EFG London Jazz Festival at the Barbican - full programme announced.

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

The Barbican has announced its full programme for EFG London Jazz Festival, which will take place 14–23 November 2025. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

EFG London Jazz Festival at the Barbican this November

In less than a month’s time, the EFG London Jazz Festival 2025 returns, bringing ten days of world-class contemporary jazz, cinema screenings and free-to-attend public performances to stages at the Barbican and other venues around the city.

The EFG London Jazz Festival, presented across London by Barbican Associate Producer Serious, showcases hundreds of artists across hundreds of performances each November, transforming concert halls, jazz clubs, and public spaces into vibrant stages for the world’s best jazz.

This year, the Barbican opens the EFG London Jazz Festival with Artist-in-Residence aja monet’s programme of events around her opening night Hall performance where she will be joined by a host of friends and special guests. The festival will run for ten days, filled with world class jazz, from 14–23 November 2025. This year’s festival programme at the Barbican features everything from large-scale orchestral work from Barbican Resident Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, to solo works, poetry, film, and genre-crossing performances from local and international artists including Dee Dee Bridgewater, Anthony Joseph, Shri Sriram, Hiromi, Tortoise, Akiko Yano and many more. Events will take place across Barbican Hall, Milton Court Concert Hall, and the Barbican’s FreeStage, with a mix of ticketed and free performances showcasing the full breadth of contemporary jazz.

Now in its 33rd year, the festival continues to bring together artists from across the world, celebrating jazz in all its forms and cultural influences. For ten days, London will once again come alive with bold premieres, powerful storytelling, and a spirit of creative exchange.

More information about all performances follows below and all EFG London Jazz Festival events at the Barbican are available here.
https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2025/series/efg-london-jazz-festival-2025

The full programme of EFG London Jazz Festival events at the Barbican follows below:

This year’s programme brings together a wide range of artists from across the global jazz community, with performances spanning poetry, solo piano, big band and full orchestral works. From London to Tokyo, Trinidad to New York, the line-up reflects the many directions jazz continues to grow — mixing established voices with new perspectives. From cross-genre collaborations, to reflective storytelling and high-energy ensemble playing, the festival offers space for discovery and connection. Full listings below.

AJA MONET: EFG LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL 2025 ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE

aja monet – Workshop with Barbican Young Poets (Wed 12 Nov, Barbican Frobisher Room)
aja monet kicks off her residency with a workshop for Barbican Young Poet members, exploring her approach to writing about love. The session is part of a free artist development programme for young people passionate about poetry and spoken word.

aja monet – Live reading and Q&A with Zakia Sewell (Thu 13 Nov, Barbican Conservatory)
Surrealist blues poet aja monet presents a live reading from her new collection Florida Water alongside earlier work. Moderated by Zakia Sewell, the event includes a conversation about monet’s creative process and the themes of memory, community, and resistance in her poetry.

aja monet with guests (Fri 14 Nov, Barbican Hall)
Grammy-nominated poet and festival Artist-in-Residence aja monet performs her debut album When the Poems Do What They Do, blending poetry and music to explore themes of Black resistance, love, and joy. She is joined by musicians including Yahael Camara-Onono, Sheila Maurice-Grey, and Abdelillah Ouahbi for a powerful evening of poetry and sound.

OTHER EVENTS IN THIS YEAR’S EFG LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL AT THE BARBICAN AND MILTON COURT

Soweto Kinch & London Symphony Orchestra: Soundtrack to the Apocalypse (Thu 13 Nov, Barbican Hall)
A bold collaboration merging jazz, orchestral sound and spoken word, led by acclaimed saxophonist and poet Soweto Kinch in conjunction with the Barbican’s Resident Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra.

We Exist! The Dee Dee Bridgewater Quartet (Sat 15 Nov, Barbican Hall)
Grammy and Tony Award-winning Jazz vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater brings her powerful We Exist! show to London, showcasing the commanding vocal artistry. With a career spanning collaboration with jazz icons and bold reinterpretations of jazz standards, Bridgewater’s performance promises depth, soul, and elegance.

Dhamaal (Sun 16 Nov, Milton Court Concert Hall)
Composer and multi-instrumentalist Shri Sriram presents Dhamaal, a project blending jazz, brass band music, and South Asian traditions. Featuring a lineup of musicians including Pete Wareham, Dennis Rollins, Max Hallett and members of Amersham Band, the performance explores rhythm and improvisation through a mix of acoustic and electronic sounds.

Anthony Joseph: Rowing Up River to Get Our Names Back (Mon 17 Nov, Milton Court Concert Hall)
Poet and musician Anthony Joseph performs music from his album Rowing Up River to Get Our Names Back, a collaboration with producer and guitarist Dave Okumu. Blending funk, dub, free jazz and Afrobeat, the project explores identity, ancestry and Black musical traditions, rooted in Joseph’s poetic writing and Okumu’s expansive sound.

The Evolution of UK Jazz — 20 Years On (Wed 19 Nov, Barbican Hall)
Marking 20 years of the influential Take Five programme, this celebratory concert spotlights a new generation of UK jazz talent through specially commissioned works and collaborations. With standout performances from Shabaka, Camilla George, Jason Yarde and more, the evening honours the legacy and future of British jazz in a landmark showcase.

Hiromi’s Sonicwonder (Fri 21 Nov, Barbican Hall)
Grammy-winning pianist Hiromi returns with her electrifying band Sonicwonder, delivering a high-energy fusion of jazz-rock, classical virtuosity, and funk-infused rhythms. Known for her breathtaking live performances, Hiromi leads a powerhouse lineup including Hadrien Feraud, Gene Coye, and Adam O’Farrill.

Tortoise + Jeremiah Chiu & Marta Sofia Honer (Sat 22 Nov, Barbican Hall)
Post-rock pioneers Tortoise bring their genre-bending sound back to London, performing new material and classics from their acclaimed catalogue. Opening the night, LA duo Jeremiah Chiu & Marta Sofia Honer blend ambient, experimental, and jazz influences in a richly textured set.

Japanese Jazz (Sun 23 Nov, Barbican Hall)
This closing concert of the EFG London Jazz Festival features a solo set from genre-defying pianist and vocalist Akiko Yano, known for her playful and expressive style. She’s followed by a rare UK performance from a quintet of leading Japanese jazz musicians, including Kosuke Mine and Fumio Itabashi, bringing together decades of musical collaboration.

FREESTAGE PERFORMANCES

Each year, the Barbican FreeStage, our temporary stage on Level G in the Barbican Foyers plays host to a wide variety of jazz musicians - from international stars to emerging talent. The performances take place across both weekends of the EFG London Jazz Festival and are free and non-ticketed.

Melbourne International Jazz Festival presents (Sat 15 Nov, Freestage)
A dynamic double bill showcasing the cutting-edge of Australian jazz. Saxophonist Jeremy Rose’s Disruption! channels the raw power of rhythm through explosive drum duets, while flautist Erica Tucceri debuts new, unreleased work alongside local London artists, blending improvisation with forward-thinking jazz production.

Polish Jazz FreeStage (Sun 16 Nov, Freestage)
A bold snapshot of Poland’s experimental jazz scene. Nene Heroine brings ambient post-rock energy with Kasia Linns, Immortal Onion fuses jazz with electronic textures and cinematic intensity, and Tryp Tych Trio delivers raw, rhythmic improvisation with global influences, featuring top-tier talent from Poland, the UK, and South Africa.

European Jazz FreeStage: Lőrinc Barabás (Sat 22 Nov, Freestage)
Hungarian trumpeter and composer Lőrinc Barabás presents an atmospheric blend of jazz, electronica, and neoclassical music. With over 20 years of creative output and international acclaim, he brings a richly textured solo performance to this European jazz spotlight, with a second artist still to be announced.

BBC Radio 3’s ‘Round Midnight’ with Soweto Kinch and special guests (Sun 23 Nov, Freestage)
Saxophonist Soweto Kinch hosts a special edition of BBC Radio 3’s jazz show ‘Round Midnight. Expect a curated lineup of standout festival artists, spotlighting fresh UK jazz talent and global influences. Special guests to be revealed..

JAZZ ON SCREEN CINEMA PROGRAMME

Jazz on Screen series brings together a trio of rare and powerful cinematic works that explore the creative and cultural forces of jazz on screen. These films reflect the expansive reach of jazz not only as a sound but as a way of seeing, feeling, and resisting. Whether through Ephraim Asili’s meditative film Diaspora Suite (Thu 13 Nov), Derek Bailey’s globe-spanning exploration of improvisation (Sat 15 Nov) or intimate portraits of Ben Webster and Cecil Taylor living and playing abroad (Sun 16 Nov), Jazz on Screen invites viewers to experience jazz as both performance and perspective – cinema in conversation with the music’s ever-shifting pulse.

THE JAZZ SOCIAL – ROPEMAKER STREET
Returning for its second year, The Jazz Social is the festival’s pop-up hub just moments from the Barbican. Running throughout the festival, it offers intimate live sets, artist signings, record store pop-ups, family events, live radio broadcasts and more — a welcoming space for audiences to connect before and after performances at Barbican Hall, Milton Court, and the FreeStage.
You can find more information about The Jazz Social here. https://efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk/thejazzsocial
Location: Ropemaker St, London EC2Y 9AW. You can locate the entrance door for the event using What3Words - /// voice.earth.lace

FULL EFG LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL 2025 LINE UP AT THE BARBICAN

aja monet residency: Workshop with Barbican Young Poets (Wed 12 Nov 2025, Frobisher Room, 6.30pm)

aja monet residency: Live reading and Q&A with Zakia Sewell (Thurs 13 Nov 2025, Barbican Conservatory, 8pm)

Soweto Kinch & London Symphony Orchestra: Soundtrack to the Apocalypse (Thu 13 Nov 2025, Barbican Hall, 8pm)

aja monet residency: aja monet with guests (Fri 14 Nov 2025, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)

FreeStage: Melbourne International Jazz Festival presents Jeremy Rose & Erica Tucceri (Sat 15 Nov 2025, FreeStage, 4.30pm)

We Exist! The Dee Dee Bridgewater Quartet (Sat 15 Nov, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)

FreeStage: Polish FreeStage – Nene Heroine, Immortal Onion and Tryp Tych Trio (Sun 16 Nov 2025, FreeStage, 3.30pm)

Dhamaal (Sun 16 Nov 2025, Milton Court Concert Hall, 7.30pm)

Anthony Joseph: Rowing Up River To Get Our Names Back (Mon 17 Nov 2025, Milton Court Concert Hall, 7.30pm)

The Evolution of UK Jazz – 20 Years on ft Camilla George and Shabaka (Wed 19 Nov 2025, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)

Hiromi’s Sonicwonder (Fri 21 Nov 2025, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)

FreeStage: European Jazz: Lőrinc Barabás (Sat 22 Nov 2025, FreeStage, 4.30pm)

Tortoise (Sat 22 Nov 2025, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)

FreeStage: BBC Radio 3’s ‘Round Midnight with Soweto Kinch (Sun 23 Nov 2025, FreeStage, 3.30pm)

Japanese Jazz (Sun 23 Nov 2025, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)

Jazz on Screen programme (Thur 13 – Sun 16 Nov 2025, Barbican Cinemas) 

GUILDHALL JAZZ FESTIVAL IN ASSOCIATION WITH EFG LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL 18–23 NOVEMBER 2025
Just a short walk from the Barbican, the Guildhall Jazz Festival celebrates the creativity and originality of the Guildhall Jazz community in its annual showcase at Milton Court, presented in partnership with the EFG London Jazz Festival.
Five afternoons and evenings of performances at Milton Court Concert Hall will feature headline sets from Alexandra Ridout, Fabian Almazan (Alcanza Suite Re-Imagined), Linda May Han Oh, the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) with Sam Eastmond, and Harry Trevillion’s Cityscape. 
Alongside these highlights, the festival showcases a vibrant line-up of Guildhall Jazz students, alumni and special guests – including Jacqui Dankworth – with performances from the Junior Guildhall Big Band, Guildhall Jazz Orchestra (Kaleidoscope of Rainbows @ 50), and Kinetika Bloco throughout the week. 
All events in the Guildhall Jazz Festival are free to attend, with full details available here.
https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2025/event/guildhall-jazz-festival-x-efg-london-jazz-festival

About the Barbican
The Barbican is a catalyst for creativity, sparking possibilities for artists, audiences, and communities. We showcase the most exciting art from around the world, pushing traditional artistic boundaries to entertain and inspire millions of people, create connections, provoke debate, and reflect the world we live in.
We are an international arts and events centre rooted firmly in our own neighbourhood, collaborating with local communities and putting the City of London on the map as a destination for everybody. Central to our purpose is supporting emerging talent and shaping opportunities that will accelerate the next generation of creatives.
As a not-for-profit, we rely on the generosity of individuals and organisations, including our principal funder the City of London Corporation. Every ticket purchased, donation made, and pound earned supports our arts and learning programme and enables the widest possible range of people to experience the joy of the arts.
Opened in 1982, the Barbican is a unique and audacious building, recognised globally as an architectural icon. As well as our theatres, galleries, concert halls and cinemas, we have a large conservatory with over 1,500 species of plants and trees, a library, conference facilities, public and community spaces, restaurants, bars, and a picturesque lakeside oasis.
We’re proud to be the home of the London Symphony Orchestra, our Resident Orchestra, and a London base for the Royal Shakespeare Company. We regularly co-commission, produce and showcase the work of our Artistic Associates the Academy of Ancient Music, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Boy Blue, Darbar Arts, Culture and Heritage Trust, and Serious, who produce the EFG London Jazz Festival, alongside other associates and partners including Doc’n Roll Film Festival, London Palestine Film Festival, and Trafalgar Theatre Productions.

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