What began over a decade ago as a humble endeavor to bring jazz to the region has now become a firmly established event on the Basque music calendar. This summer, from July 1 to 4, the Goierri Jazz Festival will once again make Ordizia its sole venue for the third consecutive year. These four days will transform the municipality into an ideal meeting point for genre enthusiasts, offering a quality cultural program designed for all ages.
Despite the challenges encountered along the way, the festival remains committed to its philosophy of embracing diverse styles. Its stages have hosted international artists such as Rachel Therrien, Jessica Pina, and Henry Spencer, as well as prominent figures from the Basque scene like Iñaki Salvador, Hasier Oleaga, and Afrika Bibang. For 2026, the organization promises to maintain a high standard with a varied lineup and top-tier bands.
The festival's growth is supported by significant public and private backing. The event is made possible through funding from the Ordizia City Council, Kutxa Fundazioa, and the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, along with sponsorship from various local businesses and shops that support the project's continuity.
The festival will kick off on Wednesday, July 1, at 9:00 PM at Sugaar Taberna with a unique event: a talk-concert featuring DJ Makala. The musician and selector from Zarautz will present a session titled 'Jazz, Soul, Funk… eta DJak', exploring his career and the music that has shaped it.
On Thursday, at 10:00 PM, the trio Esencia Ternaria will perform under the arcades of the Town Hall, blending contemporary jazz with Afro-Peruvian music. The group, formed by Brian Aching, Mateo Vásquez, and José Raúl Machado, builds a deeply rhythmic sound through improvisation and Creole roots.
The Plaza Mayor will host a significant portion of the programming on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, at 8:30 PM, NHIL will perform, a group that has carved out its own identity in the new Basque scene with a sound mixing organic pop, neo soul, and R&B. Later that evening, at 11:00 PM, one of the festival's most prominent international names will take the stage: Swiss singer and pianist Lea Maria Fries, presenting a fusion of jazz, soul, dream pop, and spoken word.
Saturday, the festival's final day, will begin at 7:00 PM with a performance by the Zirriborro Jazz Band. This ensemble, composed of musicians from Ordizia, Zumarraga, and Donostia, will play swing and traditional jazz classics. Later, at 8:30 PM, the Barcelona-based brass band Hip Horns Brass Collective will perform, mixing New Orleans musical traditions with hip hop, funk, contemporary jazz, and urban sounds.
The Goierri Jazz Festival will conclude on Saturday at 11:00 PM with a performance by Luxembourgish trumpeter Daniel Migliosi. At just 22 years old, the musician has established himself as one of the most interesting emerging talents on the European scene.
