“Blues is not just about the bad times; it’s about the healing spirit.” -Taj Mahal

The Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival, established in 2006, continues New Orleans’ historic role in making the blues and R&B among the most influential sounds in the world. The Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival presents many of the top performers from southern Louisiana and Mississippi, plus delicious food and unique visual art.

This event is free and open to the public!

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About

Presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival features three days filled with live blues and jazz performances, a local arts market, and some of the best BBQ vendors throughout the Crescent City! The festival takes place in Lafayette Square Park, which is bordered by Poydras Street and St. Charles Avenue. The park is located across from the historic Gallier Hall, formerly City Hall, and another great site for music throughout the years.

VIP (Sold out!)

While the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival is free and open to the public, you can enhance your festival experience with the purchase of the VIP Experience. Indulge in perks like up-front seating, access to a private hospitality lounge, complimentary bites & drinks, and more for the entire weekend! The VIP Experience is the best way to enjoy soulful sounds of blues and savory BBQ delights.

GUITAR Auction

Every year, the Foundation auctions off a customized guitar by Painted Axe, signed by the festival’s performers. Proceeds from this auction will benefit the Foundation’s programs, including music education initiatives in New Orleans.

Arts Market 

Explore a huge arts market, highlighting the best local and regional makers of hand-crafted artworks and home furnishings. Featured are some of the best artisans in the region selling handmade art, jewelry, and other crafts.  

Food Vendors 

Indulge in a vast spread of great barbecue, representing several regional styles, with a fresh emphasis on Louisiana. Barbecue’s culinary footprint has surged in New Orleans since this festival began, and a selection of its restaurants will be in the Food Market! While it is a barbecue festival, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options will also be available. 

Volunteer

Interested in being an essential part of the festival? Join the krewe and volunteer! We are looking for enthusiastic and friendly volunteers to greet & guide guests, support merchandise sales, and more. Click below to check out available volunteer opportunities!

CDs, T-SHIRTS, AND AUTOGRAPHS

As always, the Louisiana Music Factory will be on festival grounds to sell CDs and other merchandise. Many of our performers will visit the tent to sign autographs immediately after their performances. We’ll also have official Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival t-shirts available in the Jazz & Heritage Merchandise Tent!

Media/Press

Media/Photo pass credentials are provided to those who are on assignment for established media outlets or who have a documented history of publishing photos in mainstream media outlets.  To apply for a Media/Photo pass, please click HERE.

Keep the Festival Safe and Free: No Outside Food, Beverages, or Pets

The Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival is completely free and open to the public – part of the community investment made by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation. Except for those with small children or dietary restrictions, please do not bring outside food or beverages to the event. No coolers are permitted.

While Lafayette Square is usually open to pets, only service animals are permitted during the festival to ensure the safety and comfort of our large audience.

No Smoking 

The City of New Orleans has a prohibition on smoking, which doesn’t cover outdoor spaces in most of the city, but it does cover Lafayette Square. So, please, no smoking of cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, and no vaping.

Recording 

Please: No audio or video recording of our performers.

Parking

Parking options include the Poydras Center (650 Poydras Street) for a flat fee and street parking around the park. Please adhere to all parking rules and signage.

Public Transit

Lafayette Square is conveniently located along the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line (map) and the Magazine Street (No. 11) bus route (map).

No Chairs Perimeter

Due to the heavy use of camp chairs in close proximity to our stages, a “no chairs” perimeter of 75 feet from both stages will be enforced. This perimeter ensures clear pathways in the event of an emergency and a pleasant viewing experience for all guests.

ADA Access

For guests who require wheelchairs, reserved areas are available at both stages, along with an elevated deck offering views of both stages. The ADA drop-off area is located on Camp Street to allow vehicles carrying passengers with special needs to unload. ADA-compliant toilets are also located in all three Port-O-Lets locations (at the corners of Camp and North Maestri streets, Camp Street and South Maestri streets, and St. Charles at South Maestri). The ADA toilets are kept locked for cleanliness and can be accessed with a combination code and/or assistance from a volunteer at the Foundation Information booth.

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BROADCAST PARTNER

Jazz & Heritage community radio station WWOZ New Orleans 90.7 FM is the sole broadcast partner of the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival live from Lafayette Square Park. Listen on air at www.wwoz.org and view the video stream on the Foundation’s Facebook page and YouTube Channel.

2026 sponsors

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation is grateful for the support provided by the sponsors of the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival, including Jazz & Heritage Community Radio Station: WWOZ 90.7FM, Cathead Vodka, Urban South Brewery, National Endowment for the Arts, Louisiana Division of the Arts, Goldfarb Financial, Louisiana Lottery, ChillZone, Big Easy Cruise, and WWNO 89.9. Additional support comes from Realcycle, Element, and Bikeeasy.

With additional support from

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The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation is the nonprofit organization that owns the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell. The Foundation uses the proceeds from Jazz Fest, and other funds, for year-round programs in the areas of education, economic development and cultural events.