You’re standing in the middle of a massive, sun-baked field. The air smells like a dizzying mix of fried oysters, blooming jasmine, and expensive sunscreen. Somewhere to your left, a brass band is tearing the roof off a tent. To your right, a legendary rock star is riffing on a stage the size of a small apartment complex. If you’ve never been, you might think the city’s biggest party happens on Bourbon Street. It doesn't.
Honestly, finding out where is New Orleans Jazz Festival held is the first step to not looking like a total tourist when you land in the Crescent City.
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival—or just "Jazz Fest" if you want to sound like you belong there—is held at the Fair Grounds Race Course. It’s located at 1751 Gentilly Boulevard. This isn't a park or a paved stadium. It’s a historic horse racing track that’s been around since 1872. For two weekends every spring, the horses move out and about half a million music fans move in.
The Fair Grounds: More Than Just a Track
The site is nestled in the Gentilly neighborhood. It’s about ten minutes away from the French Quarter by car, but during the fest, that "ten minutes" becomes a very loose concept.
The Fair Grounds is huge.
We're talking 145 acres of space.
Most people expect a grassy field. Instead, you get the "infield" of the racetrack. When it's dry, it’s a dust bowl. When it rains? It’s a legendary mud pit. I’ve seen people lose expensive flip-flops to the "Jazz Fest gumbo" (the local term for the thick, black mud that forms near the Gospel Tent). If you see a local wearing white sneakers, they’re either very brave or it’s their first time.
Why Congo Square Matters
The festival didn't actually start at the Fair Grounds. Back in 1970, the first Jazz Fest was held at Beauregard Square (now known as Congo Square) in Louis Armstrong Park. Only about 350 people showed up. Mahalia Jackson and Duke Ellington were there, though, so it was a big deal from the jump.
By 1972, the crowd outgrew the park. They moved it to the Fair Grounds, and it has stayed there ever since. Keeping it at the race track allows for 14 different stages and tents to run simultaneously. You can walk from a world-class jazz set to a professional cooking demonstration in about five minutes.
Getting There Without Losing Your Mind
Since the festival is tucked into a residential neighborhood, parking is a nightmare. Actually, it’s worse than a nightmare. Most of the streets around the Fair Grounds are restricted to residents only. If you try to park in a random driveway, you will get towed. Faster than you can say "Andouille."
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The Jazz Fest Express
This is the smartest way to get there. The shuttle picks up from locations like the French Quarter, the CBD, and City Park. It drops you off right inside the gates. You bypass the traffic, and you don't have to worry about a $50 Uber surge price at 7:00 PM when everyone is trying to leave at once.
Rideshares and Taxis
Uber and Lyft are fine for getting to the fest if you go early. Coming back? Good luck. The city sets up specific zones for pickups to keep the neighborhood from becoming a parking lot. You usually have to walk several blocks outside the gates to even call a ride.
Biking
A lot of locals bike. There are bike racks near the Gentilly Boulevard and Sauvage Street gates. It’s free, it’s fast, and you get to see the beautiful houses in the Esplanade Ridge area on your way in.
The Layout: A Mini City of Sound
Once you pass the gates, the scale of the place hits you. The Fair Grounds is organized like a giant circle.
The Festival Stage is the big kahuna at one end, where the massive headliners like the Eagles or Stevie Nicks play. At the opposite end is the Gentilly Stage. In between, you have the tents. These aren't just little pop-ups; they are massive structures with professional sound systems.
- The Gospel Tent: No matter what you believe, you go here. The energy is high, the AC (if you're lucky) is pumping, and the music is powerful enough to make you cry.
- The Jazz Tent: This is for the purists. Real, contemporary jazz.
- The Blues Tent: Usually packed. It stays a bit darker and cooler in here.
- Economy Hall: This is where you find the traditional New Orleans "trad" jazz. Think parasols and second-lining.
Survival Tips for the Fair Grounds
You aren't just going to a concert. You’re going to a marathon.
The sun in New Orleans in late April and early May is no joke. It’s humid. It’s heavy. Most of the Fair Grounds is wide open with zero shade. If you aren't wearing a hat, you’re going to regret it by 2:00 PM.
Bring a "Jazz Fest chair." You’ll see thousands of them. People get there at 11:00 AM, stake out a spot with their folding chairs, and stay there all day. It’s a whole culture. Just don't be that person who puts their chair in the middle of the standing-room-only dance floor. You’ll get some very polite, very firm New Orleans side-eye.
Cash or Card?
The festival has gone largely cashless in recent years. You’ll need a card or your phone for most food and drink. However, keep a few small bills on you for the street performers outside or for tips.
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The Food Situation
The food is just as important as the music. At the Fair Grounds, the vendors are grouped into two main areas: Food Area I and Food Area II. You aren't getting standard stadium hot dogs here. You’re getting Cochon de Lait Po-boys, Crawfish Bread, and Mango Freeze.
2026 Dates and Details
If you're planning for the 2026 season, mark your calendar for April 23 through May 3. The festival runs Thursday through Sunday both weeks. "Locals Thursday" is usually the first day of each weekend, where Louisiana residents can get a discount. It’s a great day to go because the crowds are a tiny bit thinner, though "thin" is a relative term at Jazz Fest.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that the festival happens at night.
Nope.
The Fair Grounds shuts down around 7:00 PM.
The party then moves to the clubs on Frenchmen Street and the late-night venues across the city. People call these "after-shows" or "night shows." But the official New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is strictly a daytime affair. You bask in the sun, you eat your weight in fried seafood, and you head home when the sun starts to dip.
Your Next Steps
If you’re serious about going, don't wait until April to book your spot.
- Book your hotel now. Rooms in the Mid-City and Gentilly areas fill up a year in advance. If you stay near the Fair Grounds, you can walk to the gates and save yourself the shuttle stress.
- Check the "Cubes." A few weeks before the fest, the official schedule (the Cubes) is released. It’s a grid that shows exactly who is playing where and when. Download it, print it, and highlight your "must-sees."
- Pack the right gear. Get a pair of "sacrifice" shoes—something comfortable that you don't mind throwing away if the Fair Grounds turns into a swamp.
- Hydrate. Drink a water for every beer or Strawberry Lemonade you have. The New Orleans sun is an undefeated champion against dehydrated tourists.
Knowing where is New Orleans Jazz Festival held is only half the battle. Once you get to the Fair Grounds, just let the music pull you in. You might go for the headliner, but you’ll end up staying for the brass band you've never heard of playing in a tent you found by accident. That’s the real magic of the track.