MPAC jazz calendar begins on 21st March with 100 musicians across five stages
Monash University Performing Arts Centres has announced the opening of its 2026 jazz program, led by the return of Big Jazz Day Out on Saturday, 21st March. The launch also includes the Autumn season of Live at The Count’s, the midweek performance series that sold out 14 shows in 2025.
Together, the festival and weekly series bring more than 100 musicians to MPAC venues across Clayton and Peninsula campuses. The program spans orchestral collaborations, Brazilian rhythms, soul-jazz, big band performance and contemporary genre-blending works.
Big Jazz Day Out will take over the entire venue on 21st March. Audiences will access five stages throughout the day under a single ticket.
Headline performers include Vince Jones with the Monash String Sinfonia, ARIA-winning act Mildlife, and Mindy Meng Wang and Paul Grabowsky. The program also features Mama Alto, The Shuffle Club with Rebecca Barnard, Aaron Choulai and MC Roman with the Monash Art Ensemble, and The Cloud Maker.
Additional performances include the Monash Brazilian Ensemble with Dany Maia, Yunior Terry with the Monash Latin Ensemble, Mordialloc Jazz Orchestra’s Jazzeoke, Cookin’ on 3 Burners with Stella Angelico, The Syncopators with Michelle Nicolle and Alma Zygier. As a result, the event spans established artists, emerging performers and cross-cultural collaborations.
Live at The Count’s Autumn 2026 program
Meanwhile, Live at The Count’s will present weekly Wednesday-night performances in the 150-seat jazz club space. Curated by Chelsea Wilson, the Autumn season runs from 18th February to 29th April.
Roscoe James Irwin opens the season on 18th February with his Soul-Jazz Special. He leads a programme of soul, gospel, New Orleans jazz and early R&B.
On 25th February, Danilo Rojas presents Cueca: Tradition and Innovation in Latin Jazz. His performance reinterprets the traditional Cueca through contemporary jazz.
Diana Clark and Doug de Vries perform on 4th March. They present Bossa Nova works from their album Three Shadows of Blue.
The Pearly Shells with Michelle Nicolle appear on 11th March. The ensemble performs 1940s and 1950s big band, Jump Blues, Swing Jazz, RnB, Boogie Woogie and Latin styles.
Alinta and the Jazz Emperors take the stage on 18th March. Ultrafox follows on 25th March with vocalist Georgia Brookes, drawing on pre-war Paris jazz traditions.
Love Fool: Henry Manetta, Lisa Faithful and Special Guests is scheduled for 1st April. The concert features songs about love and heartbreak from jazz, soul and blues repertoire.
The Yael Zamir Quintet presents A Serenade to Roland Kirk on 8th April. Ruth Rogers-Wright follows on 15th April with Fabulous Diva: The Music of Dr Nina Simone.
Nat Bartsch Quartet performs on 22nd April. Pianist and composer Mina Yu closes the announced program on 29th April.
MPAC operates five venues including the 561-seat Alexander Theatre, the 130-seat David Li Sound Gallery, the 150-seat jazz club The Count’s, the 1,598-seat Robert Blackwood Hall and the 426-seat George Jenkins Theatre.
Event Details
Location: Monash University Performing Arts Centres, Clayton and Peninsula campuses
Big Jazz Day Out: Saturday 21st March 2026
Live at The Count’s: Wednesdays from 18th February to 29th April 2026
Tickets and program: monash.edu/mpac