Williamstown International Jazz Festival - Spring Series 2026

The Williamstown International Jazz Festival (WIJF) returns this October with its Spring Series 2026 – Australian Jazz Legacy, bringing some of Australia's most significant jazz musicians to Williamstown for an intimate weekend of concerts, improvisation and artistic exchange.

Taking place on 9 and 10 October 2026, the Spring Series celebrates the continuing legacy of Australian jazz while connecting established artists with emerging generations of improvising musicians.

The program features acclaimed pianist Paul Grabowsky and celebrated vocalist Michelle Nicolle, alongside the remarkable collective Tony Gould, Eugene Ball and Nick Haywood. The series also welcomes award-winning New Zealand pianist Umar Zakaria, performing with Melbourne musicians Joel Trigg and Paul Withwood. Many of these artists will be performing in Williamstown for the first time.

A special highlight of the Spring Series will be an improvisation workshop led by Dr Umar Zakaria, inviting musicians and community participants to explore improvisation and creative music-making. The workshop reflects WIJF's ongoing commitment to education, participation and artistic exchange beyond the concert stage.

About the Williamstown International Jazz Festival

Founded as a non-profit cultural platform, the Williamstown International Jazz Festival connects leading Melbourne musicians, international artists and the local community. Its programs seek to create intimate environments where music becomes a meeting point between different cultures, generations and artistic traditions. The Spring Series follows WIJF's successful Winter Series, which brought internationally recognised artists including Dutch pianist Mike del Ferro, Cuban-American bassist Yunior Terry and Australian drummer Al Kerr to Williamstown, alongside leading Melbourne-based musicians from diverse international backgrounds.

9 October

Paul Grabowsky & Michelle Nicolle (7pm)

10 October

Dr Umar Zakaria Workshop (2.30 - 3.30pm)

Umar Zakaria Trio — with Joel Trigg and Paul Withwood (6pm)

Tony Gould | Eugene Ball | Nick Haywood — Collective History (8pm)