Inaugural LA Jazz Festival Canceled Hours Before Opening Ceremony

The citywide, weeks-long event, which was set to run from August 7 to August 23 and feature John Legend, Janelle Monae, Parliament-Funkadelic, Big Freedia, Raphael Saadiq, the Free Nationals, Terrace Martin, Charlie Wilson, and an opening ceremony with Lalah Hathaway, was postponed due to significant, unanticipated last-minute public safety and municipal costs associated with the final permitting of the On The Beach Festival, founder and former city council member Martin Ludlow told the Los Angeles Times. The festival was first announced in February at a press conference attended by Mayor Karen Bass, with organizers anticipating 250,000 attendees. Ludlow said the event is expected to return in 2027. Even before the cancelation, speculation had grown after organizers quietly condensed the schedule. The event was originally slated to start Friday with an opening ceremony featuring Lalah Hathaway and others.