Participant Information

Thank you for your interest in performing at the Elmhurst University Jazz Festival, widely regarded as one of the finest collegiate jazz festivals in the United States.

Registration for the 2026 Festival Begins Monday, October 6th, 2025

Please contact [email protected] with any questions.

Please note: the format of the Festival has changed. Our three guest artists/adjudicators will provide written comments as usual, but they will also address participant ensembles onstage for 10 minutes following each performance to provide immediate, live feedback. Performance time slots are unchanged (30 minutes for big bands, 20 minutes for combos), so with this added element, we will have fewer available participant performance time slots.