during the festival. No tickets are required.
Student performance schedule will be available April 1, 2025.
Jazz in the Schools
Jazz in the Schools (JIS) is an energetic, fun and educational community outreach program focused on taking jazz into classrooms throughout the Northwest. Throughout the year, students meet professional jazz artists, learn about the varied forms of jazz music and practice their jazz skills through hands-on activities.
JIS fills a vital gap in arts access, especially in areas with limited cultural programming. The program helps to foster a community appreciation for the arts while showing how music can inspire, connect and enrich lives.
Support the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival
LHJF relies on donations from people like you! Your gift allows the festival to build on its tradition of excellence by offering quality and enhanced opportunities to students and patrons alike.
With an annual gift of $250 or more, you become eligible to purchase LHJF tickets weeks before the public. Sit back, relax and watch your support make a difference.
How to give
Give online
Make a one-time or recurring gift through our secure online portal.
Give by mail
Prefer to send a check? Please make it payable to Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and mail it to:
Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival
875 Perimeter Drive MS 4015
Moscow, ID 83844-4015
Become a sponsor
Interested in sponsoring the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival? Let’s get in touch! Contact us at jazzinfo@uidaho.edu or 208-885-5900.
Stay in touch
Subscribe to our LHJF newsletter to get updates on artists, events, workshops and more!
Questions? Contact us at jazzinfo@uidaho.edu or 208-885-5900.