The Bellevue Jazz & Blues Guide.
The event that began in 2008 as the Bellevue Jazz Festival lives on as the Bellevue Jazz & Blues Music Series — five October days of national and regional acts in venues across downtown. What it is now, who plays, and how to do it right.
If you’ve been searching for the Bellevue Jazz Festival and wondering where it went: it’s still here, wearing a new name and a new month. The tradition that started in 2008 now runs as the Bellevue Jazz & Blues Music Series, produced by the Bellevue Downtown Association — five days each October when national headliners and the region’s best players take over clubs, restaurants, and stages across downtown Bellevue.
The 2025 series ran October 8–12, with tickets from $15 to $35 and a lineup that included War co-founder and harmonica legend Lee Oskar and the Dee Daniels Quartet. The 2026 series dates hadn’t been announced as of this update — expect October, with the schedule typically confirmed in late summer. We’ll update this page the moment it lands.
The Series
The shape of the week, from recent editions.
National Acts
Recent series have drawn nationally known names — 2025 brought Lee Oskar of War and vocalist Dee Daniels — anchoring the week’s marquee ticketed shows.
Regional Players
Around the headliners, the series showcases the Northwest’s working jazz and blues musicians — the players you’d otherwise catch in Seattle clubs, brought across the lake.
Venues Across Downtown
Shows spread across downtown clubs, restaurants, and stages — a walkable circuit rather than one big hall, which is most of the charm.
Club Prices, Not Festival Prices
Tickets ran $15–$35 per show last series — headliner night out for less than most single arena seats.
A 2008 Original
Launched as the Bellevue Jazz Festival in 2008 and evolved through the years — early-summer festival, pandemic pause, and now a five-day October series.
A BDA Production
Produced by the Bellevue Downtown Association — the same organization behind the Downtown Ice Rink and the Arts Fair’s Arts Market.
Plan Your Night
A club circuit rewards a little scheduling — and a good dinner reservation.
Tickets
Sold per show through the BDA’s series page — headliner nights go first. When the schedule drops (typically late summer), map your week early: with shows across multiple venues, the good pairings sell unevenly.
Build the Evening
The series’ venue spread doubles as a dining tour — book dinner near your show from our Best Restaurants guide, or start at happy hour and let the night escalate from there.
Getting There
Everything is in the downtown core: garages at Bellevue Square, Lincoln Square, and Bellevue Place are free, and the 2 Line’s Bellevue Downtown Station puts the whole circuit within a short walk — useful when your first and last sets are in different rooms.
October in Bellevue
The series lands in the sweet spot between summer’s festivals and the Magic Season — pair a show weekend with the Things to Do guide for the full fall visit.
Bellevue Jazz & Blues FAQ
Is the Bellevue Jazz Festival still happening?
Yes — under a new name and month. The event that launched in 2008 as the Bellevue Jazz Festival now runs as the Bellevue Jazz & Blues Music Series, a five-day October event produced by the Bellevue Downtown Association, with performances in venues across downtown.
When is the 2026 series?
2026 dates haven’t been announced yet. The 2025 series ran October 8–12, and the schedule is typically confirmed in late summer — we’ll update this page as soon as the BDA announces.
How much are tickets?
Last series, individual shows ran $15 to $35 depending on the act and venue. Tickets are sold per show through the Bellevue Downtown Association’s series page rather than as a single festival pass.
Where are the shows held?
Across downtown Bellevue — clubs, restaurants, and stages within the walkable core rather than a single hall. The exact venue list changes with each year’s schedule; check the official lineup once announced.
Who has played the series?
The 2025 edition featured Lee Oskar — founding member and harmonica player of War (“Low Rider,” “Why Can’t We Be Friends”) — and the Dee Daniels Quartet, alongside a slate of regional jazz and blues acts. Each year mixes national headliners with the Northwest’s working musicians.