News
2026 Community Outreach Ticket Announcement
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation announces Community Outreach Ticket program for Jazz Fest 2026
NEW ORLEANS (January 16, 2026) – The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation announces the launch of its Community Outreach Ticket Program for Jazz Fest 2026. Louisiana social service nonprofits that provide direct social services and high schools are invited to apply. Each year, thousands of Community Outreach Tickets are distributed to expand access to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell. Applications are open until Friday, March 27, 2026, at 5:00 pm (CT). For more information, visit www.jazzandheritage.org.
The Community Outreach Ticket program was created by the Foundation to distribute thousands of free Jazz Fest tickets through nonprofit organizations across the state. Tickets are given to those who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend the festival due to financial constraints or other hardships. High schools that apply through the program are also able to give tickets to students as rewards for good grades and exceptional performance.
Eligible recipients of the tickets are Louisiana–based community groups, including high schools, religious organizations, government agencies that provide services to underserved communities, and nonprofit organizations. This program is for Louisiana-based nonprofits only.
Social services are defined as: “Benefits and facilities such as education, food subsidies, health care, and subsidized housing provided by a non-profit organization to improve the life and living conditions of the children, disabled, the elderly, and the poor in the national community.”
To be eligible for Community Outreach Tickets, organizations must provide these services directly to individuals on a regular, ongoing basis (daily, weekly, monthly). Agencies that provide only occasional services are not eligible. Agencies that provide services only to groups (such as classes) are not eligible.
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation’s Community Outreach Tickets program provides entry to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell (Jazz Fest), the Foundation’s main fundraising event. The purpose of Community Outreach Tickets is to provide access to Jazz Fest for those who otherwise could not afford to attend the festival. Only one application per organization.
About The Community Outreach Tickets Program
The Community Outreach Tickets program aims to provide access to Jazz Fest for people who would otherwise be unable to attend due to economic or physical hardship. We kindly ask that you adhere to the following published guidelines:
- Community Outreach tickets are weekend-specific. Tickets must be chosen for either Weekend 1 or Weekend 2 of Jazz Fest and cannot be exchanged for a different weekend.
- The tickets are valid only on the dates printed on them, so be sure to check them carefully.
- Tickets are valid for entry through the Gentilly and Sauvage gates.
- All Festival prohibitions must be honored (no chairs, outside food, etc.)
- Community Outreach Tickets may be distributed ONLY to the people who receive your organization’s services and designated chaperons.
- Community Outreach Tickets are NOT to be used by your organization’s staff, volunteers, donors, board members, contractors, or business clients.
- Community Outreach Tickets may NOT be sold or used for fundraising purposes.
- Community Outreach Tickets are non-transferable.
- Community Outreach Tickets are not valid on either Saturday.
- If an organization violates the intent of the Community Outreach Ticket Program and its guidelines, the violating organization will be barred from receiving Community Outreach Tickets in the future
About the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation’s Concert Series is a program of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, the nonprofit that owns the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell. The foundation uses the proceeds from Jazz Fest, and other raised funds, for year-round programs in education, economic development, and cultural enrichment. For more on what we do, please visit us online at www.jazzandheritage.org